The first Salpausselkä Ski Games were held in Lahti in 1923. The history of the Games includes six World Championships (1926, 1938, 1958, 1978, 1989, 2001). The Games were not held in 1930 because there was not enough snow and the Games were cancelled in 1940 as well as 1943 – 1944 due to wars. The legacy of the Games binds the arrangers to continuously develop the event on the terms of the spectators. Salpausselkä Ski Games annually gather tens of thousands of spectators from all around the world to the ski stadium and the ski jumps. The magical limit of 100 000 spectators was exceeded in 1938. The large crowds make the atmosphere even more exciting – for example, in 2005 the evening ski jump competition was seen by more than 30 000 spectators on the spot. Lahti Sports Centre offers a wonderful setting for the Games and all the events arranged at the same time.