The Olympics were originally a series of athletic competitions held in Olympia, Greece from approximately 776 BC to 393 AD. The tournament created an opportunity for different city-states throughout Greece to meet and marvel over athletic achievement. In addition to bonding the different city-states together, some cities used the games as a chance to prove their superiority.
The modern version of the Olympic Games began in 1896, when Greece hosted the games for a total of 14 competing nations. According to Sports Reference, the visiting Americans suggested that Athens always host the Olympics. However, the International Olympic Committee wanted the Olympics to be an international event, which is why the location always changes.
At this time, 19 countries have hosted the traditional Olympic Games throughout its modern history, with an additional 4 only hosting the Winter Olympics. Read on for a breakdown of which cities and countries every iteration of the Olympic Games has been held in.
Where was every Modern Olympic Games held?
1896: Athens, Greece
1900: Paris, France
1904: St. Louis, United States
1908: London, United Kingdom
1912: Stockholm, Sweden
1920: Antwerp, Belgium
1924: Paris, France
1928: Amsterdam, Netherlands
1932: Los Angeles, United States
1936: Berlin, Germany
1948: London, United Kingdom
1952: Helsinki, Finland
1956: Melbourne, Australia
1960: Rome, Italy
1964: Tokyo, Japan
1968: Mexico City, Mexico
1972: Munich, Germany
1976: Montreal, Canada
1980: Moscow, Russia
1984: Los Angeles, United States
1988: Seoul, South Korea
1992: Barcelona, Spain
1996: Atlanta, United States
2000: Sydney, Australia
2004: Athens, Greece
2008: Beijing, China
2012: London, United Kingdom
2016: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2020: Tokyo, Japan
What country has hosted the most Olympic Games?
The United States.
The US has hosted four Summer Olympic Games and four Winter Olympic Games.
Where was every Winter Olympic Games held?
1924: Chamonix, France
1928: St. Moritz, Switzerland
1932: Lake Placid, United States
1936: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
1948: St. Moritz, Switzerland
1952: Oslo, Norway
1956: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
1960: Palisades Taho (previously Squaw Valley), United States
1964: Innsbruck, Austria
1968: Grenoble, France
1972: Sapporo, Japan
1976: Innsbruck, Austria
1980: Lake Placid, United States
1984: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1988: Calgary, Canada
1992: Albertville, France
1994: Lillehammer, Norway
1998: Nagano, Japan
2002: Salt Lake City, United States
2006: Turin, Italy
2010: Vancouver, Canada
2014: Sochi, Russia
2018: Pyeongchang, South Korea
2022: Beijing, China
Where will future Olympics be held?
2024: Paris, France
2026: Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
2028: Los Angeles, United States
2030: TBA
2032: Brisbane, Australia
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