Olympic Games
Events > Olympics > Summer > Hosts
Host Cities of the Modern Olympic Games
When choosing locations for the Olympic Games, the IOC specifically gives the honor of holding the Games to a city rather than a country. The ancient Olympic games were always held at Olympia in Greece. The first Olympic Games of the modern era was held in Athens, Greece too. From then onwards, the Games were held in different host cities. See the List of All Host Cities.
Olympiads
An Olympiad is a period of four successive years. The Olympic Games celebrate each Olympiad. For the modern Olympic Games, the first Olympiad celebration was in 1896. Every four years celebrates another Olympiad; thus, even the Games that were cancelled (1916, 1940, and 1944) count as Olympiads. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens was called the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.
Host City Trivia
-
Because of World Wars, there were no Olympic Games held in the years 1916, 1940, or 1944.
-
Three continents – Africa, South America, and Antarctica – have never hosted an Olympics, though Brazil in South America will host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Related Pages
-
See the complete list of Olympic Host Cities
