Olympic Games

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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 have been held in different host cities. See the List of All Host Cities, and an analysis of the countries with 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 2012 Olympic Games in London will be called called the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

Host City Trivia

• Because of World Wars, there were no Olympic Games held in the years 1916, 1940, or 1944 (though the Olympiads were still counted).

• Three continents – Africa, South America, and Antarctica – have never hosted an Olympics, though Brazil in South America will host the 2016 Olympic Games. The Central American country of Mexico hosted the 1968 Games

• When London host the 2012 Olympic Games, they will become the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games three times.

• The USA have hosted the Summer Games four times, the most of any country: 1904, 1932, 1984 and 1996. (see more on countries with host cities)

Related Pages

• See the complete list of Olympic Host Cities.
• List of countries with host cities