🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa008)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa062.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games","crawl_time":1776031394,"first_indexed_time":1547740139,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,britannica!www,\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games s443","src_root_hash":"5455945239613777662","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Events, Medals, Controversy, COVID, Pandemic, & Results | Britannica","meta_descriptions":["The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were an athletic competition that took place July 23–August 8, 2021. Scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed until the next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first Olympics ever held after the proposed start date."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Athens 1896\nThe\nAthens\nGames were the first occurrence of the modern Olympic Games and the running of the first\nmarathon\n.\nHungary\nsent the only national team (although it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire); most of the foreign competitors were college students or club athletes.\nSpyridon Louis: The First Olympic Hero\nand\nAlfréd Hajós: Into the Icy Waters\n.\nBonus Bio\n:\nPierre de Coubertin: Father of the Modern Olympics.\nParis 1900\nThe\nParis\nGames saw women competing for the first time, in a limited number of sports—sailing, lawn\ntennis\n, and\ngolf\n—although the women’s events were not officially approved by the\nInternational Olympic Committee\n(IOC). Swimming events were held in the\nSeine River\n.\nMargaret Abbott: A Study Break\n;\nAlbert Ayat: The Master\n; and\nAlvin Kraenzlein: Rivalry Among Teammates\n.\nSt. Louis 1904\nBoxing\nmade its Olympic debut in 1904. Originally scheduled to be held in\nChicago\n, the Games were moved to\nSt. Louis\nso as to combine them with that city’s world’s fair, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the\nLouisiana Purchase\n.\nFelix Carvajal: How to Make Friends at a Marathon\n;\nRay Ewry: Higher Than the Rest\n; and\nThomas Kiely: The Long Journey\n.\nAthens 1906\nWhile the 1906 Games—often referred to as the Intercalated Olympic Games—introduced important permanent customs, such as the parade of the competing countries’ teams around the track, these Games are not included in official IOC lists. The Games’ results were vetoed by organizer\nPierre de Coubertin\n, for fear that more Olympics held in\nGreece\nwould bolster a proposal to make Athens a permanent Olympic site (a suggestion supported by the rest of the IOC). Petitions to reinstate the 1906 Games were rejected by the IOC in both 1948 and 2003.\nLondon 1908\nThe\nLondon\nGames were the first to have an opening ceremony. New events included\ndiving\n, motorboating, indoor tennis, and\nfield hockey\n.\nDorando Pietri: Falling at the Finish\n;\nRalph Rose and Martin Sheridan: The Battle of Shepherd’s Bush\n; and\nForrest Smithson: A Tall Tale\n.\nStockholm 1912\nThe whole globe was represented at\nStockholm\n—for the first time athletes came from all five continents. Electronic timing devices for track-and-field events and a public-address system debuted at the 1912 Games.\nGeorge S. Patton: The Missing Bullet\n;\nJim Thorpe: Glory Restored\n;\nNedo Nadi: Following in Father’s Footsteps\n; and\nMartin Klein and Alfred Asikainen: The Match That Wouldn’t End\n.\nBerlin 1916\nThe 1916 Games, scheduled for\nBerlin\n, were canceled because of the outbreak of\nWorld War I\n.\nAntwerp 1920\nThe Olympic flag was introduced at the\nAntwerp\nGames. The defeated countries of World War I—\nGermany\n,\nAustria\n, Hungary,\nBulgaria\n, and\nTurkey\n—were not invited to compete, and the\nSoviet Union\nchose not to attend.\nJoseph Guillemot: Life After War\n;\nDuke Kahanamoku: Hawaiian Royalty\n;\nSuzanne Lenglen: The Leading Lady\n; and\nUgo Frigerio: Leading the Band\n.\nParis 1924\nBy the 1924 Games international federations had gained more influence over their respective sports, standardizing the rules of competition, and national Olympic organizations in most countries conducted trials to ensure that the best athletes were sent to compete.\nHarold Abrahams and Eric Liddell: Chariots of Fire\n;\nAileen Riggin: The Girl in the Pool\n;\nJohnny Weissmuller: Before Tarzan\n; and\nPaavo Nurmi: The Flying Finn\n.\nAmsterdam 1928\nThe Olympic flame debuted in\nAmsterdam\n. The women’s slate gained gymnastics and track-and-field events, but the latter had distance restrictions imposed after several women collapsed while running the 800-meter race. Until the\nRome\nGames in 1960, women were not allowed to compete in races longer than 200 meters.\nPaavo Yrjölä: The Farmhand\n;\nAndrew Charlton and Arne Borg: The Boy and the Sturgeon\n;\nEthel Catherwood: Saskatoon Lily\n; and\nHitomi Kinue: A Strong Woman\n.\nLos Angeles 1932\nThe\nLos Angeles\nGames featured the first Olympic Village, which was located in Baldwin Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The Olympic Village was for male athletes only; female athletes stayed in a downtown hotel. Uniform automatic timing and the photo-finish camera were used for the first time.\nStanisława Walasiewicz: The Curious Story of Stella Walsh\n;\nBabe Didrikson Zaharias: Wanting More\n; and\nNishi Takeichi: Friendship and Honor\n.\nBerlin 1936\nThe Berlin Games were the first Olympic competition to use\ntelex\ntransmissions of results, and\nzeppelins\nquickly transported newsreel footage to other European cities. The Games were televised for the first time, transmitted by\nclosed circuit\nto specially equipped theaters in Berlin. (Distribution of newsreel footage and television highlights assisted organizers in their plans to disseminate Nazi propaganda.) The 1936 Games also introduced the torch relay, by which the\nOlympic flame\nis transported from Greece.\nHelene Mayer: Fencing for the Führer\n;\nSohn Kee-Chung: The Defiant One\n;\nEleanor Holm: From Poolside to Press Box\n; and\nJesse Owens: The Superior Sprinter\n.\nTokyo 1940\nThe 1940 Games, scheduled for\nTokyo\n, were canceled because of\nWorld War II\n.\nLondon 1944\nWorld War II was still raging in 1944, and the London Games were canceled.\nLondon 1948\nThe first Olympics since 1936, the 1948 Games were played while many countries were still recovering from the destruction of World War II. Germany and\nJapan\n, the defeated powers, were not invited to participate. The Soviet Union also did not participate, but the Games were the first to be attended by communist countries, including Hungary,\nYugoslavia\n, and\nPoland\n.\nDr. Sammy Lee: Doctor Diver\n;\nKároly Takács: Switching Hands\n;\nMicheline Ostermeyer: Strength and Artistry\n; and\nFanny Blankers-Koen: The World’s Fastest Mom\n.\nHelsinki 1952\nThe\nHelsinki\nGames were the first Olympics in which the Soviet Union participated (a Russian team had last competed in the 1912 Games). The German (athletes from\nWest Germany\nonly) and Japanese teams returned to competition.\nLis Hartel: Beating Polio\n;\nEmil Zátopek: The Bouncing Czech\n;\nIngemar Johansson: When the Giant Slept\n; and\nThe Hungarian Football Team: The Magnificent Magyars\n.\nMelbourne 1956\nThe 1956 Olympics were the first to be held in the Southern\nHemisphere\n. Because of the reversal of\nseasons\n, the Games took place in November and December. The\nMelbourne\nGames introduced the practice of athletes marching into the closing ceremonies together, not segregated by country.\nBetty Cuthbert: A Humble Champion\n;\nLászló Papp: Facing the Best\n;\nRudolf Kárpáti: Last of a Long Line\n; and\nHungary v. U.S.S.R.: Blood in the Water\n.\nRome 1960\nThe 1960 Olympics were the first to be fully covered by\ntelevision\n. Several ancient Roman sites were restored and used as venues. The\nBasilica of Maxentius\nhosted the\nwrestling\ncompetition, and the\nBaths of Caracalla\nwas the site of the gymnastic events. The marathon was run along the\nAppian Way\nand ended under the\nArch of Constantine\n.\nAbebe Bikila: Barefoot Through the Streets of Rome\n;\nDawn Fraser: Breaking Rules and Records\n;\nWilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo\n; and\nRafer Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang: Friendly Competition\n.\nTokyo 1964\nThe 1964 Games introduced improved timing and scoring technologies, including the first use of\ncomputers\nto keep\nstatistics\n. Volleyball and\njudo\nalso made their Olympic debuts.\nSouth Africa\nwas banned by the IOC for its racist policy of\napartheid\n.\nAnton Geesink: Dutch Surprise\n;\nThe Japanese Women’s Volleyball Team: The Hardest Part\n;\nPeter Snell: Tearing Up the Track\n; and\nTamara and Irina Press: Sisters\n.\nMexico City 1968\nEast and West Germany competed for the first time as separate countries in\nMexico City\n. The 1968 Games also saw drug testing and female\nsex\nverification conducted for the first time.\nBob Beamon: Beyond Imagination\n;\nKip Keino: A Father of Kenya\n; and\nVěra Čáslavská: Out of Hiding\n.\nMunich 1972\nThe Soviet Union captured the gold medal in men’s\nbasketball\nat the\nMunich\nGames, upsetting the\nUnited States\n, which until then had never lost a game in Olympic competition.\nArchery\nreturned to the Games for the first time since 1920, with events for both men and women. Tragedy befell the Games when the Palestinian militant group\nBlack September\nstaged a terrorist attack (later called the\nMunich massacre\n) at the Olympic Village against members of the\nIsraeli\nteam, leading to the deaths of 11 athletes.\nDan Gable: Driven\n;\nLasse Virén: Reviving a Tradition\n;\nMark Spitz: The Magnificent Seven\n; and\nOlga Korbut: Winning Hearts\n.\nMontreal 1976\nThe 1976 Games drew more attention to the apparent problems of the Olympic movement. Questions arose about the integrity of the competition itself. Many athletes were suspected of using\nanabolic steroids\nto enhance their performance. There was also concern that the amateur spirit of the Games had been undermined by the growing commercial influence on sports in the West and the pervasive government control of athletes in the\nEastern bloc\ncountries.\nNadia Comăneci: Perfection\n;\nKornelia Ender: Victory amid Accusations\n;\nFujimoto Shun: Putting the Team First\n; and\nVasily Alekseyev: The Russian Bear\n.\nMoscow 1980\nThe Soviet Union’s\ninvasion of Afghanistan\nin December 1979 led to the largest boycott in the history of the Olympic movement in 1980. U.S. Pres.\nJimmy Carter\ntook the lead in calling for a boycott of the\nMoscow\nGames, and approximately 60 other countries joined the United States in staying home.\nMiruts Yifter: Yifter the Shifter\n;\nTeófilo Stevenson: The Knockout Artist\n;\nZimbabwe Women’s Hockey Team: Happy to Be Here\n; and\nSebastian Coe and Steve Ovett: The 800-Meter Duel\n.\nLos Angeles 1984\nUnder the direction of American entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth, the 1984 Olympics witnessed the ascension of commercialism as an integral element in the staging of the Games. The Olympics turned a profit ($225 million) for the first time since 1932. The number of events for women grew to include\ncycling\n,\nrhythmic gymnastics\n,\nsynchronized swimming\n, and several new track-and-field events, most notably the marathon.\nZola Budd: Collision and Controversy\n;\nMichael Gross: The Albatross\n;\nMary Lou Retton: L.A. Dynamo\n; and\nYamashita Yasuhiro: The Gentle Way\n.\nSeoul 1988\nThe Olympic rule requiring participants to be amateurs had been overturned in 1986, and decisions on professional participation were left to the governing bodies of particular sports. This resulted in the return of\ntennis\n, which had been dropped in 1924.\nTable tennis\nand team\narchery\nevents were also added.\nLawrence Lemieux: An Easy Decision\n;\nEamonn Coghlan: Finishing the Race\n;\nFlorence Griffith Joyner: Flash and Dash\n; and\nGreg Louganis: Surviving a Scare\n.\nBarcelona 1992\nFor the first time in three decades, there was no boycott. The list of sports at the\nBarcelona\nGames expanded to include\nbadminton\n,\nbaseball\n, and women’s judo. With the fall of the\nBerlin Wall\nin 1989, the German team was again united. South Africa, which had abandoned its policy of apartheid, returned to the Olympics with its first racially integrated team.\nHassiba Boulmerka: Testing Her Faith\n;\nDerek Redmond: Between a Father and His Son\n;\nSusi Susanti: A Nation, a Sport, and One Woman\n; and\nThe U.S. Men’s Basketball Team: The Dream Team\n.\nAtlanta 1996\nThe Games received no governmental financial support for the first time in 1996. Instead, corporate sponsors—including\nCoca-Cola\n, which supplied more than $300 million—and television rights were relied upon to defray costs. For the first time, all national Olympic committees (NOCs) invited to compete sent athletes. New sports included women’s\nfootball (soccer)\n, beach\nvolleyball\n, lightweight\nrowing\n, women’s\nsoftball\n, and mountain biking (cross-country cycling). The Games’ festivities were marred by the explosion of a homemade pipe bomb left among spectators at Centennial Olympic Park. The blast killed one person and injured 112 others.\nCarl Lewis: A Farewell\n;\nAleksandr Kareline: Wrestling Goliath\n;\nMichelle Smith: Raising Suspicions\n; and\nNaim Suleymanoglu: Pocket Hercules\n.\nSydney 2000\nSeveral events were contested at the Olympics for the first time in 2000, including men’s and women’s\ntae kwon do\n,\ntrampoline\n,\ntriathlon\n, and synchronized diving. Other new women’s events included\nweightlifting\n, modern\npentathlon\n, and\npole vault\n. The\nSydney\nopening ceremonies celebrated the history of\nAustralia\n, especially the unique cultures and contributions of the\nAboriginal peoples\nof the continent.\nCathy Freeman: The Heart of a Nation\n;\nMaureen O’Toole: A First and Last Chance\n; and\nSteven Redgrave: A Rower’s Life\n.\nAthens 2004\nMore than 20 athletes were disqualified at the Athens Games after they failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs, and controversies over scoring in gymnastics and fencing made headlines. A record 201 NOCs were represented.\nBirgit Fischer: Superlative Olympian\nand\nThe Argentine Men’s Basketball Team: Gold for the Golden Generation\n.\nBeijing 2008\nIn the months prior to the Games, a devastating\nearthquake\nin\nSichuan\nprovince, international focus on\nChina\n’s\npollution\nproblems, protests over China’s human rights record in\nTibet\n, and criticism of the Chinese government’s control of information became part of the Olympics story. In the end, however, the final narrative of the\nBeijing\nGames was dominated by two historic sporting feats: American swimmer\nMichael Phelps\nbroke\nMark Spitz\n’s record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics, and sprinter\nUsain Bolt\nof\nJamaica\nclaimed the mantle of “the fastest man alive.”\nMichael Phelps: Eight-Gold-Medal Man (with a Little Help from His Friends)\n; and\nNatalie du Toit: A Pioneering Disabled Swimmer\n.\nLondon 2012\nIn 2012 London became the first city to host the modern Games three times (1908, 1948, 2012)—a record held until 2024, when Paris (1900, 1924, 2024) tied for the honor. The most notable addition to the London program was women’s\nboxing\n, which made its Olympic debut in three weight classes. The London Games were also the first Olympiad wherein each participating country had at least one female athlete competing.\nAllyson Felix\n,\nRyan Lochte\n,\nJessica Ennis-Hill\n, and\nKobe Bryant\n.\nRio de Janeiro 2016\nThe event marked the first time that the Olympic Games—either Summer or Winter—were held in\nSouth America\n. The Games featured a record 205 participating NOCs, with more than 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports. The\nRio\nOlympics also featured the debut of a\nRefugee\nTeam made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games.\nCaeleb Dressel\n,\nMichael Phelps\n,\nNeymar\n, and\nSimone Biles\n.\nTokyo 2020\nOfficially the Tokyo 2020 Games, the event was actually held in 2021 because of the\nCOVID-19\npandemic, becoming the first Olympics to be held after the proposed start date. The\npandemic\nprompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the city’s sporting venues—a decision that cost the committee more than $800 million in lost ticket sales.\nLisa Carrington\n,\nNeeraj Chopra\n, Caeleb Dressel,\nShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce\n,\nYuto Horigome\n,\nRayssa Leal\n,\nKatie Ledecky\n,\nSuni Lee\n,\nEmma McKeon\n, and\nAriarne Titmus\n.\nParis 2024\nThe Summer Games returned to Paris for the third time in modern history. With an eye toward sustainability, the 2024 Paris Olympics were the first Games aligned with the goals and recommendations of the\nParis Climate Agreement\n. Actions included public transportation access to all venues, reuse of existing buildings and stadiums as venues, and low carbon and eco-friendly new buildings; organizers reported that more than 98 percent of the energy needed to power the Games came from renewable sources. With the slogan “Games Wide Open,” the Paris Games were the first Olympic Games in history to achieve full gender parity.\nBreaking\nhad its Olympic debut in 2024.\nSimone Biles, Neeraj Chopra, Caeleb Dressel, Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal, Katie Ledecky, Suni Lee,\nNoah Lyles\n, Emma McKeon,\nArshad Nadeem\n,\nSha’Carri Richardson\n,\nTrinity Rodman\n,\nSophia Smith\n, and Ariarne Titmus.\nLos Angeles 2028\nLos Angeles will join the three-timers club when the Summer Games return to the city in 2028. The Los Angeles organizers—like their Paris 2024 counterparts—have sustainability in mind as they plan an “Energy Positive Games.”\nBrisbane 2032\nThe 2032 Summer Games will head to the\nGold Coast\nof\nAustralia\n. Situated in a region steeped in Indigenous history, the Brisbane Games will showcase First Nations cultures, and planning will incorporate the contributions of\nAboriginal\nand\nTorres Strait Islander\npeoples.","attrs_markdown":"[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\nLogin\n\nhttps:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm\\_source=premium\\&utm\\_medium=nav-login-box\\&utm\\_campaign=evergreen\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue)\n\n[Ask the Chatbot](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/chatbot)\n\n[Games & Quizzes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/browse) [History & Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/procon) [Money](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money) [Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/videos)\n\n[Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games)\n\n[Introduction](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games)   [References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games)\n\n[Images](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\n[![Japanese citizens learn that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/172645-004-4A991515\/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/172645-050-68267A7D\/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg)  [![Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/227635-004-C03B3A7A\/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/227635-050-E0F805B2\/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg)  [![The Jamaican women's relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/254922-004-50C5EAC9\/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/254922-050-38A680DC\/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg)  [![The women's high jump finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/254932-004-D46161E3\/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/254932-050-058684BB\/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg)  [![The French team after winning the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/254926-004-CC1A70D6\/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/254926-050-D81A277B\/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)  [![Valerie Adams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/255345-004-345A359F\/Valerie-Adams-New-Zealand-Shot-putter-competes-Olympics-Womens-final-2021-Tokyo.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/255345-050-3265147C\/Valerie-Adams-New-Zealand-Shot-putter-competes-Olympics-Womens-final-2021-Tokyo.jpg)  [![Gabriela Agúndez at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/257826-004-A07F997D\/team-mexico-gabriela-agundez-garcia-competes-in-womens-10m-platform-semifinal-toyko-olympics-2021.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/257826-050-32E8E936\/team-mexico-gabriela-agundez-garcia-competes-in-womens-10m-platform-semifinal-toyko-olympics-2021.jpg)  [![A balancing act](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/244788-004-1E1956A3\/Simone-Biles-on-balance-beam-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/244788-050-D0815591\/Simone-Biles-on-balance-beam-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)  [![Biles on the vault](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/70\/258270-004-8E6F5E9C\/Simone-Biles-of-the-United-States-vault-Team-final-for-Women-Tokyo-2020-Summer-Olympic-Games-gymnastics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/70\/258270-050-1CA4ECF3\/Simone-Biles-of-the-United-States-vault-Team-final-for-Women-Tokyo-2020-Summer-Olympic-Games-gymnastics.jpg)  [![Tokyo 2020](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/256343-004-2C5D836F\/Neeraj-Chopra-India-Gold-Medal-mens-Javelin-Throw-Tokyo-Olympics-2020.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/256343-050-C0888603\/Neeraj-Chopra-India-Gold-Medal-mens-Javelin-Throw-Tokyo-Olympics-2020.jpg)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/44\/190944-131-7D082864\/Silhouette-hand-sport-torch-flag-rings-Olympic-February-3-2015.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/the-olympics-quiz)\n\n[The Olympics Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/the-olympics-quiz)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)\n\nContents\n\nAsk Anything\n\n[Sports & Recreation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Sports-Recreation)    [Olympic Sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Olympic-Sports)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Japanese citizens learn that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/172645-050-68267A7D\/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/172645-050-68267A7D\/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg)\n\n[Japanese citizens learn that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/172645-050-68267A7D\/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg) Tokyo residents celebrating the September 7, 2013, announcement by the International Olympic Committee that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics.\n\n(more)\n\n# Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games\nHomework Help\n\nWritten by\n\n[Roland Martin Roland Martin is a freelance writer living in San Francisco.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/roland-martin\/12876944)\n\nRoland Martin\n\nFact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\nLast updated\n\nMar. 20, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTop Questions\n\n- What are the Olympic Games?\n- Where and when were the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held?\n- Why were the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed?\n- What new sports were introduced in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?\n- How did COVID-19 affect the way the Games were organized and attended?\n- What were some memorable achievements or records set during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?\n\nShow more\n\nShow less\n\n**Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games**, athletic competition held in [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo) that took place July 23–August 8, 2021. Scheduled for 2020, the [Summer Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games) were postponed until the next year because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/What-was-the-impact-of-COVID-19), becoming the first Olympics ever held after the proposed start date. They were still referred to as the 2020 Games for marketing purposes and to keep with Olympic naming tradition. The pandemic also prompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the sporting [venues](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/venues), making the competition the only Olympics ever held without official spectators. The 2020 Olympics marked the return of the Summer Games to [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan) after more than 50 years (the 1964 Summer Olympics were also held in Tokyo).\n\n[![Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/227635-050-E0F805B2\/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/227635-050-E0F805B2\/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg)\n\n[Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/227635-050-E0F805B2\/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg)Tennis star Naomi Osaka waving after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, July 23, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021.\n\n(more)\n\nIn early 2020, as the [novel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/COVID-19-pandemic) [coronavirus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/coronavirus-virus-group) began spreading more rapidly, health experts raised concerns about the viability of the Olympics. Although the Olympics had faced [virus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/virus)\\-related challenges in the past (e.g., the [Zika virus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Zika-virus) at the [Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) and the [swine flu](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/swine-flu) at the [Vancouver 2010 Winter Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Vancouver-2010-Olympic-Games)), those events were held as scheduled. However, COVID-19 immediately affected Olympic qualifying events, many of which were moved to a new location, [delayed](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/delayed), or canceled. On March 12, 2020, the lighting of the Olympic flame occurred in Olympia, Greece, but only before a small audience because of health concerns; the following day, the Greece portion of the torch relay was suspended after large crowds followed the torch through Sparta; and on March 24, with international pressure and health concerns mounting, the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) and Japanese Prime Minister [Shinzo Abe](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Shinzo-Abe) announced the postponement of the Olympics until 2021.\n\nHighlights from the 2020 Games\n\n- **New sports:** [surfing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/surfing), [skateboarding](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/skateboarding), [sport climbing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sport-climbing), and [karate](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/karate)\n- **New events (within existing sports):** [3x3 basketball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/3x3-basketball) and [BMX](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/BMX-sport) freestyle\n- **Returning sports:** [baseball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/baseball) and [softball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/softball), after 13-year absence\n- **Historic win:** Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah became the first woman to win the 100-meter and 200-meter titles in two consecutive Olympics.\n- **Medal count:** The U.S. won the most medals (113 total, 39 gold), followed by China (89 total, 38 gold).\n- **What’s in a name?** Russian athletes competed under the “Russian Olympic Committee” name because a [doping](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/doping) scandal (in which Russia was found guilty of tampering with a testing laboratory database) had led the IOC to ban use of the country’s name, flag, and anthem.\n\n[![The Jamaican women's relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/254922-050-38A680DC\/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/254922-050-38A680DC\/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg)\n\n[The Jamaican women's relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/254922-050-38A680DC\/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg)Shericka Jackson of Jamaica running in the women's 4 × 100-meter relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, August 6, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021.\n\n(more)\n\n[![The women's high jump finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/254932-050-058684BB\/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/254932-050-058684BB\/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg)\n\n[The women's high jump finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/32\/254932-050-058684BB\/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg)Mariya Lasitskene of Russia won the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, August 7, 2021 (held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic).\n\n(more)\n\nIn early 2021, rumors circulated that the Olympics were going to be canceled, which Japan and the IOC vehemently denied. On March 25, the Olympic torch relay finally began. Many Japanese citizens expressed their concern over public safety by protesting in the streets. Although athletes and organizers continued to test positive for [COVID](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/COVID-19), Olympic officials denied there was a health risk to the public, citing the ban on spectators and the high vaccination rates among athletes and attending media. Despite polls showing that a majority of Japanese were against hosting the Games, the event officially began on July 23, with the opening ceremony held in a nearly empty Tokyo Olympic Stadium. Although most athletes did not wear protective masks while competing in events, most did so during the opening, medal, and closing ceremonies of the Games.\n\n[![Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/44\/190944-131-7D082864\/Silhouette-hand-sport-torch-flag-rings-Olympic-February-3-2015.jpg) Britannica Quiz The Olympics Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/the-olympics-quiz)\n\n[![The French team after winning the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/254926-050-D81A277B\/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/254926-050-D81A277B\/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)\n\n[The French team after winning the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/254926-050-D81A277B\/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias of France celebrating after winning gold in the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, July 28, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021.\n\n(more)\n\nIn all, the Games included 33 [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports) and 339 events, which were competed at 42 venues, with more than 11,000 participating athletes from 205 countries; there was also a team of international refugees. The Games cost some \\$13 billion, with \\$1.4 billion spent on the new Kengo Kuma-designed National Stadium, which seats 68,000. It was estimated that the ban on spectators cost the Japanese Olympic committee \\$800 million in ticket sales.\n\nQuick Facts\n\nDate:\n\nJuly 23, 2021 - August 8, 2021\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nLocation:\n\n[Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan)\n\n[Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nOn the Web:\n\n[ABC listen - Nightlife - 2020 Tokyo](https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/listen\/programs\/nightlife\/tokyo-olympics\/104125700) (Mar. 20, 2026)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games)\n\nThe [collegial](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/collegial) spirit of the Games was highlighted by high jumpers Mutaz Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who chose to share the gold medal rather than proceed with a jump-off to determine the winner. The two men, who had been friends for more than a decade at the time of the Games, said they never considered going to the jump-off. “This is beyond sport,” Barshim said at the time, according to the Associated Press. “This is the message we deliver to the young generation.”\n\n[Roland Martin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/roland-martin\/12876944)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nTokyo 2020 Olympic Games\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\n[Summer Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games)\n\n[Introduction](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games)   [References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Summer-Olympic-Games)\n\n[Images](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\n[![Usain Bolt](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-004-3224DD63\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-050-2CE9732E\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg)  [![Athens 1896 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/255188-004-AF405690\/Race-Athens-1896-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/88\/255188-050-3EB0FD37\/Race-Athens-1896-Olympics.jpg)  [![American Olympic team members](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/96\/255196-004-2CE911C2\/United-States-Olympics-Team-Paris-1900-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/96\/255196-050-C96FC487\/United-States-Olympics-Team-Paris-1900-Olympic-Games.jpg)  [![St. Louis 1904 Olympic swimmers](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/97\/255197-004-CE1F1AFF\/Start-half-mile-swimming-race-1904-St-Louis-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/97\/255197-050-7D61D220\/Start-half-mile-swimming-race-1904-St-Louis-Olympics.jpg)  [![Archers at the London 1908 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/255199-004-AC34F109\/Women-archers-1908-London-Olympics-archery.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/99\/255199-050-659EC785\/Women-archers-1908-London-Olympics-archery.jpg)  [![Jim Thorpe at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/75\/250275-004-0451EB4E\/Jim-Thorpe-broad-jump-Olympic-Games-Stockholm-Sweden-1912.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/75\/250275-050-33B893BC\/Jim-Thorpe-broad-jump-Olympic-Games-Stockholm-Sweden-1912.jpg)  [![Hammer throw event at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/00\/255200-004-41D50E8A\/Pat-Ryan-Hammer-Throw-1920-Antwerp-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/00\/255200-050-170950E2\/Pat-Ryan-Hammer-Throw-1920-Antwerp-Olympics.jpg)  [![Paavo Nurmi at the Paris 1924 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/01\/255201-004-B0BE6591\/Paavo-Nurmi-finish-line-1500-metre-Paris-Olympics-1924.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/01\/255201-050-7AC8BDED\/Paavo-Nurmi-finish-line-1500-metre-Paris-Olympics-1924.jpg)  [![Hurdlers at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/02\/255202-004-230AEA5F\/400-metre-hurdles-race-1928-Amsterdam-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/02\/255202-050-DFD735BD\/400-metre-hurdles-race-1928-Amsterdam-Olympics.jpg)  [![Jean Shiley at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/03\/255203-004-92847DE1\/Jean-Shiley-High-jumper-Los-Angeles-1932-Olympics.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/03\/255203-050-51347C16\/Jean-Shiley-High-jumper-Los-Angeles-1932-Olympics.jpg)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\n[Sports & Recreation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Sports-Recreation)    [Olympic Sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Olympic-Sports)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Usain Bolt](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-050-2CE9732E\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-050-2CE9732E\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg)\n\n[Usain Bolt](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-050-2CE9732E\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg) Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt reacting after he won the gold medal in the 200-meter dash at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, August 20, 2008.\n\n(more)\n\n# Summer Olympic Games\ninternational sports event\n\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Summer Games\n\nWritten by\n\n[Mindy Johnston Mindy Spitzer Johnston is Managing Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/mindy-johnston\/12488102)\n\nMindy Johnston\n\nFact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\n[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nQuick Summary\n\nAsk Anything\n\n## News •\n[Check your email. It's time to snag LA28 Olympics tickets](https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/california\/2026\/04\/01\/get-la-olympics-tickets-2028\/89411561007\/)\n\n• Apr. 1, 2026, 6:54 PM ET (USA Today)\n\n...(Show more)\n\n[Robert Griffin III named to 2026 Team USA flag football roster](https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/2026\/03\/26\/robert-griffin-iii-team-usa-flag-football-roster\/89335077007\/)  • Mar. 26, 2026, 3:45 PM ET (USA Today)\n\n[USA Flag Football Team humiliates NFL stars including Joe Burrow, Tom Brady](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/nfl\/usa-flag-football-team-humiliates-nfl-stars-including-joe-burrow-tom-brady-11716372)  • Mar. 21, 2026, 7:04 PM ET (Newsweek)\n\n[Tsige Duguma among four Ethiopian athletes to miss World Indoor Championships due to visa issues](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7130987\/2026\/03\/20\/tsige-duguma-among-four-ethiopian-athletes-to-miss-world-indoor-championships-due-to-visa-issues\/)  • Mar. 20, 2026, 7:20 AM ET (New York Times)\n\n[Tom Brady on playing in 2028 Olympics: 'Never say never' but 'unlikely'](https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/2026\/03\/18\/tom-brady-flag-football-2028-olympics\/89207529007\/)  • Mar. 18, 2026, 9:45 AM ET (USA Today)\n\nShow less\n\nTop Questions\n\n- What are the Summer Olympic Games?\n- How often are the Summer Olympic Games held?\n- What kinds of sports are included in the Summer Olympic Games?\n- How are hosting cities chosen for the Summer Olympic Games?\n- Why are the Summer Olympic Games important to athletes and countries around the world?\n\nShow more\n\nShow less\n\nOccurring every four years—provided there is no global war or pandemic—the Summer Olympic Games bring together [athletes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/list-of-Summer-Olympic-athletes) from across the world to compete for the love of country and sport. While the slate of events has changed over the years, with [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports) regularly being added and removed, perennially popular sports persist—including [gymnastics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/gymnastics), [swimming](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/swimming-sport), [diving](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/diving), [volleyball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/volleyball), and [track and field](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/athletics). The makeup of the Games’ participants has also evolved in response to social and national changes as well as geopolitical conditions, leading to modern Games that reflect the state of the world, the global reach of sports, and athletic [diversity](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diversity). The table below lists the Summer Games with links to more content, surprising facts and notable moments, and athletes whose stories have captured our attention.\n\n| Summer Games | Firsts and Notable Moments | Star Athletes |\n|---|---|---|\n| [Athens 1896](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games) | The [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) Games were the first occurrence of the modern Olympic Games and the running of the first [marathon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/marathon-race). [Hungary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Hungary) sent the only national team (although it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire); most of the foreign competitors were college students or club athletes. | [Spyridon Louis: The First Olympic Hero](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Spyridon-Louis-The-First-Olympic-Hero-1936025) and [Alfréd Hajós: Into the Icy Waters](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Alfred-Hajos-Into-the-Icy-Waters-1936082). **Bonus Bio**: [Pierre de Coubertin: Father of the Modern Olympics.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-Baron-de-Coubertin-Father-of-the-Modern-Olympics) |\n| [Paris 1900](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Paris-1900-Olympic-Games) | The [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) Games saw women competing for the first time, in a limited number of sports—sailing, lawn [tennis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/tennis), and [golf](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/golf)—although the women’s events were not officially approved by the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC). Swimming events were held in the [Seine River](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Seine-River). | [Margaret Abbott: A Study Break](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/A-Study-Break-1367944); [Albert Ayat: The Master](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Albert-Ayat); and [Alvin Kraenzlein: Rivalry Among Teammates](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Alvin-Kraenzlein-Rivalry-Among-Teammates-1936062). |\n| [St. Louis 1904](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/St-Louis-1904-Olympic-Games) | [Boxing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/boxing) made its Olympic debut in 1904. Originally scheduled to be held in [Chicago](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Chicago), the Games were moved to [St. Louis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Louis-Missouri) so as to combine them with that city’s world’s fair, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the [Louisiana Purchase](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Louisiana-Purchase). | [Felix Carvajal: How to Make Friends at a Marathon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Felix-Carvajal-How-to-Make-Friends-at-a-Marathon-1795606); [Ray Ewry: Higher Than the Rest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ray-Ewry-Higher-Than-the-Rest-2053883); and [Thomas Kiely: The Long Journey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Thomas-Kiely-The-Long-Journey). |\n| Athens 1906 | While the 1906 Games—often referred to as the Intercalated Olympic Games—introduced important permanent customs, such as the parade of the competing countries’ teams around the track, these Games are not included in official IOC lists. The Games’ results were vetoed by organizer [Pierre de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), for fear that more Olympics held in [Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greece) would bolster a proposal to make Athens a permanent Olympic site (a suggestion supported by the rest of the IOC). Petitions to reinstate the 1906 Games were rejected by the IOC in both 1948 and 2003. |   |\n| [London 1908](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/London-1908-Olympic-Games) | The [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) Games were the first to have an opening ceremony. New events included [diving](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/diving), motorboating, indoor tennis, and [field hockey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/field-hockey). | [Dorando Pietri: Falling at the Finish](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/1908-Olympic-Games-Falling-at-the-Finish-1367949); [Ralph Rose and Martin Sheridan: The Battle of Shepherd’s Bush](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Ralph-Rose-and-Martin-Sheridan-The-Battle-of-Shepherds-Bush-1688488); and [Forrest Smithson: A Tall Tale](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Forrest-Smithson-A-Tall-Tale-1795608). |\n| [Stockholm 1912](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Stockholm-1912-Olympic-Games) | The whole globe was represented at [Stockholm](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Stockholm)—for the first time athletes came from all five continents. Electronic timing devices for track-and-field events and a public-address system debuted at the 1912 Games. | [George S. Patton: The Missing Bullet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/George-S-Patton-The-Missing-Bullet); [Jim Thorpe: Glory Restored](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Jim-Thorpe-Glory-Restored); [Nedo Nadi: Following in Father’s Footsteps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Nedo-Nadi); and [Martin Klein and Alfred Asikainen: The Match That Wouldn’t End](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Martin-Klein-and-Alfred-Asikainen-The-Match-That-Wouldnt-End-1795612). |\n| Berlin 1916 | The 1916 Games, scheduled for [Berlin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Berlin), were canceled because of the outbreak of [World War I](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/World-War-I). |   |\n| [Antwerp 1920](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Antwerp-1920-Olympic-Games) | The Olympic flag was introduced at the [Antwerp](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Antwerp-Belgium) Games. The defeated countries of World War I—[Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Germany), [Austria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Austria), Hungary, [Bulgaria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bulgaria), and [Turkey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Turkey)—were not invited to compete, and the [Soviet Union](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Soviet-Union) chose not to attend. | [Joseph Guillemot: Life After War](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Life-After-War-1367956); [Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaiian Royalty](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Duke-Kahanamoku-Hawaiian-Royalty-1928635); [Suzanne Lenglen: The Leading Lady](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Suzanne-Lenglen-The-Leading-Lady); and [Ugo Frigerio: Leading the Band](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ugo-Frigerio). |\n| [Paris 1924](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Paris-1924-Olympic-Games) | By the 1924 Games international federations had gained more influence over their respective sports, standardizing the rules of competition, and national Olympic organizations in most countries conducted trials to ensure that the best athletes were sent to compete. | [Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell: Chariots of Fire](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1924-Olympic-Games-1117726); [Aileen Riggin: The Girl in the Pool](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Aileen-Riggin-The-Girl-in-the-Pool-1936044); [Johnny Weissmuller: Before Tarzan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Johnny-Weissmuller-Before-Tarzan-1936042); and [Paavo Nurmi: The Flying Finn](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Paavo-Nurmi-The-Flying-Finn-1936064). |\n| [Amsterdam 1928](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Amsterdam-1928-Olympic-Games) | The Olympic flame debuted in [Amsterdam](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Amsterdam). The women’s slate gained gymnastics and track-and-field events, but the latter had distance restrictions imposed after several women collapsed while running the 800-meter race. Until the [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rome) Games in 1960, women were not allowed to compete in races longer than 200 meters. | [Paavo Yrjölä: The Farmhand](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Paavo-Yrjola); [Andrew Charlton and Arne Borg: The Boy and the Sturgeon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Andrew-Charlton-and-Arne-Borg-The-Boy-and-the-Sturgeon-1795620); [Ethel Catherwood: Saskatoon Lily](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Ethel-Catherwood-Saskatoon-Lily-1795624); and [Hitomi Kinue: A Strong Woman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Hitomi-Kinue-A-Strong-Woman-1795626). |\n| [Los Angeles 1932](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Los-Angeles-1932-Olympic-Games) | The [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) Games featured the first Olympic Village, which was located in Baldwin Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The Olympic Village was for male athletes only; female athletes stayed in a downtown hotel. Uniform automatic timing and the photo-finish camera were used for the first time. | [Stanisława Walasiewicz: The Curious Story of Stella Walsh](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1932-Olympic-Games-The-Curious-Story-of-Stella-Walsh-1367962); [Babe Didrikson Zaharias: Wanting More](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Babe-Didrikson-Zaharias-Wanting-More-1795630); and [Nishi Takeichi: Friendship and Honor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Nishi-Takeichi-Friendship-and-Honor-1795632). |\n| [Berlin 1936](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Berlin-1936-Olympic-Games) | The Berlin Games were the first Olympic competition to use [telex](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/telex) transmissions of results, and [zeppelins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/zeppelin) quickly transported newsreel footage to other European cities. The Games were televised for the first time, transmitted by [closed circuit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/closed-circuit-television) to specially equipped theaters in Berlin. (Distribution of newsreel footage and television highlights assisted organizers in their plans to disseminate Nazi propaganda.) The 1936 Games also introduced the torch relay, by which the [Olympic flame](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols#ref249560) is transported from Greece. | [Helene Mayer: Fencing for the Führer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/1936-Olympic-Games-Fencing-for-the-Fuhrer-1367966); [Sohn Kee-Chung: The Defiant One](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Sohn-Kee-Chung-The-Defiant-One-1367969); [Eleanor Holm: From Poolside to Press Box](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Eleanor-Holm-From-Poolside-to-Press-Box-1795636); and [Jesse Owens: The Superior Sprinter](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jesse-Owens-The-Superior-Sprinter-1843247). |\n| Tokyo 1940 | The 1940 Games, scheduled for [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo), were canceled because of [World War II](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/World-War-II). |   |\n| London 1944 | World War II was still raging in 1944, and the London Games were canceled. |   |\n| [London 1948](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/London-1948-Olympic-Games) | The first Olympics since 1936, the 1948 Games were played while many countries were still recovering from the destruction of World War II. Germany and [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan), the defeated powers, were not invited to participate. The Soviet Union also did not participate, but the Games were the first to be attended by communist countries, including Hungary, [Yugoslavia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003), and [Poland](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Poland). | [Dr. Sammy Lee: Doctor Diver](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Dr-Sammy-Lee-Doctor-Diver); [Károly Takács: Switching Hands](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Karoly-Takacs-Switching-Hands); [Micheline Ostermeyer: Strength and Artistry](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Micheline-Ostermeyer-Strength-and-Artistry-1936143); and [Fanny Blankers-Koen: The World’s Fastest Mom](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Fanny-Blankers-Koen-The-Worlds-Fastest-Mom-1936037). |\n| [Helsinki 1952](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Helsinki-1952-Olympic-Games) | The [Helsinki](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Helsinki) Games were the first Olympics in which the Soviet Union participated (a Russian team had last competed in the 1912 Games). The German (athletes from [West Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/West-Germany) only) and Japanese teams returned to competition. | [Lis Hartel: Beating Polio](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1952-Olympic-Games-Beating-Polio-1367972); [Emil Zátopek: The Bouncing Czech](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Emil-Zatopek-The-Bouncing-Czech-1936039); [Ingemar Johansson: When the Giant Slept](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Ingemar-Johansson-When-the-Giant-Slip); and [The Hungarian Football Team: The Magnificent Magyars](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Hungarian-Football-Team-The-Magnificent-Magyars-The-1795639). |\n| [Melbourne 1956](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Melbourne-1956-Olympic-Games) | The 1956 Olympics were the first to be held in the Southern [Hemisphere](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/hemisphere). Because of the reversal of [seasons](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/season), the Games took place in November and December. The [Melbourne](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Melbourne) Games introduced the practice of athletes marching into the closing ceremonies together, not segregated by country. | [Betty Cuthbert: A Humble Champion](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Betty-Cuthbert-A-Humble-Champion-1936027); [László Papp: Facing the Best](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Laszlo-Papp-Facing-the-Best); [Rudolf Kárpáti: Last of a Long Line](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Rudolf-Karpati-Last-of-a-Long-Line-1795641); and [Hungary v. U.S.S.R.: Blood in the Water](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Hungary-v-U-S-S-R-Blood-in-the-Water-1688425). |\n| [Rome 1960](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Rome-1960-Olympic-Games) | The 1960 Olympics were the first to be fully covered by [television](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/television-technology). Several ancient Roman sites were restored and used as venues. The [Basilica of Maxentius](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Basilica-of-Constantine) hosted the [wrestling](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/wrestling) competition, and the [Baths of Caracalla](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Baths-of-Caracalla) was the site of the gymnastic events. The marathon was run along the [Appian Way](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Appian-Way) and ended under the [Arch of Constantine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Arch-of-Constantine). | [Abebe Bikila: Barefoot Through the Streets of Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Abebe-Bikila-Barefoot-Through-the-Streets-of-Rome); [Dawn Fraser: Breaking Rules and Records](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Dawn-Fraser-Breaking-Rules-and-Records-1936093); [Wilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Wilma-Rudolph-The-Chattanooga-Choo-Choo-1936023); and [Rafer Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang: Friendly Competition](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Rafer-Johnson-and-Yang-Chuan-kwang-Friendly-Competition-1795643). |\n| [Tokyo 1964](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-1964-Olympic-Games) | The 1964 Games introduced improved timing and scoring technologies, including the first use of [computers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/computer) to keep [statistics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/statistics). Volleyball and [judo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/judo) also made their Olympic debuts. [South Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Africa) was banned by the IOC for its racist policy of [apartheid](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/apartheid). | [Anton Geesink: Dutch Surprise](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Anton-Geesink-Dutch-Surprise); [The Japanese Women’s Volleyball Team: The Hardest Part](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Japanese-Womens-Volleyball-Team-The-Hardest-Part-The-1117772); [Peter Snell: Tearing Up the Track](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Peter-Snell-Tearing-Up-the-Track); and [Tamara and Irina Press: Sisters](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Tamara-and-Inna-Press-Sisters). |\n| [Mexico City 1968](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Mexico-City-1968-Olympic-Games) | East and West Germany competed for the first time as separate countries in [Mexico City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mexico-City). The 1968 Games also saw drug testing and female [sex](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sex\/Sex-determination#ref29390) verification conducted for the first time. | [Bob Beamon: Beyond Imagination](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Bob-Beamon-Beyond-Imagination-1936057); [Kip Keino: A Father of Kenya](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Kip-Keino-A-Father-of-Kenya-1936079); and [Věra Čáslavská: Out of Hiding](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Vera-Caslavska-Out-of-Hiding-1843250). |\n| [Munich 1972](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Munich-1972-Olympic-Games) | The Soviet Union captured the gold medal in men’s [basketball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/basketball) at the [Munich](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Munich-Bavaria-Germany) Games, upsetting the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States), which until then had never lost a game in Olympic competition. [Archery](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/archery) returned to the Games for the first time since 1920, with events for both men and women. Tragedy befell the Games when the Palestinian militant group [Black September](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Black-September-political-organization-Palestine) staged a terrorist attack (later called the [Munich massacre](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Munich-Massacre)) at the Olympic Village against members of the [Israeli](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Israel) team, leading to the deaths of 11 athletes. | [Dan Gable: Driven](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Dan-Gable-Driven); [Lasse Virén: Reviving a Tradition](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Lasse-Viren-Reviving-a-Tradition-1936085); [Mark Spitz: The Magnificent Seven](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Mark-Spitz-The-Magnificent-Seven-1936053); and [Olga Korbut: Winning Hearts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Olga-Korbut-Winning-Hearts-1930755). |\n| [Montreal 1976](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Montreal-1976-Olympic-Games) | The 1976 Games drew more attention to the apparent problems of the Olympic movement. Questions arose about the integrity of the competition itself. Many athletes were suspected of using [anabolic steroids](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/anabolic-steroid) to enhance their performance. There was also concern that the amateur spirit of the Games had been undermined by the growing commercial influence on sports in the West and the pervasive government control of athletes in the [Eastern bloc](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Eastern-bloc) countries. | [Nadia Comăneci: Perfection](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Nadia-Comaneci-Perfection); [Kornelia Ender: Victory amid Accusations](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Kornelia-Ender-Victory-amid-Accusations-1936074); [Fujimoto Shun: Putting the Team First](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Fujimoto-Shun-Putting-the-Team-First-1795652); and [Vasily Alekseyev: The Russian Bear](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Vasily-Alekseyev-The-Russian-Bear). |\n| [Moscow 1980](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Moscow-1980-Olympic-Games) | The Soviet Union’s [invasion of Afghanistan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan) in December 1979 led to the largest boycott in the history of the Olympic movement in 1980. U.S. Pres. [Jimmy Carter](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jimmy-Carter) took the lead in calling for a boycott of the [Moscow](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moscow) Games, and approximately 60 other countries joined the United States in staying home. | [Miruts Yifter: Yifter the Shifter](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1980-Olympic-Games-Yifter-the-Shifter-1367985); [Teófilo Stevenson: The Knockout Artist](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Teofilo-Stevenson-The-Knockout-Artist-1936051); [Zimbabwe Women’s Hockey Team: Happy to Be Here](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Zimbabwe-Womens-Hockey-Team-Happy-to-Be-Here-1795658); and [Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett: The 800-Meter Duel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Sebastian-Coe-and-Steve-Ovett-The-800-Metre-Duel-1795654). |\n| [Los Angeles 1984](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Los-Angeles-1984-Olympic-Games) | Under the direction of American entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth, the 1984 Olympics witnessed the ascension of commercialism as an integral element in the staging of the Games. The Olympics turned a profit (\\$225 million) for the first time since 1932. The number of events for women grew to include [cycling](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/cycling), [rhythmic gymnastics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/rhythmic-gymnastics), [synchronized swimming](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/artistic-swimming), and several new track-and-field events, most notably the marathon. | [Zola Budd: Collision and Controversy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1984-Olympic-Games-Collision-and-Controversy-1117790); [Michael Gross: The Albatross](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Gross-The-Albatross-1936059); [Mary Lou Retton: L.A. Dynamo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Mary-Lou-Retton-LA-Dynamo-1935826); and [Yamashita Yasuhiro: The Gentle Way](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Yamashita-Yasuhiro-The-Gentle-Way-1795660). |\n| [Seoul 1988](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Seoul-1988-Olympic-Games) | The Olympic rule requiring participants to be amateurs had been overturned in 1986, and decisions on professional participation were left to the governing bodies of particular sports. This resulted in the return of [tennis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/tennis), which had been dropped in 1924. [Table tennis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/table-tennis) and team [archery](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/archery) events were also added. | [Lawrence Lemieux: An Easy Decision](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Lawrence-Lemieux-An-Easy-Decision-1795663); [Eamonn Coghlan: Finishing the Race](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Eamonn-Coghlan-Finishing-the-Race-1795661); [Florence Griffith Joyner: Flash and Dash](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Florence-Griffith-Joyner-Flash-and-Dash-1936184); and [Greg Louganis: Surviving a Scare](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Greg-Louganis-Surviving-a-Scare). |\n| [Barcelona 1992](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Barcelona-1992-Olympic-Games) | For the first time in three decades, there was no boycott. The list of sports at the [Barcelona](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Barcelona) Games expanded to include [badminton](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/badminton), [baseball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/baseball), and women’s judo. With the fall of the [Berlin Wall](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Berlin-Wall) in 1989, the German team was again united. South Africa, which had abandoned its policy of apartheid, returned to the Olympics with its first racially integrated team. | [Hassiba Boulmerka: Testing Her Faith](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/1992-Olympic-Games-Testing-Her-Faith-1117799); [Derek Redmond: Between a Father and His Son](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Derek-Redmond-Between-a-Father-and-His-Son-1795665); [Susi Susanti: A Nation, a Sport, and One Woman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Susi-Susanti-A-Nation-a-Sport-and-One-Woman-1795667); and [The U.S. Men’s Basketball Team: The Dream Team](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/U-S-Mens-Basketball-Team-The-Dream-Team-The-1795669). |\n| [Atlanta 1996](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Atlanta-1996-Olympic-Games) | The Games received no governmental financial support for the first time in 1996. Instead, corporate sponsors—including [Coca-Cola](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money\/The-Coca-Cola-Company), which supplied more than \\$300 million—and television rights were relied upon to defray costs. For the first time, all national Olympic committees (NOCs) invited to compete sent athletes. New sports included women’s [football (soccer)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/football-soccer), beach [volleyball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/volleyball), lightweight [rowing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/rowing-boat-propulsion-and-sport), women’s [softball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/softball), and mountain biking (cross-country cycling). The Games’ festivities were marred by the explosion of a homemade pipe bomb left among spectators at Centennial Olympic Park. The blast killed one person and injured 112 others. | [Carl Lewis: A Farewell](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Carl-Lewis-A-Farewell-1936071); [Aleksandr Kareline: Wrestling Goliath](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Aleksandr-Kareline-Wrestling-Goliath-1795671); [Michelle Smith: Raising Suspicions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michelle-Smith-Raising-Suspicions-1936141); and [Naim Suleymanoglu: Pocket Hercules](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Naim-Suleymaoglu-Pocket-Hercules). |\n| [Sydney 2000](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Sydney-2000-Olympic-Games) | Several events were contested at the Olympics for the first time in 2000, including men’s and women’s [tae kwon do](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/tae-kwon-do), [trampoline](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/trampoline), [triathlon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/triathlon), and synchronized diving. Other new women’s events included [weightlifting](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/weightlifting), modern [pentathlon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pentathlon), and [pole vault](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pole-vault). The [Sydney](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sydney-New-South-Wales) opening ceremonies celebrated the history of [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia), especially the unique cultures and contributions of the [Aboriginal peoples](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Australian-Aboriginal) of the continent. | [Cathy Freeman: The Heart of a Nation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/2000-Olympic-Games-The-Heart-of-a-Nation-1368012); [Maureen O’Toole: A First and Last Chance](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Maureen-OToole-A-First-and-Last-Chance-1795673); and [Steven Redgrave: A Rower’s Life](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Steven-Redgrave-A-Rowers-Life). |\n| [Athens 2004](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Athens-2004-Olympic-Games) | More than 20 athletes were disqualified at the Athens Games after they failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs, and controversies over scoring in gymnastics and fencing made headlines. A record 201 NOCs were represented. | [Birgit Fischer: Superlative Olympian](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Birgit-Fischer-Superlative-Olympian-1844193) and [The Argentine Men’s Basketball Team: Gold for the Golden Generation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/The-Argentine-Mens-Basketball-Team-Gold-for-the-Golden-Generation-1844190). |\n| [Beijing 2008](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Beijing-2008-Olympic-Games) | In the months prior to the Games, a devastating [earthquake](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Sichuan-earthquake-of-2008) in [Sichuan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sichuan) province, international focus on [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China)’s [pollution](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/pollution-environment) problems, protests over China’s human rights record in [Tibet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tibet), and criticism of the Chinese government’s control of information became part of the Olympics story. In the end, however, the final narrative of the [Beijing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Beijing) Games was dominated by two historic sporting feats: American swimmer [Michael Phelps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Phelps) broke [Mark Spitz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Mark-Spitz)’s record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics, and sprinter [Usain Bolt](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Usain-Bolt) of [Jamaica](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Jamaica) claimed the mantle of “the fastest man alive.” | [Michael Phelps: Eight-Gold-Medal Man (with a Little Help from His Friends)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Phelps-Eight-Gold-Medal-Man-with-a-Little-Help-from-His-Friends-1848393); and [Natalie du Toit: A Pioneering Disabled Swimmer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Natalie-Du-Toit-The-other-abled-swimmer-1850925). |\n| [London 2012](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/London-2012-Olympic-Games) | In 2012 London became the first city to host the modern Games three times (1908, 1948, 2012)—a record held until 2024, when Paris (1900, 1924, 2024) tied for the honor. The most notable addition to the London program was women’s [boxing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/boxing), which made its Olympic debut in three weight classes. The London Games were also the first Olympiad wherein each participating country had at least one female athlete competing. | [Allyson Felix](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Allyson-Felix), [Ryan Lochte](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ryan-Lochte), [Jessica Ennis-Hill](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jessica-Ennis-Hill), and [Kobe Bryant](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Kobe-Bryant). |\n| [Rio de Janeiro 2016](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) | The event marked the first time that the Olympic Games—either Summer or Winter—were held in [South America](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-America). The Games featured a record 205 participating NOCs, with more than 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports. The [Rio](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil) Olympics also featured the debut of a [Refugee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/refugee) Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. | [Caeleb Dressel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Caeleb-Dressel), [Michael Phelps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Phelps), [Neymar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neymar), and [Simone Biles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Simone-Biles). |\n| [Tokyo 2020](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games) | Officially the Tokyo 2020 Games, the event was actually held in 2021 because of the [COVID-19](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/COVID-19) pandemic, becoming the first Olympics to be held after the proposed start date. The [pandemic](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/pandemic) prompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the city’s sporting venues—a decision that cost the committee more than \\$800 million in lost ticket sales. | [Lisa Carrington](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Lisa-Carrington), [Neeraj Chopra](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Neeraj-Chopra), Caeleb Dressel, [Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce), [Yuto Horigome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Yuto-Horigome), [Rayssa Leal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Rayssa-Leal), [Katie Ledecky](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Katie-Ledecky), [Suni Lee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Suni-Lee), [Emma McKeon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Emma-McKeon), and [Ariarne Titmus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ariarne-Titmus). |\n| [Paris 2024](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/explore\/paris-olympics-2024) | The Summer Games returned to Paris for the third time in modern history. With an eye toward sustainability, the 2024 Paris Olympics were the first Games aligned with the goals and recommendations of the [Paris Climate Agreement](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Paris-Agreement-2015). Actions included public transportation access to all venues, reuse of existing buildings and stadiums as venues, and low carbon and eco-friendly new buildings; organizers reported that more than 98 percent of the energy needed to power the Games came from renewable sources. With the slogan “Games Wide Open,” the Paris Games were the first Olympic Games in history to achieve full gender parity. [Breaking](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/break-dance) had its Olympic debut in 2024. | Simone Biles, Neeraj Chopra, Caeleb Dressel, Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal, Katie Ledecky, Suni Lee, [Noah Lyles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Noah-Lyles), Emma McKeon, [Arshad Nadeem](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Arshad-Nadeem), [Sha’Carri Richardson](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Sha-Carri-Richardson), [Trinity Rodman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Trinity-Rodman), [Sophia Smith](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Sophia-Smith-American-soccer-player), and Ariarne Titmus. |\n| Los Angeles 2028 | Los Angeles will join the three-timers club when the Summer Games return to the city in 2028. The Los Angeles organizers—like their Paris 2024 counterparts—have sustainability in mind as they plan an “Energy Positive Games.” |   |\n| Brisbane 2032 | The 2032 Summer Games will head to the [Gold Coast](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Gold-Coast-Queensland) of [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia). Situated in a region steeped in Indigenous history, the Brisbane Games will showcase First Nations cultures, and planning will incorporate the contributions of [Aboriginal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Australian-Aboriginal) and [Torres Strait Islander](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Torres-Strait-Islander-people) peoples. |   |\n\n# From Athens to Paris: More Than 125 Years of Summer Olympics History\n1 of 32\n\n[Mindy Johnston](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/mindy-johnston\/12488102)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nSummer Olympic Games\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\nLoad Next Page\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nMartin, Roland. \"Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 20 Mar. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games. Accessed 12 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [Frontiers - Frontiers in Sports and Active Living - Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games: Specificities, novelties and lessons learned](https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/sports-and-active-living\/articles\/10.3389\/fspor.2022.1026769\/full)\n- [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Injuries and illness of athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic summer games visiting outside facilities](https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10918355\/)\n- [International Olympic Committee - Olympic Games Tokyo 2020](https:\/\/www.olympics.com\/en\/olympic-games\/tokyo-2020)\n- [ABC listen - Nightlife - 2020 Tokyo](https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/listen\/programs\/nightlife\/tokyo-olympics\/104125700)\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nJohnston, Mindy. \"Summer Olympic Games\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 5 Feb. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games. Accessed 12 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games>","attrs_readable_markdown":null,"meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Athens 1896 The Athens Games were the first occurrence of the modern Olympic Games and the running of the first marathon . Hungary sent the only national team (although it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire); most of the foreign competitors were college students or club athletes. Spyridon Louis: The First Olympic Hero and Alfréd Hajós: Into the Icy Waters . Bonus Bio : Pierre de Coubertin: Father of the Modern Olympics. Paris 1900 The Paris Games saw women competing for the first time, in a limited number of sports—sailing, lawn tennis , and golf —although the women’s events were not officially approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Swimming events were held in the Seine River . Margaret Abbott: A Study Break ; Albert Ayat: The Master ; and Alvin Kraenzlein: Rivalry Among Teammates . St. Louis 1904 Boxing made its Olympic debut in 1904. Originally scheduled to be held in Chicago , the Games were moved to St. Louis so as to combine them with that city’s world’s fair, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase . Felix Carvajal: How to Make Friends at a Marathon ; Ray Ewry: Higher Than the Rest ; and Thomas Kiely: The Long Journey . Athens 1906 While the 1906 Games—often referred to as the Intercalated Olympic Games—introduced important permanent customs, such as the parade of the competing countries’ teams around the track, these Games are not included in official IOC lists. The Games’ results were vetoed by organizer Pierre de Coubertin , for fear that more Olympics held in Greece would bolster a proposal to make Athens a permanent Olympic site (a suggestion supported by the rest of the IOC). Petitions to reinstate the 1906 Games were rejected by the IOC in both 1948 and 2003. London 1908 The London Games were the first to have an opening ceremony. New events included diving , motorboating, indoor tennis, and field hockey . Dorando Pietri: Falling at the Finish ; Ralph Rose and Martin Sheridan: The Battle of Shepherd’s Bush ; and Forrest Smithson: A Tall Tale . Stockholm 1912 The whole globe was represented at Stockholm —for the first time athletes came from all five continents. Electronic timing devices for track-and-field events and a public-address system debuted at the 1912 Games. George S. Patton: The Missing Bullet ; Jim Thorpe: Glory Restored ; Nedo Nadi: Following in Father’s Footsteps ; and Martin Klein and Alfred Asikainen: The Match That Wouldn’t End . Berlin 1916 The 1916 Games, scheduled for Berlin , were canceled because of the outbreak of World War I . Antwerp 1920 The Olympic flag was introduced at the Antwerp Games. The defeated countries of World War I— Germany , Austria , Hungary, Bulgaria , and Turkey —were not invited to compete, and the Soviet Union chose not to attend. Joseph Guillemot: Life After War ; Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaiian Royalty ; Suzanne Lenglen: The Leading Lady ; and Ugo Frigerio: Leading the Band . Paris 1924 By the 1924 Games international federations had gained more influence over their respective sports, standardizing the rules of competition, and national Olympic organizations in most countries conducted trials to ensure that the best athletes were sent to compete. Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell: Chariots of Fire ; Aileen Riggin: The Girl in the Pool ; Johnny Weissmuller: Before Tarzan ; and Paavo Nurmi: The Flying Finn . Amsterdam 1928 The Olympic flame debuted in Amsterdam . The women’s slate gained gymnastics and track-and-field events, but the latter had distance restrictions imposed after several women collapsed while running the 800-meter race. Until the Rome Games in 1960, women were not allowed to compete in races longer than 200 meters. Paavo Yrjölä: The Farmhand ; Andrew Charlton and Arne Borg: The Boy and the Sturgeon ; Ethel Catherwood: Saskatoon Lily ; and Hitomi Kinue: A Strong Woman . Los Angeles 1932 The Los Angeles Games featured the first Olympic Village, which was located in Baldwin Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The Olympic Village was for male athletes only; female athletes stayed in a downtown hotel. Uniform automatic timing and the photo-finish camera were used for the first time. Stanisława Walasiewicz: The Curious Story of Stella Walsh ; Babe Didrikson Zaharias: Wanting More ; and Nishi Takeichi: Friendship and Honor . Berlin 1936 The Berlin Games were the first Olympic competition to use telex transmissions of results, and zeppelins quickly transported newsreel footage to other European cities. The Games were televised for the first time, transmitted by closed circuit to specially equipped theaters in Berlin. (Distribution of newsreel footage and television highlights assisted organizers in their plans to disseminate Nazi propaganda.) The 1936 Games also introduced the torch relay, by which the Olympic flame is transported from Greece. Helene Mayer: Fencing for the Führer ; Sohn Kee-Chung: The Defiant One ; Eleanor Holm: From Poolside to Press Box ; and Jesse Owens: The Superior Sprinter . Tokyo 1940 The 1940 Games, scheduled for Tokyo , were canceled because of World War II . London 1944 World War II was still raging in 1944, and the London Games were canceled. London 1948 The first Olympics since 1936, the 1948 Games were played while many countries were still recovering from the destruction of World War II. Germany and Japan , the defeated powers, were not invited to participate. The Soviet Union also did not participate, but the Games were the first to be attended by communist countries, including Hungary, Yugoslavia , and Poland . Dr. Sammy Lee: Doctor Diver ; Károly Takács: Switching Hands ; Micheline Ostermeyer: Strength and Artistry ; and Fanny Blankers-Koen: The World’s Fastest Mom . Helsinki 1952 The Helsinki Games were the first Olympics in which the Soviet Union participated (a Russian team had last competed in the 1912 Games). The German (athletes from West Germany only) and Japanese teams returned to competition. Lis Hartel: Beating Polio ; Emil Zátopek: The Bouncing Czech ; Ingemar Johansson: When the Giant Slept ; and The Hungarian Football Team: The Magnificent Magyars . Melbourne 1956 The 1956 Olympics were the first to be held in the Southern Hemisphere . Because of the reversal of seasons , the Games took place in November and December. The Melbourne Games introduced the practice of athletes marching into the closing ceremonies together, not segregated by country. Betty Cuthbert: A Humble Champion ; László Papp: Facing the Best ; Rudolf Kárpáti: Last of a Long Line ; and Hungary v. U.S.S.R.: Blood in the Water . Rome 1960 The 1960 Olympics were the first to be fully covered by television . Several ancient Roman sites were restored and used as venues. The Basilica of Maxentius hosted the wrestling competition, and the Baths of Caracalla was the site of the gymnastic events. The marathon was run along the Appian Way and ended under the Arch of Constantine . Abebe Bikila: Barefoot Through the Streets of Rome ; Dawn Fraser: Breaking Rules and Records ; Wilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo ; and Rafer Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang: Friendly Competition . Tokyo 1964 The 1964 Games introduced improved timing and scoring technologies, including the first use of computers to keep statistics . Volleyball and judo also made their Olympic debuts. South Africa was banned by the IOC for its racist policy of apartheid . Anton Geesink: Dutch Surprise ; The Japanese Women’s Volleyball Team: The Hardest Part ; Peter Snell: Tearing Up the Track ; and Tamara and Irina Press: Sisters . Mexico City 1968 East and West Germany competed for the first time as separate countries in Mexico City . The 1968 Games also saw drug testing and female sex verification conducted for the first time. Bob Beamon: Beyond Imagination ; Kip Keino: A Father of Kenya ; and Věra Čáslavská: Out of Hiding . Munich 1972 The Soviet Union captured the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Munich Games, upsetting the United States , which until then had never lost a game in Olympic competition. Archery returned to the Games for the first time since 1920, with events for both men and women. Tragedy befell the Games when the Palestinian militant group Black September staged a terrorist attack (later called the Munich massacre ) at the Olympic Village against members of the Israeli team, leading to the deaths of 11 athletes. Dan Gable: Driven ; Lasse Virén: Reviving a Tradition ; Mark Spitz: The Magnificent Seven ; and Olga Korbut: Winning Hearts . Montreal 1976 The 1976 Games drew more attention to the apparent problems of the Olympic movement. Questions arose about the integrity of the competition itself. Many athletes were suspected of using anabolic steroids to enhance their performance. There was also concern that the amateur spirit of the Games had been undermined by the growing commercial influence on sports in the West and the pervasive government control of athletes in the Eastern bloc countries. Nadia Comăneci: Perfection ; Kornelia Ender: Victory amid Accusations ; Fujimoto Shun: Putting the Team First ; and Vasily Alekseyev: The Russian Bear . Moscow 1980 The Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 led to the largest boycott in the history of the Olympic movement in 1980. U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter took the lead in calling for a boycott of the Moscow Games, and approximately 60 other countries joined the United States in staying home. Miruts Yifter: Yifter the Shifter ; Teófilo Stevenson: The Knockout Artist ; Zimbabwe Women’s Hockey Team: Happy to Be Here ; and Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett: The 800-Meter Duel . Los Angeles 1984 Under the direction of American entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth, the 1984 Olympics witnessed the ascension of commercialism as an integral element in the staging of the Games. The Olympics turned a profit ($225 million) for the first time since 1932. The number of events for women grew to include cycling , rhythmic gymnastics , synchronized swimming , and several new track-and-field events, most notably the marathon. Zola Budd: Collision and Controversy ; Michael Gross: The Albatross ; Mary Lou Retton: L.A. Dynamo ; and Yamashita Yasuhiro: The Gentle Way . Seoul 1988 The Olympic rule requiring participants to be amateurs had been overturned in 1986, and decisions on professional participation were left to the governing bodies of particular sports. This resulted in the return of tennis , which had been dropped in 1924. Table tennis and team archery events were also added. Lawrence Lemieux: An Easy Decision ; Eamonn Coghlan: Finishing the Race ; Florence Griffith Joyner: Flash and Dash ; and Greg Louganis: Surviving a Scare . Barcelona 1992 For the first time in three decades, there was no boycott. The list of sports at the Barcelona Games expanded to include badminton , baseball , and women’s judo. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the German team was again united. South Africa, which had abandoned its policy of apartheid, returned to the Olympics with its first racially integrated team. Hassiba Boulmerka: Testing Her Faith ; Derek Redmond: Between a Father and His Son ; Susi Susanti: A Nation, a Sport, and One Woman ; and The U.S. Men’s Basketball Team: The Dream Team . Atlanta 1996 The Games received no governmental financial support for the first time in 1996. Instead, corporate sponsors—including Coca-Cola , which supplied more than $300 million—and television rights were relied upon to defray costs. For the first time, all national Olympic committees (NOCs) invited to compete sent athletes. New sports included women’s football (soccer) , beach volleyball , lightweight rowing , women’s softball , and mountain biking (cross-country cycling). The Games’ festivities were marred by the explosion of a homemade pipe bomb left among spectators at Centennial Olympic Park. The blast killed one person and injured 112 others. Carl Lewis: A Farewell ; Aleksandr Kareline: Wrestling Goliath ; Michelle Smith: Raising Suspicions ; and Naim Suleymanoglu: Pocket Hercules . Sydney 2000 Several events were contested at the Olympics for the first time in 2000, including men’s and women’s tae kwon do , trampoline , triathlon , and synchronized diving. Other new women’s events included weightlifting , modern pentathlon , and pole vault . The Sydney opening ceremonies celebrated the history of Australia , especially the unique cultures and contributions of the Aboriginal peoples of the continent. Cathy Freeman: The Heart of a Nation ; Maureen O’Toole: A First and Last Chance ; and Steven Redgrave: A Rower’s Life . Athens 2004 More than 20 athletes were disqualified at the Athens Games after they failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs, and controversies over scoring in gymnastics and fencing made headlines. A record 201 NOCs were represented. Birgit Fischer: Superlative Olympian and The Argentine Men’s Basketball Team: Gold for the Golden Generation . Beijing 2008 In the months prior to the Games, a devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, international focus on China ’s pollution problems, protests over China’s human rights record in Tibet , and criticism of the Chinese government’s control of information became part of the Olympics story. In the end, however, the final narrative of the Beijing Games was dominated by two historic sporting feats: American swimmer Michael Phelps broke Mark Spitz ’s record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics, and sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica claimed the mantle of “the fastest man alive.” Michael Phelps: Eight-Gold-Medal Man (with a Little Help from His Friends) ; and Natalie du Toit: A Pioneering Disabled Swimmer . London 2012 In 2012 London became the first city to host the modern Games three times (1908, 1948, 2012)—a record held until 2024, when Paris (1900, 1924, 2024) tied for the honor. The most notable addition to the London program was women’s boxing , which made its Olympic debut in three weight classes. The London Games were also the first Olympiad wherein each participating country had at least one female athlete competing. Allyson Felix , Ryan Lochte , Jessica Ennis-Hill , and Kobe Bryant . Rio de Janeiro 2016 The event marked the first time that the Olympic Games—either Summer or Winter—were held in South America . The Games featured a record 205 participating NOCs, with more than 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports. The Rio Olympics also featured the debut of a Refugee Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. Caeleb Dressel , Michael Phelps , Neymar , and Simone Biles . Tokyo 2020 Officially the Tokyo 2020 Games, the event was actually held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the first Olympics to be held after the proposed start date. The pandemic prompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the city’s sporting venues—a decision that cost the committee more than $800 million in lost ticket sales. Lisa Carrington , Neeraj Chopra , Caeleb Dressel, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce , Yuto Horigome , Rayssa Leal , Katie Ledecky , Suni Lee , Emma McKeon , and Ariarne Titmus . Paris 2024 The Summer Games returned to Paris for the third time in modern history. With an eye toward sustainability, the 2024 Paris Olympics were the first Games aligned with the goals and recommendations of the Paris Climate Agreement . Actions included public transportation access to all venues, reuse of existing buildings and stadiums as venues, and low carbon and eco-friendly new buildings; organizers reported that more than 98 percent of the energy needed to power the Games came from renewable sources. With the slogan “Games Wide Open,” the Paris Games were the first Olympic Games in history to achieve full gender parity. Breaking had its Olympic debut in 2024. Simone Biles, Neeraj Chopra, Caeleb Dressel, Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal, Katie Ledecky, Suni Lee, Noah Lyles , Emma McKeon, Arshad Nadeem , Sha’Carri Richardson , Trinity Rodman , Sophia Smith , and Ariarne Titmus. Los Angeles 2028 Los Angeles will join the three-timers club when the Summer Games return to the city in 2028. The Los Angeles organizers—like their Paris 2024 counterparts—have sustainability in mind as they plan an “Energy Positive Games.” Brisbane 2032 The 2032 Summer Games will head to the Gold Coast of Australia . Situated in a region steeped in Indigenous history, the Brisbane Games will showcase First Nations cultures, and planning will incorporate the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Contents Ask Anything [Sports & Recreation](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Sports-Recreation) [Olympic Sports](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Olympic-Sports) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Japanese citizens learn that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/172645-050-68267A7D/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/172645-050-68267A7D/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg) [Japanese citizens learn that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/172645-050-68267A7D/Residents-Tokyo-joy-learning-announcement-Olympics-International-2020.jpg) Tokyo residents celebrating the September 7, 2013, announcement by the International Olympic Committee that Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics. (more) # Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Homework Help Written by [Roland Martin Roland Martin is a freelance writer living in San Francisco.](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/roland-martin/12876944) Roland Martin Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 20, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions - What are the Olympic Games? - Where and when were the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held? - Why were the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed? - What new sports were introduced in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? - How did COVID-19 affect the way the Games were organized and attended? - What were some memorable achievements or records set during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? Show more Show less Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, athletic competition held in [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) that took place July 23–August 8, 2021. Scheduled for 2020, the [Summer Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) were postponed until the next year because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.britannica.com/topic/What-was-the-impact-of-COVID-19), becoming the first Olympics ever held after the proposed start date. They were still referred to as the 2020 Games for marketing purposes and to keep with Olympic naming tradition. The pandemic also prompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the sporting [venues](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venues), making the competition the only Olympics ever held without official spectators. The 2020 Olympics marked the return of the Summer Games to [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) after more than 50 years (the 1964 Summer Olympics were also held in Tokyo). [![Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/227635-050-E0F805B2/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/227635-050-E0F805B2/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg) [Naomi Osaka with the Olympic flame](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/227635-050-E0F805B2/Naomi-Osaka-Lights-Olympic-Cauldron-Tokyo-2020-Olympics.jpg)Tennis star Naomi Osaka waving after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, July 23, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021. (more) In early 2020, as the [novel](https://www.britannica.com/event/COVID-19-pandemic) [coronavirus](https://www.britannica.com/science/coronavirus-virus-group) began spreading more rapidly, health experts raised concerns about the viability of the Olympics. Although the Olympics had faced [virus](https://www.britannica.com/science/virus)\-related challenges in the past (e.g., the [Zika virus](https://www.britannica.com/science/Zika-virus) at the [Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) and the [swine flu](https://www.britannica.com/science/swine-flu) at the [Vancouver 2010 Winter Games](https://www.britannica.com/event/Vancouver-2010-Olympic-Games)), those events were held as scheduled. However, COVID-19 immediately affected Olympic qualifying events, many of which were moved to a new location, [delayed](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delayed), or canceled. On March 12, 2020, the lighting of the Olympic flame occurred in Olympia, Greece, but only before a small audience because of health concerns; the following day, the Greece portion of the torch relay was suspended after large crowds followed the torch through Sparta; and on March 24, with international pressure and health concerns mounting, the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) and Japanese Prime Minister [Shinzo Abe](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shinzo-Abe) announced the postponement of the Olympics until 2021. Highlights from the 2020 Games - New sports: [surfing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/surfing), [skateboarding](https://www.britannica.com/sports/skateboarding), [sport climbing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sport-climbing), and [karate](https://www.britannica.com/sports/karate) - New events (within existing sports): [3x3 basketball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/3x3-basketball) and [BMX](https://www.britannica.com/sports/BMX-sport) freestyle - Returning sports: [baseball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/baseball) and [softball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/softball), after 13-year absence - Historic win: Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah became the first woman to win the 100-meter and 200-meter titles in two consecutive Olympics. - Medal count: The U.S. won the most medals (113 total, 39 gold), followed by China (89 total, 38 gold). - What’s in a name? Russian athletes competed under the “Russian Olympic Committee” name because a [doping](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/doping) scandal (in which Russia was found guilty of tampering with a testing laboratory database) had led the IOC to ban use of the country’s name, flag, and anthem. [![The Jamaican women's relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/254922-050-38A680DC/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/254922-050-38A680DC/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg) [The Jamaican women's relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/254922-050-38A680DC/Shericka-Jackson-of-Jamaica-competes-in-the-womens-4-x-100-meter-metre-relay-at-the-Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games-on-August-06-2021.jpg)Shericka Jackson of Jamaica running in the women's 4 × 100-meter relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, August 6, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021. (more) [![The women's high jump finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/254932-050-058684BB/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/254932-050-058684BB/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg) [The women's high jump finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/32/254932-050-058684BB/Mariya-Lasitskene-of-the-Russian-Olympic-Federation-in-the-womens-high-jump-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympics.jpg)Mariya Lasitskene of Russia won the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, August 7, 2021 (held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic). (more) In early 2021, rumors circulated that the Olympics were going to be canceled, which Japan and the IOC vehemently denied. On March 25, the Olympic torch relay finally began. Many Japanese citizens expressed their concern over public safety by protesting in the streets. Although athletes and organizers continued to test positive for [COVID](https://www.britannica.com/science/COVID-19), Olympic officials denied there was a health risk to the public, citing the ban on spectators and the high vaccination rates among athletes and attending media. Despite polls showing that a majority of Japanese were against hosting the Games, the event officially began on July 23, with the opening ceremony held in a nearly empty Tokyo Olympic Stadium. Although most athletes did not wear protective masks while competing in events, most did so during the opening, medal, and closing ceremonies of the Games. [![Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.](https://cdn.britannica.com/44/190944-131-7D082864/Silhouette-hand-sport-torch-flag-rings-Olympic-February-3-2015.jpg) Britannica Quiz The Olympics Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/the-olympics-quiz) [![The French team after winning the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/254926-050-D81A277B/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/254926-050-D81A277B/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg) [The French team after winning the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/254926-050-D81A277B/Hugo-Boucheron-and-Matthieu-Androdias-of-France-celebrate-winning-gold-in-the-mens-double-sculls-final-at-the-2020-Tokyo-Olympic-Games.jpg)Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias of France celebrating after winning gold in the men's double sculls final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, July 28, 2021; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021. (more) In all, the Games included 33 [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) and 339 events, which were competed at 42 venues, with more than 11,000 participating athletes from 205 countries; there was also a team of international refugees. The Games cost some \$13 billion, with \$1.4 billion spent on the new Kengo Kuma-designed National Stadium, which seats 68,000. It was estimated that the ban on spectators cost the Japanese Olympic committee \$800 million in ticket sales. Quick Facts Date: July 23, 2021 - August 8, 2021 (Show more) Location: [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) (Show more) On the Web: [ABC listen - Nightlife - 2020 Tokyo](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/tokyo-olympics/104125700) (Mar. 20, 2026) (Show more) [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games) The [collegial](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collegial) spirit of the Games was highlighted by high jumpers Mutaz Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, who chose to share the gold medal rather than proceed with a jump-off to determine the winner. The two men, who had been friends for more than a decade at the time of the Games, said they never considered going to the jump-off. “This is beyond sport,” Barshim said at the time, according to the Associated Press. “This is the message we deliver to the young generation.” [Roland Martin](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/roland-martin/12876944) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI chevron\_right Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [Summer Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Summer-Olympic-Games) [Images](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games/images-videos) [![Usain Bolt](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-004-3224DD63/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-050-2CE9732E/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg) [![Athens 1896 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/255188-004-AF405690/Race-Athens-1896-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/88/255188-050-3EB0FD37/Race-Athens-1896-Olympics.jpg) [![American Olympic team members](https://cdn.britannica.com/96/255196-004-2CE911C2/United-States-Olympics-Team-Paris-1900-Olympic-Games.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/96/255196-050-C96FC487/United-States-Olympics-Team-Paris-1900-Olympic-Games.jpg) [![St. Louis 1904 Olympic swimmers](https://cdn.britannica.com/97/255197-004-CE1F1AFF/Start-half-mile-swimming-race-1904-St-Louis-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/97/255197-050-7D61D220/Start-half-mile-swimming-race-1904-St-Louis-Olympics.jpg) [![Archers at the London 1908 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/255199-004-AC34F109/Women-archers-1908-London-Olympics-archery.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/99/255199-050-659EC785/Women-archers-1908-London-Olympics-archery.jpg) [![Jim Thorpe at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/75/250275-004-0451EB4E/Jim-Thorpe-broad-jump-Olympic-Games-Stockholm-Sweden-1912.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/75/250275-050-33B893BC/Jim-Thorpe-broad-jump-Olympic-Games-Stockholm-Sweden-1912.jpg) [![Hammer throw event at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/00/255200-004-41D50E8A/Pat-Ryan-Hammer-Throw-1920-Antwerp-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/00/255200-050-170950E2/Pat-Ryan-Hammer-Throw-1920-Antwerp-Olympics.jpg) [![Paavo Nurmi at the Paris 1924 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/255201-004-B0BE6591/Paavo-Nurmi-finish-line-1500-metre-Paris-Olympics-1924.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/01/255201-050-7AC8BDED/Paavo-Nurmi-finish-line-1500-metre-Paris-Olympics-1924.jpg) [![Hurdlers at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/02/255202-004-230AEA5F/400-metre-hurdles-race-1928-Amsterdam-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/02/255202-050-DFD735BD/400-metre-hurdles-race-1928-Amsterdam-Olympics.jpg) [![Jean Shiley at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/03/255203-004-92847DE1/Jean-Shiley-High-jumper-Los-Angeles-1932-Olympics.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/03/255203-050-51347C16/Jean-Shiley-High-jumper-Los-Angeles-1932-Olympics.jpg) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Ask Anything Quick Summary [Sports & Recreation](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Sports-Recreation) [Olympic Sports](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Olympic-Sports) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Usain Bolt](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-050-2CE9732E/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-050-2CE9732E/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg) [Usain Bolt](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-050-2CE9732E/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg) Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt reacting after he won the gold medal in the 200-meter dash at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, August 20, 2008. (more) # Summer Olympic Games international sports event Homework Help Also known as: Summer Games Written by [Mindy Johnston Mindy Spitzer Johnston is Managing Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica.](https://www.britannica.com/editor/mindy-johnston/12488102) Mindy Johnston Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors [History](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything ## News • [Check your email. It's time to snag LA28 Olympics tickets](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/california/2026/04/01/get-la-olympics-tickets-2028/89411561007/) • Apr. 1, 2026, 6:54 PM ET (USA Today) ...(Show more) [Robert Griffin III named to 2026 Team USA flag football roster](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/03/26/robert-griffin-iii-team-usa-flag-football-roster/89335077007/) • Mar. 26, 2026, 3:45 PM ET (USA Today) [USA Flag Football Team humiliates NFL stars including Joe Burrow, Tom Brady](https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/usa-flag-football-team-humiliates-nfl-stars-including-joe-burrow-tom-brady-11716372) • Mar. 21, 2026, 7:04 PM ET (Newsweek) [Tsige Duguma among four Ethiopian athletes to miss World Indoor Championships due to visa issues](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7130987/2026/03/20/tsige-duguma-among-four-ethiopian-athletes-to-miss-world-indoor-championships-due-to-visa-issues/) • Mar. 20, 2026, 7:20 AM ET (New York Times) [Tom Brady on playing in 2028 Olympics: 'Never say never' but 'unlikely'](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/03/18/tom-brady-flag-football-2028-olympics/89207529007/) • Mar. 18, 2026, 9:45 AM ET (USA Today) Show less Top Questions - What are the Summer Olympic Games? - How often are the Summer Olympic Games held? - What kinds of sports are included in the Summer Olympic Games? - How are hosting cities chosen for the Summer Olympic Games? - Why are the Summer Olympic Games important to athletes and countries around the world? Show more Show less Occurring every four years—provided there is no global war or pandemic—the Summer Olympic Games bring together [athletes](https://www.britannica.com/sports/list-of-Summer-Olympic-athletes) from across the world to compete for the love of country and sport. While the slate of events has changed over the years, with [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) regularly being added and removed, perennially popular sports persist—including [gymnastics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/gymnastics), [swimming](https://www.britannica.com/sports/swimming-sport), [diving](https://www.britannica.com/sports/diving), [volleyball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/volleyball), and [track and field](https://www.britannica.com/sports/athletics). The makeup of the Games’ participants has also evolved in response to social and national changes as well as geopolitical conditions, leading to modern Games that reflect the state of the world, the global reach of sports, and athletic [diversity](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity). The table below lists the Summer Games with links to more content, surprising facts and notable moments, and athletes whose stories have captured our attention. \| Summer Games \| Firsts and Notable Moments \| Star Athletes \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| [Athens 1896](https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games) \| The [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) Games were the first occurrence of the modern Olympic Games and the running of the first [marathon](https://www.britannica.com/sports/marathon-race). [Hungary](https://www.britannica.com/place/Hungary) sent the only national team (although it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire); most of the foreign competitors were college students or club athletes. \| [Spyridon Louis: The First Olympic Hero](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Spyridon-Louis-The-First-Olympic-Hero-1936025) and [Alfréd Hajós: Into the Icy Waters](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Hajos-Into-the-Icy-Waters-1936082). Bonus Bio: [Pierre de Coubertin: Father of the Modern Olympics.](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Baron-de-Coubertin-Father-of-the-Modern-Olympics) \| \| [Paris 1900](https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-1900-Olympic-Games) \| The [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) Games saw women competing for the first time, in a limited number of sports—sailing, lawn [tennis](https://www.britannica.com/sports/tennis), and [golf](https://www.britannica.com/sports/golf)—although the women’s events were not officially approved by the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC). Swimming events were held in the [Seine River](https://www.britannica.com/place/Seine-River). \| [Margaret Abbott: A Study Break](https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-Study-Break-1367944); [Albert Ayat: The Master](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Albert-Ayat); and [Alvin Kraenzlein: Rivalry Among Teammates](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alvin-Kraenzlein-Rivalry-Among-Teammates-1936062). \| \| [St. Louis 1904](https://www.britannica.com/event/St-Louis-1904-Olympic-Games) \| [Boxing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/boxing) made its Olympic debut in 1904. Originally scheduled to be held in [Chicago](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago), the Games were moved to [St. Louis](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Louis-Missouri) so as to combine them with that city’s world’s fair, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the [Louisiana Purchase](https://www.britannica.com/event/Louisiana-Purchase). \| [Felix Carvajal: How to Make Friends at a Marathon](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Felix-Carvajal-How-to-Make-Friends-at-a-Marathon-1795606); [Ray Ewry: Higher Than the Rest](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ray-Ewry-Higher-Than-the-Rest-2053883); and [Thomas Kiely: The Long Journey](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thomas-Kiely-The-Long-Journey). \| \| Athens 1906 \| While the 1906 Games—often referred to as the Intercalated Olympic Games—introduced important permanent customs, such as the parade of the competing countries’ teams around the track, these Games are not included in official IOC lists. The Games’ results were vetoed by organizer [Pierre de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), for fear that more Olympics held in [Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece) would bolster a proposal to make Athens a permanent Olympic site (a suggestion supported by the rest of the IOC). Petitions to reinstate the 1906 Games were rejected by the IOC in both 1948 and 2003. \| \| \| [London 1908](https://www.britannica.com/event/London-1908-Olympic-Games) \| The [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) Games were the first to have an opening ceremony. New events included [diving](https://www.britannica.com/sports/diving), motorboating, indoor tennis, and [field hockey](https://www.britannica.com/sports/field-hockey). \| [Dorando Pietri: Falling at the Finish](https://www.britannica.com/biography/1908-Olympic-Games-Falling-at-the-Finish-1367949); [Ralph Rose and Martin Sheridan: The Battle of Shepherd’s Bush](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ralph-Rose-and-Martin-Sheridan-The-Battle-of-Shepherds-Bush-1688488); and [Forrest Smithson: A Tall Tale](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Forrest-Smithson-A-Tall-Tale-1795608). \| \| [Stockholm 1912](https://www.britannica.com/event/Stockholm-1912-Olympic-Games) \| The whole globe was represented at [Stockholm](https://www.britannica.com/place/Stockholm)—for the first time athletes came from all five continents. Electronic timing devices for track-and-field events and a public-address system debuted at the 1912 Games. \| [George S. Patton: The Missing Bullet](https://www.britannica.com/topic/George-S-Patton-The-Missing-Bullet); [Jim Thorpe: Glory Restored](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jim-Thorpe-Glory-Restored); [Nedo Nadi: Following in Father’s Footsteps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nedo-Nadi); and [Martin Klein and Alfred Asikainen: The Match That Wouldn’t End](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Martin-Klein-and-Alfred-Asikainen-The-Match-That-Wouldnt-End-1795612). \| \| Berlin 1916 \| The 1916 Games, scheduled for [Berlin](https://www.britannica.com/place/Berlin), were canceled because of the outbreak of [World War I](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I). \| \| \| [Antwerp 1920](https://www.britannica.com/event/Antwerp-1920-Olympic-Games) \| The Olympic flag was introduced at the [Antwerp](https://www.britannica.com/place/Antwerp-Belgium) Games. The defeated countries of World War I—[Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany), [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria), Hungary, [Bulgaria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulgaria), and [Turkey](https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey)—were not invited to compete, and the [Soviet Union](https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union) chose not to attend. \| [Joseph Guillemot: Life After War](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Life-After-War-1367956); [Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaiian Royalty](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duke-Kahanamoku-Hawaiian-Royalty-1928635); [Suzanne Lenglen: The Leading Lady](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Suzanne-Lenglen-The-Leading-Lady); and [Ugo Frigerio: Leading the Band](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ugo-Frigerio). \| \| [Paris 1924](https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-1924-Olympic-Games) \| By the 1924 Games international federations had gained more influence over their respective sports, standardizing the rules of competition, and national Olympic organizations in most countries conducted trials to ensure that the best athletes were sent to compete. \| [Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell: Chariots of Fire](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1924-Olympic-Games-1117726); [Aileen Riggin: The Girl in the Pool](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aileen-Riggin-The-Girl-in-the-Pool-1936044); [Johnny Weissmuller: Before Tarzan](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johnny-Weissmuller-Before-Tarzan-1936042); and [Paavo Nurmi: The Flying Finn](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paavo-Nurmi-The-Flying-Finn-1936064). \| \| [Amsterdam 1928](https://www.britannica.com/event/Amsterdam-1928-Olympic-Games) \| The Olympic flame debuted in [Amsterdam](https://www.britannica.com/place/Amsterdam). The women’s slate gained gymnastics and track-and-field events, but the latter had distance restrictions imposed after several women collapsed while running the 800-meter race. Until the [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome) Games in 1960, women were not allowed to compete in races longer than 200 meters. \| [Paavo Yrjölä: The Farmhand](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paavo-Yrjola); [Andrew Charlton and Arne Borg: The Boy and the Sturgeon](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Charlton-and-Arne-Borg-The-Boy-and-the-Sturgeon-1795620); [Ethel Catherwood: Saskatoon Lily](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ethel-Catherwood-Saskatoon-Lily-1795624); and [Hitomi Kinue: A Strong Woman](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hitomi-Kinue-A-Strong-Woman-1795626). \| \| [Los Angeles 1932](https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-1932-Olympic-Games) \| The [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) Games featured the first Olympic Village, which was located in Baldwin Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The Olympic Village was for male athletes only; female athletes stayed in a downtown hotel. Uniform automatic timing and the photo-finish camera were used for the first time. \| [Stanisława Walasiewicz: The Curious Story of Stella Walsh](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1932-Olympic-Games-The-Curious-Story-of-Stella-Walsh-1367962); [Babe Didrikson Zaharias: Wanting More](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Babe-Didrikson-Zaharias-Wanting-More-1795630); and [Nishi Takeichi: Friendship and Honor](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nishi-Takeichi-Friendship-and-Honor-1795632). \| \| [Berlin 1936](https://www.britannica.com/event/Berlin-1936-Olympic-Games) \| The Berlin Games were the first Olympic competition to use [telex](https://www.britannica.com/technology/telex) transmissions of results, and [zeppelins](https://www.britannica.com/technology/zeppelin) quickly transported newsreel footage to other European cities. The Games were televised for the first time, transmitted by [closed circuit](https://www.britannica.com/technology/closed-circuit-television) to specially equipped theaters in Berlin. (Distribution of newsreel footage and television highlights assisted organizers in their plans to disseminate Nazi propaganda.) The 1936 Games also introduced the torch relay, by which the [Olympic flame](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols#ref249560) is transported from Greece. \| [Helene Mayer: Fencing for the Führer](https://www.britannica.com/biography/1936-Olympic-Games-Fencing-for-the-Fuhrer-1367966); [Sohn Kee-Chung: The Defiant One](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sohn-Kee-Chung-The-Defiant-One-1367969); [Eleanor Holm: From Poolside to Press Box](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eleanor-Holm-From-Poolside-to-Press-Box-1795636); and [Jesse Owens: The Superior Sprinter](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesse-Owens-The-Superior-Sprinter-1843247). \| \| Tokyo 1940 \| The 1940 Games, scheduled for [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo), were canceled because of [World War II](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II). \| \| \| London 1944 \| World War II was still raging in 1944, and the London Games were canceled. \| \| \| [London 1948](https://www.britannica.com/event/London-1948-Olympic-Games) \| The first Olympics since 1936, the 1948 Games were played while many countries were still recovering from the destruction of World War II. Germany and [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan), the defeated powers, were not invited to participate. The Soviet Union also did not participate, but the Games were the first to be attended by communist countries, including Hungary, [Yugoslavia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003), and [Poland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland). \| [Dr. Sammy Lee: Doctor Diver](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dr-Sammy-Lee-Doctor-Diver); [Károly Takács: Switching Hands](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Karoly-Takacs-Switching-Hands); [Micheline Ostermeyer: Strength and Artistry](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Micheline-Ostermeyer-Strength-and-Artistry-1936143); and [Fanny Blankers-Koen: The World’s Fastest Mom](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fanny-Blankers-Koen-The-Worlds-Fastest-Mom-1936037). \| \| [Helsinki 1952](https://www.britannica.com/event/Helsinki-1952-Olympic-Games) \| The [Helsinki](https://www.britannica.com/place/Helsinki) Games were the first Olympics in which the Soviet Union participated (a Russian team had last competed in the 1912 Games). The German (athletes from [West Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Germany) only) and Japanese teams returned to competition. \| [Lis Hartel: Beating Polio](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1952-Olympic-Games-Beating-Polio-1367972); [Emil Zátopek: The Bouncing Czech](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emil-Zatopek-The-Bouncing-Czech-1936039); [Ingemar Johansson: When the Giant Slept](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ingemar-Johansson-When-the-Giant-Slip); and [The Hungarian Football Team: The Magnificent Magyars](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hungarian-Football-Team-The-Magnificent-Magyars-The-1795639). \| \| [Melbourne 1956](https://www.britannica.com/event/Melbourne-1956-Olympic-Games) \| The 1956 Olympics were the first to be held in the Southern [Hemisphere](https://www.britannica.com/science/hemisphere). Because of the reversal of [seasons](https://www.britannica.com/science/season), the Games took place in November and December. The [Melbourne](https://www.britannica.com/place/Melbourne) Games introduced the practice of athletes marching into the closing ceremonies together, not segregated by country. \| [Betty Cuthbert: A Humble Champion](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Betty-Cuthbert-A-Humble-Champion-1936027); [László Papp: Facing the Best](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Laszlo-Papp-Facing-the-Best); [Rudolf Kárpáti: Last of a Long Line](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rudolf-Karpati-Last-of-a-Long-Line-1795641); and [Hungary v. U.S.S.R.: Blood in the Water](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hungary-v-U-S-S-R-Blood-in-the-Water-1688425). \| \| [Rome 1960](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rome-1960-Olympic-Games) \| The 1960 Olympics were the first to be fully covered by [television](https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology). Several ancient Roman sites were restored and used as venues. The [Basilica of Maxentius](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Basilica-of-Constantine) hosted the [wrestling](https://www.britannica.com/sports/wrestling) competition, and the [Baths of Caracalla](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baths-of-Caracalla) was the site of the gymnastic events. The marathon was run along the [Appian Way](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Appian-Way) and ended under the [Arch of Constantine](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arch-of-Constantine). \| [Abebe Bikila: Barefoot Through the Streets of Rome](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abebe-Bikila-Barefoot-Through-the-Streets-of-Rome); [Dawn Fraser: Breaking Rules and Records](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dawn-Fraser-Breaking-Rules-and-Records-1936093); [Wilma Rudolph: The Chattanooga Choo Choo](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wilma-Rudolph-The-Chattanooga-Choo-Choo-1936023); and [Rafer Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang: Friendly Competition](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rafer-Johnson-and-Yang-Chuan-kwang-Friendly-Competition-1795643). \| \| [Tokyo 1964](https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-1964-Olympic-Games) \| The 1964 Games introduced improved timing and scoring technologies, including the first use of [computers](https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer) to keep [statistics](https://www.britannica.com/science/statistics). Volleyball and [judo](https://www.britannica.com/sports/judo) also made their Olympic debuts. [South Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa) was banned by the IOC for its racist policy of [apartheid](https://www.britannica.com/topic/apartheid). \| [Anton Geesink: Dutch Surprise](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anton-Geesink-Dutch-Surprise); [The Japanese Women’s Volleyball Team: The Hardest Part](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Japanese-Womens-Volleyball-Team-The-Hardest-Part-The-1117772); [Peter Snell: Tearing Up the Track](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Peter-Snell-Tearing-Up-the-Track); and [Tamara and Irina Press: Sisters](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tamara-and-Inna-Press-Sisters). \| \| [Mexico City 1968](https://www.britannica.com/event/Mexico-City-1968-Olympic-Games) \| East and West Germany competed for the first time as separate countries in [Mexico City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico-City). The 1968 Games also saw drug testing and female [sex](https://www.britannica.com/science/sex/Sex-determination#ref29390) verification conducted for the first time. \| [Bob Beamon: Beyond Imagination](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Beamon-Beyond-Imagination-1936057); [Kip Keino: A Father of Kenya](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kip-Keino-A-Father-of-Kenya-1936079); and [Věra Čáslavská: Out of Hiding](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vera-Caslavska-Out-of-Hiding-1843250). \| \| [Munich 1972](https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-1972-Olympic-Games) \| The Soviet Union captured the gold medal in men’s [basketball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball) at the [Munich](https://www.britannica.com/place/Munich-Bavaria-Germany) Games, upsetting the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), which until then had never lost a game in Olympic competition. [Archery](https://www.britannica.com/sports/archery) returned to the Games for the first time since 1920, with events for both men and women. Tragedy befell the Games when the Palestinian militant group [Black September](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-September-political-organization-Palestine) staged a terrorist attack (later called the [Munich massacre](https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-Massacre)) at the Olympic Village against members of the [Israeli](https://www.britannica.com/place/Israel) team, leading to the deaths of 11 athletes. \| [Dan Gable: Driven](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dan-Gable-Driven); [Lasse Virén: Reviving a Tradition](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lasse-Viren-Reviving-a-Tradition-1936085); [Mark Spitz: The Magnificent Seven](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mark-Spitz-The-Magnificent-Seven-1936053); and [Olga Korbut: Winning Hearts](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olga-Korbut-Winning-Hearts-1930755). \| \| [Montreal 1976](https://www.britannica.com/event/Montreal-1976-Olympic-Games) \| The 1976 Games drew more attention to the apparent problems of the Olympic movement. Questions arose about the integrity of the competition itself. Many athletes were suspected of using [anabolic steroids](https://www.britannica.com/science/anabolic-steroid) to enhance their performance. There was also concern that the amateur spirit of the Games had been undermined by the growing commercial influence on sports in the West and the pervasive government control of athletes in the [Eastern bloc](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-bloc) countries. \| [Nadia Comăneci: Perfection](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nadia-Comaneci-Perfection); [Kornelia Ender: Victory amid Accusations](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kornelia-Ender-Victory-amid-Accusations-1936074); [Fujimoto Shun: Putting the Team First](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fujimoto-Shun-Putting-the-Team-First-1795652); and [Vasily Alekseyev: The Russian Bear](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vasily-Alekseyev-The-Russian-Bear). \| \| [Moscow 1980](https://www.britannica.com/event/Moscow-1980-Olympic-Games) \| The Soviet Union’s [invasion of Afghanistan](https://www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan) in December 1979 led to the largest boycott in the history of the Olympic movement in 1980. U.S. Pres. [Jimmy Carter](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmy-Carter) took the lead in calling for a boycott of the [Moscow](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moscow) Games, and approximately 60 other countries joined the United States in staying home. \| [Miruts Yifter: Yifter the Shifter](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1980-Olympic-Games-Yifter-the-Shifter-1367985); [Teófilo Stevenson: The Knockout Artist](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Teofilo-Stevenson-The-Knockout-Artist-1936051); [Zimbabwe Women’s Hockey Team: Happy to Be Here](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zimbabwe-Womens-Hockey-Team-Happy-to-Be-Here-1795658); and [Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett: The 800-Meter Duel](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sebastian-Coe-and-Steve-Ovett-The-800-Metre-Duel-1795654). \| \| [Los Angeles 1984](https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-1984-Olympic-Games) \| Under the direction of American entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth, the 1984 Olympics witnessed the ascension of commercialism as an integral element in the staging of the Games. The Olympics turned a profit (\$225 million) for the first time since 1932. The number of events for women grew to include [cycling](https://www.britannica.com/sports/cycling), [rhythmic gymnastics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/rhythmic-gymnastics), [synchronized swimming](https://www.britannica.com/sports/artistic-swimming), and several new track-and-field events, most notably the marathon. \| [Zola Budd: Collision and Controversy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1984-Olympic-Games-Collision-and-Controversy-1117790); [Michael Gross: The Albatross](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Gross-The-Albatross-1936059); [Mary Lou Retton: L.A. Dynamo](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Lou-Retton-LA-Dynamo-1935826); and [Yamashita Yasuhiro: The Gentle Way](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yamashita-Yasuhiro-The-Gentle-Way-1795660). \| \| [Seoul 1988](https://www.britannica.com/event/Seoul-1988-Olympic-Games) \| The Olympic rule requiring participants to be amateurs had been overturned in 1986, and decisions on professional participation were left to the governing bodies of particular sports. This resulted in the return of [tennis](https://www.britannica.com/sports/tennis), which had been dropped in 1924. [Table tennis](https://www.britannica.com/sports/table-tennis) and team [archery](https://www.britannica.com/sports/archery) events were also added. \| [Lawrence Lemieux: An Easy Decision](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lawrence-Lemieux-An-Easy-Decision-1795663); [Eamonn Coghlan: Finishing the Race](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eamonn-Coghlan-Finishing-the-Race-1795661); [Florence Griffith Joyner: Flash and Dash](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Florence-Griffith-Joyner-Flash-and-Dash-1936184); and [Greg Louganis: Surviving a Scare](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greg-Louganis-Surviving-a-Scare). \| \| [Barcelona 1992](https://www.britannica.com/event/Barcelona-1992-Olympic-Games) \| For the first time in three decades, there was no boycott. The list of sports at the [Barcelona](https://www.britannica.com/place/Barcelona) Games expanded to include [badminton](https://www.britannica.com/sports/badminton), [baseball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/baseball), and women’s judo. With the fall of the [Berlin Wall](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berlin-Wall) in 1989, the German team was again united. South Africa, which had abandoned its policy of apartheid, returned to the Olympics with its first racially integrated team. \| [Hassiba Boulmerka: Testing Her Faith](https://www.britannica.com/topic/1992-Olympic-Games-Testing-Her-Faith-1117799); [Derek Redmond: Between a Father and His Son](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Derek-Redmond-Between-a-Father-and-His-Son-1795665); [Susi Susanti: A Nation, a Sport, and One Woman](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Susi-Susanti-A-Nation-a-Sport-and-One-Woman-1795667); and [The U.S. Men’s Basketball Team: The Dream Team](https://www.britannica.com/topic/U-S-Mens-Basketball-Team-The-Dream-Team-The-1795669). \| \| [Atlanta 1996](https://www.britannica.com/event/Atlanta-1996-Olympic-Games) \| The Games received no governmental financial support for the first time in 1996. Instead, corporate sponsors—including [Coca-Cola](https://www.britannica.com/money/The-Coca-Cola-Company), which supplied more than \$300 million—and television rights were relied upon to defray costs. For the first time, all national Olympic committees (NOCs) invited to compete sent athletes. New sports included women’s [football (soccer)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer), beach [volleyball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/volleyball), lightweight [rowing](https://www.britannica.com/topic/rowing-boat-propulsion-and-sport), women’s [softball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/softball), and mountain biking (cross-country cycling). The Games’ festivities were marred by the explosion of a homemade pipe bomb left among spectators at Centennial Olympic Park. The blast killed one person and injured 112 others. \| [Carl Lewis: A Farewell](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Lewis-A-Farewell-1936071); [Aleksandr Kareline: Wrestling Goliath](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aleksandr-Kareline-Wrestling-Goliath-1795671); [Michelle Smith: Raising Suspicions](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Smith-Raising-Suspicions-1936141); and [Naim Suleymanoglu: Pocket Hercules](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Naim-Suleymaoglu-Pocket-Hercules). \| \| [Sydney 2000](https://www.britannica.com/event/Sydney-2000-Olympic-Games) \| Several events were contested at the Olympics for the first time in 2000, including men’s and women’s [tae kwon do](https://www.britannica.com/sports/tae-kwon-do), [trampoline](https://www.britannica.com/sports/trampoline), [triathlon](https://www.britannica.com/sports/triathlon), and synchronized diving. Other new women’s events included [weightlifting](https://www.britannica.com/sports/weightlifting), modern [pentathlon](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pentathlon), and [pole vault](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pole-vault). The [Sydney](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sydney-New-South-Wales) opening ceremonies celebrated the history of [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia), especially the unique cultures and contributions of the [Aboriginal peoples](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Aboriginal) of the continent. \| [Cathy Freeman: The Heart of a Nation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/2000-Olympic-Games-The-Heart-of-a-Nation-1368012); [Maureen O’Toole: A First and Last Chance](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maureen-OToole-A-First-and-Last-Chance-1795673); and [Steven Redgrave: A Rower’s Life](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Steven-Redgrave-A-Rowers-Life). \| \| [Athens 2004](https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-2004-Olympic-Games) \| More than 20 athletes were disqualified at the Athens Games after they failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs, and controversies over scoring in gymnastics and fencing made headlines. A record 201 NOCs were represented. \| [Birgit Fischer: Superlative Olympian](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Birgit-Fischer-Superlative-Olympian-1844193) and [The Argentine Men’s Basketball Team: Gold for the Golden Generation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Argentine-Mens-Basketball-Team-Gold-for-the-Golden-Generation-1844190). \| \| [Beijing 2008](https://www.britannica.com/event/Beijing-2008-Olympic-Games) \| In the months prior to the Games, a devastating [earthquake](https://www.britannica.com/event/Sichuan-earthquake-of-2008) in [Sichuan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sichuan) province, international focus on [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China)’s [pollution](https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment) problems, protests over China’s human rights record in [Tibet](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tibet), and criticism of the Chinese government’s control of information became part of the Olympics story. In the end, however, the final narrative of the [Beijing](https://www.britannica.com/place/Beijing) Games was dominated by two historic sporting feats: American swimmer [Michael Phelps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps) broke [Mark Spitz](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mark-Spitz)’s record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics, and sprinter [Usain Bolt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Usain-Bolt) of [Jamaica](https://www.britannica.com/place/Jamaica) claimed the mantle of “the fastest man alive.” \| [Michael Phelps: Eight-Gold-Medal Man (with a Little Help from His Friends)](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps-Eight-Gold-Medal-Man-with-a-Little-Help-from-His-Friends-1848393); and [Natalie du Toit: A Pioneering Disabled Swimmer](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Natalie-Du-Toit-The-other-abled-swimmer-1850925). \| \| [London 2012](https://www.britannica.com/event/London-2012-Olympic-Games) \| In 2012 London became the first city to host the modern Games three times (1908, 1948, 2012)—a record held until 2024, when Paris (1900, 1924, 2024) tied for the honor. The most notable addition to the London program was women’s [boxing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/boxing), which made its Olympic debut in three weight classes. The London Games were also the first Olympiad wherein each participating country had at least one female athlete competing. \| [Allyson Felix](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Allyson-Felix), [Ryan Lochte](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ryan-Lochte), [Jessica Ennis-Hill](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jessica-Ennis-Hill), and [Kobe Bryant](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kobe-Bryant). \| \| [Rio de Janeiro 2016](https://www.britannica.com/event/Rio-de-Janeiro-2016-Olympic-Games) \| The event marked the first time that the Olympic Games—either Summer or Winter—were held in [South America](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America). The Games featured a record 205 participating NOCs, with more than 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports. The [Rio](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil) Olympics also featured the debut of a [Refugee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/refugee) Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games. \| [Caeleb Dressel](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caeleb-Dressel), [Michael Phelps](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps), [Neymar](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neymar), and [Simone Biles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Biles). \| \| [Tokyo 2020](https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games) \| Officially the Tokyo 2020 Games, the event was actually held in 2021 because of the [COVID-19](https://www.britannica.com/science/COVID-19) pandemic, becoming the first Olympics to be held after the proposed start date. The [pandemic](https://www.britannica.com/science/pandemic) prompted the Japanese Olympic Committee to bar spectators from the city’s sporting venues—a decision that cost the committee more than \$800 million in lost ticket sales. \| [Lisa Carrington](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lisa-Carrington), [Neeraj Chopra](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neeraj-Chopra), Caeleb Dressel, [Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce), [Yuto Horigome](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yuto-Horigome), [Rayssa Leal](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rayssa-Leal), [Katie Ledecky](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katie-Ledecky), [Suni Lee](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Suni-Lee), [Emma McKeon](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emma-McKeon), and [Ariarne Titmus](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ariarne-Titmus). \| \| [Paris 2024](https://www.britannica.com/explore/paris-olympics-2024) \| The Summer Games returned to Paris for the third time in modern history. With an eye toward sustainability, the 2024 Paris Olympics were the first Games aligned with the goals and recommendations of the [Paris Climate Agreement](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Paris-Agreement-2015). Actions included public transportation access to all venues, reuse of existing buildings and stadiums as venues, and low carbon and eco-friendly new buildings; organizers reported that more than 98 percent of the energy needed to power the Games came from renewable sources. With the slogan “Games Wide Open,” the Paris Games were the first Olympic Games in history to achieve full gender parity. [Breaking](https://www.britannica.com/art/break-dance) had its Olympic debut in 2024. \| Simone Biles, Neeraj Chopra, Caeleb Dressel, Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal, Katie Ledecky, Suni Lee, [Noah Lyles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Noah-Lyles), Emma McKeon, [Arshad Nadeem](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arshad-Nadeem), [Sha’Carri Richardson](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sha-Carri-Richardson), [Trinity Rodman](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Trinity-Rodman), [Sophia Smith](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sophia-Smith-American-soccer-player), and Ariarne Titmus. \| \| Los Angeles 2028 \| Los Angeles will join the three-timers club when the Summer Games return to the city in 2028. The Los Angeles organizers—like their Paris 2024 counterparts—have sustainability in mind as they plan an “Energy Positive Games.” \| \| \| Brisbane 2032 \| The 2032 Summer Games will head to the [Gold Coast](https://www.britannica.com/place/Gold-Coast-Queensland) of [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia). Situated in a region steeped in Indigenous history, the Brisbane Games will showcase First Nations cultures, and planning will incorporate the contributions of [Aboriginal](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Aboriginal) and [Torres Strait Islander](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Torres-Strait-Islander-people) peoples. \| \| # From Athens to Paris: More Than 125 Years of Summer Olympics History 1 of 32 [Mindy Johnston](https://www.britannica.com/editor/mindy-johnston/12488102) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI chevron\_right Summer Olympic Games close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Martin, Roland. "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games. Accessed 12 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokyo-2020-Olympic-Games> External Websites - [Frontiers - Frontiers in Sports and Active Living - Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games: Specificities, novelties and lessons learned](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.1026769/full) - [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Injuries and illness of athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic summer games visiting outside facilities](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10918355/) - [International Olympic Committee - Olympic Games Tokyo 2020](https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/tokyo-2020) - [ABC listen - Nightlife - 2020 Tokyo](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/tokyo-olympics/104125700) Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Johnston, Mindy. "Summer Olympic Games". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games. Accessed 12 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games>
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