🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa079)

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, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games","crawl_time":1776326369,"first_indexed_time":1465917729,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,britannica!www,\/sports\/Olympic-Games s443","src_root_hash":"5455945239613777662","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Olympic Games | 2026, Milano Cortina, History, Sports, Medals, Locations, & Winners | Britannica","meta_descriptions":["The Olympic Games are a quadrennial athletic festival that is often regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition. The ancient Olympic Games included several sports that are now part of the Summer Games program, which includes events in as many as 32 different sports. Learn more about the Olympic Games in this article."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Top Questions\nWhat are the Olympic Games?\nWhen did the Olympic Games start?\nWhen are the Olympic Games?\nWhere are the Olympic Games held?\nWhat are the prizes at the Olympics?\nWho started the modern Olympics?\nWhen were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics?\nWho has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals?\nNews\n•\nOlympic Games\n,  athletic festival that originated in\nancient Greece\nand was\nrevived\nin the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in\nbasketball\nand\nfootball (soccer)\n. The\nancient Olympic Games\nincluded several of the sports that are now part of the\nSummer Games\nprogram, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different\nsports\n. In 1924 the\nWinter Games\nwere sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports\ncompetition\n.\nThe next edition of the Olympics will be the\nSummer Games in Los Angeles in 2028\n. The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French\nAlps\nin 2030.\nThe ancient Olympic Games\nOrigins\nJust how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in\nGreece\nalmost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century\nbce\nat least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at\nOlympia\n; the\nPythian Games\nat\nDelphi\n; the\nNemean Games\nat Nemea; and the\nIsthmian Games\n, held near\nCorinth\n. Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as\nRome\n,\nNaples\n, Odessus,\nAntioch\n, and\nAlexandria\n.\nOf all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an\nintrinsic\npart of a religious festival. They were held in honor of\nZeus\nat Olympia by the\ncity-state\nof\nElis\nin the northwestern\nPeloponnese\n. The first Olympic\nchampion\nlisted in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776\nbce\n. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776\nbce\nare founded on\nmyth\n, not historical evidence. According to one\nlegend\n, for example, the Games were founded by\nHeracles\n, son of Zeus and\nAlcmene\n.\nCompetition and status\nAncient Olympic Games\nInfographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the\npankration\n.\nAt the meeting in 776\nbce\nthere was apparently only one event, a\nfootrace\nthat covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the\nstade\n, was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word\nstade\nalso came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word\nstadium\n. In 724\nbce\na two-length race, the\ndiaulos\n, roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the\ndolichos\n, a long-distance race possibly\ncomparable\nto the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added.\nWrestling\nand the\npentathlon\nwere introduced in 708\nbce\n. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the\nlong jump\n, the\njavelin throw\n, the\ndiscus throw\n, a footrace, and wrestling.\nBritannica Quiz\nThe Olympics Quiz\nBoxing\nwas introduced in 688\nbce\nand\nchariot racing\neight years later. In 648\nbce\nthe\npancratium\n(from Greek\npankration\n), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616\nbce\nevents for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for\nheralds\nand for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the\nathletics\n(track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and\nhorse racing\n, which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the\nhippodrome\nsouth of the stadium.\nIn the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the\neccentric\n(to be nude in public without an\nerection\ndemonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a\nrite of passage\n, (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of\nhunting\nand\ngathering\n, (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary.\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\nSUBSCRIBE\nThe Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the\nItalian peninsula\nand in\nAsia Minor\nand\nAfrica\n. Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread\nadulation\nand often lavish benefits from his home city.\nAI-generated answers\nfrom Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\nWomen\nand the Olympic Games\nAlthough there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In\nSparta\n, girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At\nOlympia\n, however, the\nHerean festival\n, held every four years in honor of the goddess\nHera\n, included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the\nRoman Empire\n. Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic\nvenues\n.\nThe 2nd-century-\nce\ntraveler\nPausanias\nwrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been\ninvoked\n. His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear.\nDemise of the Olympics\nGreece\nlost its independence to\nRome\nin the middle of the 2nd century\nbce\n, and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on\nathletics\nwith contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was\ndegrading\nin their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor\nAugustus\nstaged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the\nCircus Maximus\nin Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor\nNero\nwas also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a\nchariot race\n, fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway.\nRomans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman\ngladiator\nshows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each\nculture\nused to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests (\nagōnes\n), while for the Romans they were games (\nludi\n). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400\nce\nby the Roman emperor\nTheodosius I\nor his son because of the festival’s pagan associations.\nThe modern Olympic movement\nRevival of the Olympics\nThe ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was\nPierre de Coubertin\n, born in\nParis\non New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially\nphysical education\n. In 1890 he traveled to\nEngland\nto meet Dr.\nWilliam Penny Brookes\n, who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the\nancient Olympic Games\n, getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in\nAthens\nstarting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from\nPanagiotis Soutsos\n, a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public\napathy\nand opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens.\nAre Olympic Medals Made of Gold?\nWhen Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of\nreviving\nthe Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said:\nLet us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into\nEurope\nthe cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally.\nHe then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin\nreiterated\nhis proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers\nDimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the\nInternational Olympic Committee\n, and Professor William M. Sloane of the\nUnited States\n, from the\nCollege of New Jersey\n(later\nPrinceton University\n), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.”\nIt was at first agreed that the Games should be held in\nParis\nin 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the\nvenue\nto Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek\nprime minister\nto stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on\nGreek Independence Day\n(which was on March 25 according to the\nJulian calendar\nthen in use in Greece).\nOrganization\nThe\nInternational Olympic Committee\nAt the\nCongress\nof Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the\nInternational Olympic Committee\n(IOC; Comité International Olympique). During\nWorld War I\nCoubertin moved its headquarters to\nLausanne\n, Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of\nsports\nthroughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin.\nIOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense\ndelegates\nto the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence.\nThe IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents.\nThe IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be\nconvened\nat any time that one-third of the members so request.\nInternational Olympic Committee presidents\nname\ncountry\nyears\nDimítrios Vikélas\nGreece\n1894–96\nPierre, baron de Coubertin\nFrance\n1896–1925\nHenri, comte de Baillet-Latour\nBelgium\n1925–42\nJ. Sigfrid Edström\nSweden\n1946–52\nAvery Brundage\nUnited States\n1952–72\nMichael Morris, Lord Killanin\nIreland\n1972–80\nJuan António Samaranch\nSpain\n1980–2001\nJacques Rogge\nBelgium\n2001–13\nThomas Bach\nGermany\n2013–25\nKirsty Coventry\nZimbabwe\n2025–present\nThe awarding of the Olympic Games\nThe honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government.\nApplications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any\ndiscrimination\non grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the\nassurance\nthat the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of\nTaiwan\nbecause they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of\nChina\n, under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must\nundertake\nto strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions.\nSites of the modern Olympic Games\nyear\nSummer Games\nWinter Games\n*The Winter Games were not held until 1924.\n**Games were not held during World War I and World War II.\n***Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule.\n1896\nAthens\n*\n1900\nParis\n*\n1904\nSt. Louis\n,\nMissouri\n,\nU.S.\n*\n1908\nLondon\n*\n1912\nStockholm\n*\n1916\n**\n*\n1920\nAntwerp\n,\nBelgium\n*\n1924\nParis\nChamonix\n,\nFrance\n1928\nAmsterdam\nSt. Moritz\n,\nSwitzerland\n1932\nLos Angeles\nLake Placid\n,\nNew York\n, U.S.\n1936\nBerlin\nGarmisch-Partenkirchen\n,\nGermany\n1940\n**\n**\n1944\n**\n**\n1948\nLondon\nSt. Moritz\n1952\nHelsinki\n,\nFinland\nOslo\n,\nNorway\n1956\nMelbourne\n,\nAustralia\nCortina d'Ampezzo\n,\nItaly\n1960\nRome\nSquaw Valley (now\nOlympic Valley\n),\nCalifornia\n, U.S.\n1964\nTokyo\nInnsbruck\n,\nAustria\n1968\nMexico City\nGrenoble\n,\nFrance\n1972\nMunich\n,\nWest Germany\nSapporo\n,\nJapan\n1976\nMontreal\nInnsbruck\n,\nAustria\n1980\nMoscow\nLake Placid\n,\nNew York\n, U.S.\n1984\nLos Angeles\nSarajevo\n,\nYugoslavia\n(now in\nBosnia and Herzegovina\n)\n1988\nSeoul\n,\nSouth Korea\nCalgary\n,\nAlberta\n,\nCanada\n1992\nBarcelona\n,\nSpain\nAlbertville, France\n1994\n***\nLillehammer\n,\nNorway\n1996\nAtlanta\n,\nGeorgia\n, U.S.\n***\n1998\n***\nNagano\n,\nJapan\n2000\nSydney\n,\nAustralia\n***\n2002\n***\nSalt Lake City\n,\nUtah\n, U.S.\n2004\nAthens\n***\n2006\n***\nTurin\n,\nItaly\n2008\nBeijing\n***\n2010\n***\nVancouver\n,\nBritish Columbia\n,\nCanada\n2012\nLondon\n***\n2014\n***\nSochi\n,\nRussia\n2016\nRio de Janeiro\n***\n2018\n***\nPyeongchang county,\nSouth Korea\n2020\nTokyo\n***\n2022\n***\nBeijing\n2024\nParis\n***\n2026\n***\nMilan\nand\nCortina d'Ampezzo\n,\nItaly\n2028\nLos Angeles\n***\n2030\n***\nFrench\nAlps\n2032\nBrisbane\n,\nAustralia\n***\n2034\n***\nSalt Lake City","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[Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games)\n\n- [Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games)\n- [The ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games#ref59589)\n  - [Origins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games#ref249541)\n  \n  - [Competition and status](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games#ref249542)\n  \n  - [Women and the Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games)\n  \n  - [Demise of the Olympics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref59591)\n- [The modern Olympic movement](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref59593)\n  - [Revival of the Olympics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249544)\n  \n  - [Organization](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249545)\n    - [The International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249546)\n      - [The awarding of the Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249547)\n      - [Corruption](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Corruption)\n      - [Political pressures](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Corruption#ref249549)\n      - [Commercialization](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Corruption#ref249550)\n    - [National Olympic committees, international federations, and organizing committees](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Corruption#ref249551)\n    - [Programs and participation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation)\n      - [Amateurism versus professionalism](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref249553)\n      - [Doping and drug testing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref249554)\n  \n  - [Ritual and symbolism](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref59599)\n    - [Olympic ceremonies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref60481)\n      - [The opening ceremony](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref249555)\n      - [The medal ceremonies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref249556)\n      - [The closing ceremony](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Programs-and-participation#ref249557)\n    - [Olympic symbols](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols)\n      - [The flag](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols#ref249558)\n      - [The motto](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols#ref249559)\n      - [The flame and torch relay](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols#ref249560)\n      - [Mascots](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Olympic-symbols#ref249561)\n- [History of the modern Summer Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games)\n  - [Athens, Greece, 1896](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref59602)\n  \n  - [Paris, France, 1900](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref59603)\n  \n  - [St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., 1904](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref249562)\n  \n  - [Athens, Greece, 1906](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref249563)\n  \n  - [London, England, 1908](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908)\n  \n  - [Stockholm, Sweden, 1912](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908#ref59606)\n  \n  - [Antwerp, Belgium, 1920](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908#ref59607)\n  \n  - [Paris, France, 1924](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908#ref59608)\n  \n  - [Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1928](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908#ref59609)\n  \n  - [Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1932](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/London-England-1908#ref59610)\n  \n  - [Berlin, Germany, 1936](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Berlin-Germany-1936)\n  \n  - [London, England, 1948](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59612)\n  \n  - [Helsinki, Finland, 1952](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59613)\n  \n  - [Melbourne, Australia, 1956](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59614)\n  \n  - [Rome, Italy, 1960](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Rome-Italy-1960)\n  \n  - [Tokyo, Japan, 1964](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Rome-Italy-1960#ref59616)\n  \n  - [Mexico City, Mexico, 1968](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Rome-Italy-1960#ref59617)\n  \n  - [Munich, West Germany, 1972](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Munich-West-Germany-1972)\n  \n  - [Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1976](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59619)\n  \n  - [Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1980](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59620)\n  \n  - [Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1984](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59621)\n  \n  - [Seoul, South Korea, 1988](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59622)\n  \n  - [Barcelona, Spain, 1992](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Barcelona-Spain-1992)\n  \n  - [Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249564)\n  \n  - [Sydney, Australia, 2000](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249565)\n  \n  - [Athens, Greece, 2004](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249566)\n  \n  - [Beijing, China, 2008](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Beijing-China-2008)\n  \n  - [London, England, 2012](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Beijing-China-2008#ref308461)\n  \n  - [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2016](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Beijing-China-2008#ref338286)\n  \n  - [Tokyo 2021](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Beijing-China-2008#ref467751)\n  \n  - [Paris 2024](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Beijing-China-2008#ref472623)\n- [History of the Olympic Winter Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games)\n  - [Chamonix, France, 1924](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref215477)\n  \n  - [St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1928](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214319)\n  \n  - [Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1932](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214320)\n  \n  - [Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214321)\n  \n  - [St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1948](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948)\n  \n  - [Oslo, Norway, 1952](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214323)\n  \n  - [Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, 1956](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214324)\n  \n  - [Squaw Valley, California, U.S., 1960](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214325)\n  \n  - [Innsbruck, Austria, 1964](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Innsbruck-Austria-1964)\n  \n  - [Grenoble, France, 1968](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214327)\n  \n  - [Sapporo, Japan, 1972](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214328)\n  \n  - [Innsbruck, Austria, 1976](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214329)\n  \n  - [Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1980](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980)\n  \n  - [Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, 1984](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214331)\n  \n  - [Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214332)\n  \n  - [Albertville, France, 1992](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214333)\n  \n  - [Lillehammer, Norway, 1994](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214334)\n  \n  - [Nagano, Japan, 1998](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Nagano-Japan-1998)\n  \n  - [Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., 2002](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Nagano-Japan-1998#ref252823)\n  \n  - [Turin, Italy, 2006](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Nagano-Japan-1998#ref249567)\n  \n  - [Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010)\n  \n  - [Sochi, Russia, 2014](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref315126)\n  \n  - [Pyeongchang county, South Korea, 2018](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref467752)\n  \n  - [Beijing 2022](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref472624)\n  \n  - [Milano Cortina 2026](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref472625)\n\n[References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Olympic-Games)\n\n[Images, Videos & Interactives](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\n[![Lighting the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/81\/250281-004-3B4EDC17\/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/81\/250281-050-C80CCDEB\/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg)\n\n[![When Were the First Olympic Games?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/60\/179660-138-487C22E7\/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia\/-192454)\n\n[![Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/253818-138-7D8A15C6\/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024\/-301770)\n\n[![Ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-004-A79CB8F8\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-050-06FA423B\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)  [![Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/59\/19159-004-E97F9F18\/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/59\/19159-050-A02B04DA\/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)\n\n[![Strange Moments in Olympic history](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/225122-138-3A7F148B\/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments\/-257234)\n\n[![How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/62\/253562-138-120DAAE6\/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games\/-307606)\n\n[![How Are Olympic Sports Scored?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/66\/284166-049-BD9C5E1A\/how-are-olympic-sports-scored.jpg)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games)  [![Olympic Athletes vs. Animals](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/28\/284428-049-B414D62D\/olympic-athletes-versus-animals-comparisons.jpg)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games)  [![Opening ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/199147-004-86AC4AB1\/brazil-olympic-team-2016-olympic-summer-games-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/199147-050-536E0B11\/brazil-olympic-team-2016-olympic-summer-games-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg)\n\nAt a Glance\n\n[![default image](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/shared\/new-thistle.svg?v=3.179.9)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Olympic-Games)\n\n[Olympic Games summary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Olympic-Games)\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[![Marble bust of Alexander the Great, in the British Museum, London, England. Hellenistic Greek, 2nd-1st century BC. Said to be from Alexandria, Egypt. Height: 37 cm.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/58\/159658-131-6562599E\/Alexander-the-Great-marble-bust-British-Museum.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/ancient-greece)\n\n[Ancient Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/ancient-greece)\n\n[![Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb, front, is greeted at the finish line after teaming with Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curtis Tomasevicz to win the first Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in 62 years for Team USA ,(cont)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/31\/164631-131-222AC662\/Steven-Holcomb-2010.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/the-olympic-games)\n\n[The Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/the-olympic-games)\n\n[![Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after breaking the world record with a time of 19.30 to win the gold medal as Churandy Martina (left) of Netherlands Antilles and Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe come in after him in the Men's 200m Final at the National Stadium during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Summer Olympics, track and field, athletics)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/235355-131-5EA8CFD4\/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/i-am-the-greatest-athlete)\n\n[I Am the Greatest (Athlete)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/i-am-the-greatest-athlete)\n\n[![Assorted sports balls including a basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, baseball and others.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/52\/139052-131-7A7975D1\/Balls-shapes-colors-sizes-sports.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/american-sports-nicknames)\n\n[American Sports Nicknames](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/american-sports-nicknames)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [When did the Olympic Games start?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/When-did-the-Olympic-Games-start)\n- [When are the Olympic Games?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/When-are-the-Olympic-Games)\n- [Where are the Olympic Games held?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Where-are-the-Olympic-Games-held)\n- [Who started the modern Olympics?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Who-started-the-modern-Olympics)\n- [Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Who-has-won-the-most-Winter-Olympic-gold-medals)\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[![Lighting the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/81\/250281-050-C80CCDEB\/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/81\/250281-050-C80CCDEB\/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg)\n\n[Lighting the Olympic flame](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/81\/250281-050-C80CCDEB\/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg) An actress playing the role of an Athenian high priestess lights the Olympic flame in Athens, October 31, 2017. The torch was later carried to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Olympics.\n\n(more)\n\n# Olympic Games\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Olympiad\n\nWritten by\n\n[Harold Maurice Abrahams Broadcaster and journalist. Chairman, British Amateur Athletic Board. Olympic Gold Medalist (100-metre dash), whose experiences at the 1924 Olympics provided the subject of the 1981 film Chariots...](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/Harold-Maurice-Abrahams\/6)\n\nHarold Maurice Abrahams[All](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/additional-info#contributors)\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\nApr. 13, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/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\nTop Questions\n\n### What are the Olympic Games?\nThe Olympic Games are an athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Greece) and were revived in the late 19th century. They are the world’s foremost sports competition and include athletes from all over the world.\n\n### When did the Olympic Games start?\nAthletic festivals were being held in [ancient Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. The Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), had achieved major importance in Greece by the end of the 6th century bce. They began to lose popularity when Greece was conquered by Rome in the 2nd century bce, and the Games were officially abolished about 400 ce because of their [pagan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/paganism) associations. The Olympics were revived in the late 19th century, with the first modern Games being held in [Athens in 1896](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games).\n\n### When are the Olympic Games?\nThe Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games are each held every four years. After 1992, when both a Summer and Winter Games were held, they have been held on a staggered two-year schedule so that the Olympic Games occur every two years in either summer or winter. The next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030.\n\n### Where are the Olympic Games held?\nThe [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) chooses the location of each Olympic Games. The choice is based on applications made by the chief authority of a city, with support of the national government. Read *Britannica*’s list of [Olympic Games host cities](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games-host-cities) to find out where the Olympics have been held in the past and where they are scheduled to take place in the future.\n\n### What are the prizes at the Olympics?\nIn individual Olympic events the award for first place is a [gold medal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold), for second place a silver medal, and for third place a bronze medal. Diplomas are awarded for fourth through eighth places, and all competitors and officials receive a commemorative medal.\n\n### Who started the modern Olympics?\n[Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) (1863–1937), is usually credited as the person most responsible for starting the modern Olympic Games. He was a French educator who, at the 1889 Universal Exhibition in [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris), launched a series of congresses on physical education and international sport that coincided with inspiring new archaeological finds from [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece). He made a public call for an Olympic revival at one of these congresses in 1892, which initially fell on deaf ears. He persevered, and in 1894 a second Sorbonne congress resolved to hold an international [Olympic Games in Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games), which took place in 1896. He was a founding member of the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) and served as its president from 1896 to 1925.\n\n### When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics?\nWomen athletes first competed at the modern Olympic Games in [1900 in Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Paris-1900-Olympic-Games). That year 22 women participated in [croquet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/croquet), [equestrian](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/horsemanship), [golf](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/golf), [sailing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/), and [tennis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/tennis) events. The 2024 Games, also held in Paris, set the record for women’s participation: Women accounted for 49.2 percent of all athletes competing.\n\n### Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals?\nNorwegian cross-country skier [Johannes Høsflot Klæbo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Who-is-Johannes-Hosflot-Klaebo-the-Winter-Olympian-with-the-most-gold-medals) has won the most gold medals at the Winter Olympics: 11. He set the record at the [2026 Milano Cortina Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Milano-Cortina-2026-Olympic-Winter-Games). How do other Winter Olympians rank? Find out in the list below.\n\n- 1\\. [Johannes Høsflot Klæbo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Who-is-Johannes-Hosflot-Klaebo-the-Winter-Olympian-with-the-most-gold-medals) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 11\n- 2\\. [Marit Bjørgen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Marit-Bjorgen) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 8\n- 3\\. [Ole Einar Bjørndalen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ole-Einar-Bjorndalen) (Norway; biathlon, cross-country skiing): 8\n- 4\\. [Bjørn Daehlie](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Bjorn-Daehlie) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 8\n- 5\\. [Ireen Wüst](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ireen-Wust) (Netherlands; speed skating): 6\n\n## News •\n[Swimming becomes first major Olympic sport to lift restrictions on Russian athletes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/428005\/21e6a5e3ad73844cb2eef29b72a96326)\n\n• Apr. 13, 2026, 1:04 PM ET (AP)\n\n...(Show more)\n\n[Olympic gold medalist boxer at center of gender controversy advances to Asian semifinals](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/428005\/15a5bb14953d80f53a048f59d2d439f0)  • Apr. 3, 2026, 4:19 AM ET (AP)\n\n[Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/428005\/1fb702fe2c85e8ca2f94649711430028)  • Apr. 1, 2026, 5:44 AM ET (AP)\n\n[A'ja Wilson returns to USA Basketball camp in Phoenix during Final Four week](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/428005\/f2d649659ad9b716e3158900f8d43a03)  • Mar. 31, 2026, 3:07 PM ET (AP)\n\n[Taiwan Olympic boxing champ involved in gender debate wins first bout at Asian titles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/news\/428005\/32d906c7daf238565feb076fc1c8f75a)  • Mar. 31, 2026, 6:06 AM ET (AP)\n\nShow less\n\n**Olympic Games**, athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Greece) and was [revived](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/revived) in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in [basketball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/basketball) and [football (soccer)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/football-soccer). The [ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/ancient-Olympic-Games) included several of the sports that are now part of the [Summer Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games) program, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports). In 1924 the [Winter Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Winter-Olympic-Games) were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports [competition](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/competition-biotic-interaction).\n\nThe next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French [Alps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alps) in 2030.\n\n## The ancient Olympic Games\n## Origins\n[![When Were the First Olympic Games?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/60\/179660-138-487C22E7\/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia\/-192454)\n\nWhen Were the First Olympic Games?Overview of the first Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\nJust how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in [Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece); the [Pythian Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Pythian-Games) at [Delphi](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Delphi-ancient-city-Greece); the [Nemean Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Nemean-Games) at Nemea; and the [Isthmian Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Isthmian-Games), held near [Corinth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Corinth-Greece). Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rome), [Naples](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Naples-Italy), Odessus, [Antioch](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Antioch-ancient-city-west-central-Turkey), and [Alexandria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alexandria-Egypt).\n\n[![Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/18\/253818-138-7D8A15C6\/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024\/-301770)\n\nWhat Is the History of the Olympics?The first Olympic Games consisted of a singular event: a footrace.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\nOf all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an [intrinsic](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/intrinsic) part of a religious festival. They were held in honor of [Zeus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Zeus) at Olympia by the [city-state](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/city-state) of [Elis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Elis) in the northwestern [Peloponnese](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Peloponnese). The first Olympic [champion](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/champion-English-history) listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on [myth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/myth), not historical evidence. According to one [legend](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/legend-literature), for example, the Games were founded by [Heracles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Heracles), son of Zeus and [Alcmene](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Alcmene).\n\n## Competition and status\n[![Ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-050-06FA423B\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-050-06FA423B\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)\n\n[Ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-050-06FA423B\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the *pankration*.\n\n(more)\n\nAt the meeting in 776 bce there was apparently only one event, a [footrace](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sprint-running) that covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the [stade](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/stade-measurement), was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word *stade* also came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word *stadium*. In 724 bce a two-length race, the *[diaulos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/diaulos)*, roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the *[dolichos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/dolichos-running-race)*, a long-distance race possibly [comparable](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/comparable) to the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added. [Wrestling](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/wrestling#ref8012) and the [pentathlon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pentathlon) were introduced in 708 bce. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the [long jump](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/long-jump), the [javelin throw](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/javelin-throw), the [discus throw](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/discus-throw), a footrace, and wrestling.\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[![Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/59\/19159-050-A02B04DA\/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/59\/19159-050-A02B04DA\/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)\n\n[Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/59\/19159-050-A02B04DA\/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)Men wrestling, detail of an ancient Greek cup, by Epictetus, c. 520 bce; in the Agora Museum, Athens.\n\n(more)\n\n[Boxing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/boxing) was introduced in 688 bce and [chariot racing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/chariot-racing) eight years later. In 648 bce the [pancratium](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pankration) (from Greek *pankration*), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 bce events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for [heralds](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/heralds) and for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the [athletics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/athletics) (track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and [horse racing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/horse-racing), which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the [hippodrome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/hippodrome-architecture) south of the stadium.\n\nIn the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the [eccentric](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/eccentric) (to be nude in public without an [erection](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/erection) demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a [rite of passage](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/rite-of-passage), (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of [hunting](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/hunting-sport) and [gathering](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/hunter-gatherer), (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary.\n\nKey People:\n\n[Jerry Lucas](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jerry-Lucas)\n\n[Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin)\n\n[Pat Summitt](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pat-Summitt)\n\n[Bob Knight](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Bob-Knight)\n\n[Sammy Lee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Sammy-Lee)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nRelated Topics:\n\n[organizing committee for the Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/organizing-committee-for-the-Olympic-Games)\n\n[torch relay](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/torch-relay)\n\n[Olympic Village](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Village)\n\n[national Olympic committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/national-Olympic-committee)\n\n[Olympic flame](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-flame)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nNotable Honorees:\n\n[Eleanor Holm](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Eleanor-Holm)\n\n[Jacques Anquetil](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jacques-Anquetil)\n\n[Ben Johnson](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ben-Johnson-Canadian-athlete)\n\n[Wolfgang Linger](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Wolfgang-Linger)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nRelated Facts And Data:\n\n[Tokyo - Facts](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Tokyo)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Olympic-Games)\n\nExplore Britannica Premium\\!\n\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\nThe Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the [Italian peninsula](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italian-Peninsula) and in [Asia Minor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Anatolia) and [Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Africa). Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread [adulation](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/adulation) and often lavish benefits from his home city.\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\nOlympic 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# [Women](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/women) and the Olympic Games\nAlthough there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In [Sparta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sparta), girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), however, the [Herean festival](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Herean-festival), held every four years in honor of the goddess [Hera](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Hera), included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the [Roman Empire](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Roman-Empire). Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic [venues](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/venues).\n\nThe 2nd-century-ce traveler [Pausanias](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pausanias-Greek-geographer) wrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been [invoked](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/invoked). His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear.\n\n## Demise of the Olympics\n[Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greece) lost its independence to [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Rome) in the middle of the 2nd century bce, and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on [athletics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/athletics) with contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was [degrading](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/degrading) in their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor [Augustus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Augustus-Roman-emperor) staged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the [Circus Maximus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Circus-Maximus) in Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor [Nero](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Nero-Roman-emperor) was also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a [chariot race](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/chariot-racing), fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway.\n\nRomans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman [gladiator](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/gladiator) shows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each [culture](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/culture) used to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests (*agōnes*), while for the Romans they were games (*ludi*). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400 ce by the Roman emperor [Theodosius I](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Theodosius-I) or his son because of the festival’s pagan associations.\n\n## The modern Olympic movement\n## Revival of the Olympics\n[![Strange Moments in Olympic history](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/225122-138-3A7F148B\/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments\/-257234)\n\nStrange Moments in Olympic historyLearn more about weird moments in Olympic history.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\nThe ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was [Pierre de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), born in [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) on New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially [physical education](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/physical-education). In 1890 he traveled to [England](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/England) to meet Dr. [William Penny Brookes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/William-Penny-Brookes), who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the [ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/ancient-Olympic-Games), getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) starting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from [Panagiotis Soutsos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Panayotis-Soutsos), a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public [apathy](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/apathy) and opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens.\n\n*[Are Olympic Medals Made of Gold?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold)*\n\nWhen Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of [reviving](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/reviving) the Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said:\n\n> Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into [Europe](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Europe) the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally.\n\nHe then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin [reiterated](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/reiterated) his proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers Dimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee), and Professor William M. Sloane of the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States), from the [College of New Jersey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/College-of-New-Jersey) (later [Princeton University](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Princeton-University)), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.”\n\n[![How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/62\/253562-138-120DAAE6\/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games\/-307606)\n\nHow Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?Even tug-of-war once held its own as a respected Olympic sport.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games\/images-videos)\n\nIt was at first agreed that the Games should be held in [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) in 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the [venue](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/venue) to Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek [prime minister](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/prime-minister) to stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on [Greek Independence Day](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Greek-Independence-Day) (which was on March 25 according to the [Julian calendar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Julian-calendar) then in use in Greece).\n\n## Organization\n## The [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee)\nAt the [Congress](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/Congress) of Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC; Comité International Olympique). During [World War I](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/World-War-I) Coubertin moved its headquarters to [Lausanne](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lausanne), Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports) throughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin.\n\nIOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense [delegates](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/delegates) to the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence.\n\nThe IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents.\n\nThe IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be [convened](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/convened) at any time that one-third of the members so request.\n\n| name | country | years |\n|---|---|---|\n| Dimítrios Vikélas | Greece | 1894–96 |\n| [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) | France | 1896–1925 |\n| Henri, comte de Baillet-Latour | Belgium | 1925–42 |\n| J. Sigfrid Edström | Sweden | 1946–52 |\n| [Avery Brundage](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Avery-Brundage) | United States | 1952–72 |\n| [Michael Morris, Lord Killanin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Morris-3rd-Baron-Killanin-of-Galway) | Ireland | 1972–80 |\n| [Juan António Samaranch](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Juan-Antonio-Samaranch-marques-de-Samaranch) | Spain | 1980–2001 |\n| [Jacques Rogge](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jacques-Rogge) | Belgium | 2001–13 |\n| Thomas Bach | Germany | 2013–25 |\n| Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 2025–present |\n\n## The awarding of the Olympic Games\nThe honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government.\n\nApplications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any [discrimination](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/discrimination) on grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the [assurance](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/assurance) that the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of [Taiwan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Taiwan) because they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China), under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must [undertake](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/undertake) to strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions.\n\n| year | Summer Games | Winter Games |\n|---|---|---|\n| \\*The Winter Games were not held until 1924. |   |   |\n| \\*\\*Games were not held during World War I and World War II. |   |   |\n| \\*\\*\\*Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule. |   |   |\n| 1896 | [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) | \\* |\n| 1900 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | \\* |\n| 1904 | [St. Louis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Louis-Missouri), [Missouri](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Missouri-state), [U.S.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States) | \\* |\n| 1908 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | \\* |\n| 1912 | [Stockholm](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Stockholm) | \\* |\n| 1916 | \\*\\* | \\* |\n| 1920 | [Antwerp](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Antwerp-Belgium), [Belgium](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Belgium) | \\* |\n| 1924 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | [Chamonix](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc), [France](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/France) |\n| 1928 | [Amsterdam](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Amsterdam) | [St. Moritz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Moritz), [Switzerland](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Switzerland) |\n| 1932 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | [Lake Placid](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lake-Placid), [New York](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-York-state), U.S. |\n| 1936 | [Berlin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Berlin) | [Garmisch-Partenkirchen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Garmisch-Partenkirchen), [Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Germany) |\n| 1940 | \\*\\* | \\*\\* |\n| 1944 | \\*\\* | \\*\\* |\n| 1948 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | [St. Moritz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Moritz) |\n| 1952 | [Helsinki](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Helsinki), [Finland](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Finland) | [Oslo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Oslo), [Norway](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Norway) |\n| 1956 | [Melbourne](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Melbourne), [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia) | [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 1960 | [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rome) | Squaw Valley (now [Olympic Valley](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympic-Valley)), [California](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/California-state), U.S. |\n| 1964 | [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo) | [Innsbruck](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Innsbruck), [Austria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Austria) |\n| 1968 | [Mexico City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mexico-City) | [Grenoble](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Grenoble), [France](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/France) |\n| 1972 | [Munich](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Munich-Bavaria-Germany), [West Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/West-Germany) | [Sapporo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sapporo), [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan) |\n| 1976 | [Montreal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Montreal) | [Innsbruck](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Innsbruck), [Austria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Austria) |\n| 1980 | [Moscow](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moscow) | [Lake Placid](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lake-Placid), [New York](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-York-state), U.S. |\n| 1984 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | [Sarajevo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sarajevo), [Yugoslavia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003) (now in [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina)) |\n| 1988 | [Seoul](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Seoul), [South Korea](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Korea) | [Calgary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Calgary), [Alberta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alberta-province), [Canada](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Canada) |\n| 1992 | [Barcelona](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Barcelona), [Spain](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Spain) | Albertville, France |\n| 1994 | \\*\\*\\* | [Lillehammer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lillehammer), [Norway](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Norway) |\n| 1996 | [Atlanta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Atlanta-Georgia), [Georgia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Georgia-state), U.S. | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 1998 | \\*\\*\\* | [Nagano](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nagano-Japan), [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan) |\n| 2000 | [Sydney](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sydney-New-South-Wales), [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2002 | \\*\\*\\* | [Salt Lake City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Salt-Lake-City), [Utah](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Utah), U.S. |\n| 2004 | [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2006 | \\*\\*\\* | [Turin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Turin-Italy), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 2008 | [Beijing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Beijing) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2010 | \\*\\*\\* | [Vancouver](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Vancouver), [British Columbia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/British-Columbia), [Canada](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Canada) |\n| 2012 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2014 | \\*\\*\\* | [Sochi](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sochi), [Russia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Russia) |\n| 2016 | [Rio de Janeiro](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rio-de-Janeiro-state-Brazil) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2018 | \\*\\*\\* | Pyeongchang county, [South Korea](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Korea) |\n| 2020 | [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2022 | \\*\\*\\* | [Beijing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Beijing) |\n| 2024 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2026 | \\*\\*\\* | [Milan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Milan-Italy) and [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 2028 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2030 | \\*\\*\\* | French [Alps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alps) |\n| 2032 | [Brisbane](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Brisbane), [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2034 | \\*\\*\\* | [Salt Lake City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Salt-Lake-City) |\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*print* Print\n\nPlease select which sections you would like to print:\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\nAbrahams, Harold Maurice, Young, David C.. \"Olympic Games\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 13 Apr. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Olympic-Games. Accessed 16 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\/Olympic-Games>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [PBS LearningMedia - Origins of the Olympics \\| The Greeks](https:\/\/illinois.pbslearningmedia.org\/resource\/thegreeks_ep2_clip03\/thegreeks_ep2_clip03\/)\n- [HistoryWorld - History of the Olympic Games](http:\/\/www.historyworld.net\/wrldhis\/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac28)\n- [Humanities LibreTexts - Olympic games](https:\/\/human.libretexts.org\/Bookshelves\/Art\/SmartHistory_of_Art_Individual_Books_V2\/02%3A_Ancient_Mediterranean\/05%3A_Ancient_Greece\/5.01%3A_A_beginners_guide-_Ancient_Greece\/5.1.07%3A_Olympic_games)\n- [World History Encyclopedia - Ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.worldhistory.org\/Olympic_Games\/)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [Olympic Games - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/kids\/article\/Olympic-Games\/353563)\n- [Olympic Games - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/Olympic-Games\/276182)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Top Questions\n\n### What are the Olympic Games?\n### When did the Olympic Games start?\n### When are the Olympic Games?\n### Where are the Olympic Games held?\n### What are the prizes at the Olympics?\n### Who started the modern Olympics?\n### When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics?\n### Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals?\n## News •\n**Olympic Games**, athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Greece) and was [revived](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/revived) in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in [basketball](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/basketball) and [football (soccer)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/football-soccer). The [ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/ancient-Olympic-Games) included several of the sports that are now part of the [Summer Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Summer-Olympic-Games) program, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports). In 1924 the [Winter Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Winter-Olympic-Games) were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports [competition](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/competition-biotic-interaction).\n\nThe next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French [Alps](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alps) in 2030.\n\n## The ancient Olympic Games\n## Origins\nJust how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in [Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece); the [Pythian Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Pythian-Games) at [Delphi](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Delphi-ancient-city-Greece); the [Nemean Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Nemean-Games) at Nemea; and the [Isthmian Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Isthmian-Games), held near [Corinth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Corinth-Greece). Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rome), [Naples](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Naples-Italy), Odessus, [Antioch](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Antioch-ancient-city-west-central-Turkey), and [Alexandria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alexandria-Egypt).\n\nOf all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an [intrinsic](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/intrinsic) part of a religious festival. They were held in honor of [Zeus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Zeus) at Olympia by the [city-state](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/city-state) of [Elis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Elis) in the northwestern [Peloponnese](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Peloponnese). The first Olympic [champion](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/champion-English-history) listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on [myth](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/myth), not historical evidence. According to one [legend](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/legend-literature), for example, the Games were founded by [Heracles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Heracles), son of Zeus and [Alcmene](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Alcmene).\n\n## Competition and status\n[Ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/43\/198043-050-06FA423B\/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the *pankration*.\n\nAt the meeting in 776 bce there was apparently only one event, a [footrace](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sprint-running) that covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the [stade](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/stade-measurement), was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word *stade* also came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word *stadium*. In 724 bce a two-length race, the *[diaulos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/diaulos)*, roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the *[dolichos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/dolichos-running-race)*, a long-distance race possibly [comparable](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/comparable) to the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added. [Wrestling](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/wrestling#ref8012) and the [pentathlon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pentathlon) were introduced in 708 bce. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the [long jump](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/long-jump), the [javelin throw](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/javelin-throw), the [discus throw](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/discus-throw), a footrace, and wrestling.\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[Boxing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/boxing) was introduced in 688 bce and [chariot racing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/chariot-racing) eight years later. In 648 bce the [pancratium](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/pankration) (from Greek *pankration*), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 bce events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for [heralds](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/heralds) and for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the [athletics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/athletics) (track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and [horse racing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/horse-racing), which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the [hippodrome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/hippodrome-architecture) south of the stadium.\n\nIn the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the [eccentric](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/eccentric) (to be nude in public without an [erection](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/erection) demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a [rite of passage](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/rite-of-passage), (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of [hunting](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/hunting-sport) and [gathering](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/hunter-gatherer), (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary.\n\nGo beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\nThe Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the [Italian peninsula](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italian-Peninsula) and in [Asia Minor](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Anatolia) and [Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Africa). Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread [adulation](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/adulation) and often lavish benefits from his home city.\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## [Women](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/women) and the Olympic Games\nAlthough there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In [Sparta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sparta), girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At [Olympia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), however, the [Herean festival](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Herean-festival), held every four years in honor of the goddess [Hera](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Hera), included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the [Roman Empire](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Roman-Empire). Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic [venues](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/venues).\n\nThe 2nd-century-ce traveler [Pausanias](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pausanias-Greek-geographer) wrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been [invoked](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/invoked). His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear.\n\n## Demise of the Olympics\n[Greece](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Greece) lost its independence to [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/ancient-Rome) in the middle of the 2nd century bce, and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on [athletics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/athletics) with contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was [degrading](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/degrading) in their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor [Augustus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Augustus-Roman-emperor) staged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the [Circus Maximus](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Circus-Maximus) in Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor [Nero](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Nero-Roman-emperor) was also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a [chariot race](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/chariot-racing), fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway.\n\nRomans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman [gladiator](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/gladiator) shows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each [culture](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/culture) used to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests (*agōnes*), while for the Romans they were games (*ludi*). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400 ce by the Roman emperor [Theodosius I](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Theodosius-I) or his son because of the festival’s pagan associations.\n\n## The modern Olympic movement\n## Revival of the Olympics\nThe ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was [Pierre de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), born in [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) on New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially [physical education](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/physical-education). In 1890 he traveled to [England](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/England) to meet Dr. [William Penny Brookes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/William-Penny-Brookes), who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the [ancient Olympic Games](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/ancient-Olympic-Games), getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) starting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from [Panagiotis Soutsos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Panayotis-Soutsos), a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public [apathy](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/apathy) and opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens.\n\n*[Are Olympic Medals Made of Gold?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold)*\n\nWhen Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of [reviving](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/reviving) the Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said:\n\n> Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into [Europe](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Europe) the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally.\n\nHe then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin [reiterated](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/reiterated) his proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers Dimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee), and Professor William M. Sloane of the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States), from the [College of New Jersey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/College-of-New-Jersey) (later [Princeton University](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Princeton-University)), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.”\n\nIt was at first agreed that the Games should be held in [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) in 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the [venue](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/venue) to Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek [prime minister](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/prime-minister) to stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on [Greek Independence Day](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Greek-Independence-Day) (which was on March 25 according to the [Julian calendar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Julian-calendar) then in use in Greece).\n\n## Organization\n## The [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee)\nAt the [Congress](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/Congress) of Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the [International Olympic Committee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC; Comité International Olympique). During [World War I](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/World-War-I) Coubertin moved its headquarters to [Lausanne](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lausanne), Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of [sports](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/sports) throughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin.\n\nIOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense [delegates](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/delegates) to the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence.\n\nThe IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents.\n\nThe IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be [convened](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/convened) at any time that one-third of the members so request.\n\n| name | country | years |\n|---|---|---|\n| Dimítrios Vikélas | Greece | 1894–96 |\n| [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) | France | 1896–1925 |\n| Henri, comte de Baillet-Latour | Belgium | 1925–42 |\n| J. Sigfrid Edström | Sweden | 1946–52 |\n| [Avery Brundage](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Avery-Brundage) | United States | 1952–72 |\n| [Michael Morris, Lord Killanin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Michael-Morris-3rd-Baron-Killanin-of-Galway) | Ireland | 1972–80 |\n| [Juan António Samaranch](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Juan-Antonio-Samaranch-marques-de-Samaranch) | Spain | 1980–2001 |\n| [Jacques Rogge](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Jacques-Rogge) | Belgium | 2001–13 |\n| Thomas Bach | Germany | 2013–25 |\n| Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 2025–present |\n\n## The awarding of the Olympic Games\nThe honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government.\n\nApplications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any [discrimination](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/discrimination) on grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the [assurance](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/assurance) that the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of [Taiwan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Taiwan) because they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China), under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must [undertake](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/undertake) to strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions.\n\n| year | Summer Games | Winter Games |\n|---|---|---|\n| \\*The Winter Games were not held until 1924. |   |   |\n| \\*\\*Games were not held during World War I and World War II. |   |   |\n| \\*\\*\\*Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule. |   |   |\n| 1896 | [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) | \\* |\n| 1900 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | \\* |\n| 1904 | [St. Louis](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Louis-Missouri), [Missouri](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Missouri-state), [U.S.](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States) | \\* |\n| 1908 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | \\* |\n| 1912 | [Stockholm](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Stockholm) | \\* |\n| 1916 | \\*\\* | \\* |\n| 1920 | [Antwerp](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Antwerp-Belgium), [Belgium](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Belgium) | \\* |\n| 1924 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | [Chamonix](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc), [France](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/France) |\n| 1928 | [Amsterdam](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Amsterdam) | [St. Moritz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Moritz), [Switzerland](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Switzerland) |\n| 1932 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | [Lake Placid](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lake-Placid), [New York](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-York-state), U.S. |\n| 1936 | [Berlin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Berlin) | [Garmisch-Partenkirchen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Garmisch-Partenkirchen), [Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Germany) |\n| 1940 | \\*\\* | \\*\\* |\n| 1944 | \\*\\* | \\*\\* |\n| 1948 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | [St. Moritz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Saint-Moritz) |\n| 1952 | [Helsinki](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Helsinki), [Finland](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Finland) | [Oslo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Oslo), [Norway](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Norway) |\n| 1956 | [Melbourne](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Melbourne), [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia) | [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 1960 | [Rome](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rome) | Squaw Valley (now [Olympic Valley](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Olympic-Valley)), [California](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/California-state), U.S. |\n| 1964 | [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo) | [Innsbruck](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Innsbruck), [Austria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Austria) |\n| 1968 | [Mexico City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mexico-City) | [Grenoble](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Grenoble), [France](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/France) |\n| 1972 | [Munich](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Munich-Bavaria-Germany), [West Germany](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/West-Germany) | [Sapporo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sapporo), [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan) |\n| 1976 | [Montreal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Montreal) | [Innsbruck](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Innsbruck), [Austria](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Austria) |\n| 1980 | [Moscow](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Moscow) | [Lake Placid](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lake-Placid), [New York](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-York-state), U.S. |\n| 1984 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | [Sarajevo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sarajevo), [Yugoslavia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003) (now in [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina)) |\n| 1988 | [Seoul](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Seoul), [South Korea](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Korea) | [Calgary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Calgary), [Alberta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alberta-province), [Canada](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Canada) |\n| 1992 | [Barcelona](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Barcelona), [Spain](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Spain) | Albertville, France |\n| 1994 | \\*\\*\\* | [Lillehammer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Lillehammer), [Norway](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Norway) |\n| 1996 | [Atlanta](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Atlanta-Georgia), [Georgia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Georgia-state), U.S. | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 1998 | \\*\\*\\* | [Nagano](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nagano-Japan), [Japan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Japan) |\n| 2000 | [Sydney](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sydney-New-South-Wales), [Australia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Australia) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2002 | \\*\\*\\* | [Salt Lake City](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Salt-Lake-City), [Utah](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Utah), U.S. |\n| 2004 | [Athens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Athens) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2006 | \\*\\*\\* | [Turin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Turin-Italy), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 2008 | [Beijing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Beijing) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2010 | \\*\\*\\* | [Vancouver](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Vancouver), [British Columbia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/British-Columbia), [Canada](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Canada) |\n| 2012 | [London](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/London) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2014 | \\*\\*\\* | [Sochi](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sochi), [Russia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Russia) |\n| 2016 | [Rio de Janeiro](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Rio-de-Janeiro-state-Brazil) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2018 | \\*\\*\\* | Pyeongchang county, [South Korea](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Korea) |\n| 2020 | [Tokyo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tokyo) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2022 | \\*\\*\\* | [Beijing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Beijing) |\n| 2024 | [Paris](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Paris) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2026 | \\*\\*\\* | [Milan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Milan-Italy) and [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy) |\n| 2028 | [Los Angeles](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Los-Angeles-California) | \\*\\*\\* |\n| 2030 | \\*\\*\\* | French 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Olympic Games | 2026, Milano Cortina, History, Sports, Medals, Locations, & Winners | Britannica

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The Olympic Games are a quadrennial athletic festival that is often regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition. The ancient Olympic Games included several sports that are now part of the Summer Games program, which includes events in as many as 32 different sports. Learn more about the Olympic Games in this article.

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Top Questions What are the Olympic Games? When did the Olympic Games start? When are the Olympic Games? Where are the Olympic Games held? What are the prizes at the Olympics? Who started the modern Olympics? When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics? Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals? News • Olympic Games , athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece and was revived in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in basketball and football (soccer) . The ancient Olympic Games included several of the sports that are now part of the Summer Games program, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different sports . In 1924 the Winter Games were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition . The next edition of the Olympics will be the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028 . The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030. The ancient Olympic Games Origins Just how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in Greece almost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at Olympia ; the Pythian Games at Delphi ; the Nemean Games at Nemea; and the Isthmian Games , held near Corinth . Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as Rome , Naples , Odessus, Antioch , and Alexandria . Of all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an intrinsic part of a religious festival. They were held in honor of Zeus at Olympia by the city-state of Elis in the northwestern Peloponnese . The first Olympic champion listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce . Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on myth , not historical evidence. According to one legend , for example, the Games were founded by Heracles , son of Zeus and Alcmene . Competition and status Ancient Olympic Games Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the pankration . At the meeting in 776 bce there was apparently only one event, a footrace that covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the stade , was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word stade also came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word stadium . In 724 bce a two-length race, the diaulos , roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the dolichos , a long-distance race possibly comparable to the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added. Wrestling and the pentathlon were introduced in 708 bce . The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the long jump , the javelin throw , the discus throw , a footrace, and wrestling. Britannica Quiz The Olympics Quiz Boxing was introduced in 688 bce and chariot racing eight years later. In 648 bce the pancratium (from Greek pankration ), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 bce events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for heralds and for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the athletics (track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and horse racing , which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the hippodrome south of the stadium. In the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the eccentric (to be nude in public without an erection demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a rite of passage , (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of hunting and gathering , (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary. Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. SUBSCRIBE The Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the Italian peninsula and in Asia Minor and Africa . Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread adulation and often lavish benefits from his home city. AI-generated answers from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Women and the Olympic Games Although there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In Sparta , girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At Olympia , however, the Herean festival , held every four years in honor of the goddess Hera , included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the Roman Empire . Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic venues . The 2nd-century- ce traveler Pausanias wrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been invoked . His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear. Demise of the Olympics Greece lost its independence to Rome in the middle of the 2nd century bce , and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on athletics with contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was degrading in their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor Augustus staged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the Circus Maximus in Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor Nero was also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a chariot race , fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway. Romans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman gladiator shows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each culture used to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests ( agōnes ), while for the Romans they were games ( ludi ). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400 ce by the Roman emperor Theodosius I or his son because of the festival’s pagan associations. The modern Olympic movement Revival of the Olympics The ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was Pierre de Coubertin , born in Paris on New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially physical education . In 1890 he traveled to England to meet Dr. William Penny Brookes , who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the ancient Olympic Games , getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in Athens starting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from Panagiotis Soutsos , a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public apathy and opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens. Are Olympic Medals Made of Gold? When Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of reviving the Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said: Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. He then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin reiterated his proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers Dimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the International Olympic Committee , and Professor William M. Sloane of the United States , from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University ), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.” It was at first agreed that the Games should be held in Paris in 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the venue to Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek prime minister to stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on Greek Independence Day (which was on March 25 according to the Julian calendar then in use in Greece). Organization The International Olympic Committee At the Congress of Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC; Comité International Olympique). During World War I Coubertin moved its headquarters to Lausanne , Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of sports throughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin. IOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense delegates to the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence. The IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents. The IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be convened at any time that one-third of the members so request. International Olympic Committee presidents name country years Dimítrios Vikélas Greece 1894–96 Pierre, baron de Coubertin France 1896–1925 Henri, comte de Baillet-Latour Belgium 1925–42 J. Sigfrid Edström Sweden 1946–52 Avery Brundage United States 1952–72 Michael Morris, Lord Killanin Ireland 1972–80 Juan António Samaranch Spain 1980–2001 Jacques Rogge Belgium 2001–13 Thomas Bach Germany 2013–25 Kirsty Coventry Zimbabwe 2025–present The awarding of the Olympic Games The honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government. Applications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any discrimination on grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the assurance that the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of Taiwan because they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of China , under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must undertake to strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions. Sites of the modern Olympic Games year Summer Games Winter Games *The Winter Games were not held until 1924. **Games were not held during World War I and World War II. ***Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule. 1896 Athens * 1900 Paris * 1904 St. Louis , Missouri , U.S. * 1908 London * 1912 Stockholm * 1916 ** * 1920 Antwerp , Belgium * 1924 Paris Chamonix , France 1928 Amsterdam St. Moritz , Switzerland 1932 Los Angeles Lake Placid , New York , U.S. 1936 Berlin Garmisch-Partenkirchen , Germany 1940 ** ** 1944 ** ** 1948 London St. Moritz 1952 Helsinki , Finland Oslo , Norway 1956 Melbourne , Australia Cortina d'Ampezzo , Italy 1960 Rome Squaw Valley (now Olympic Valley ), California , U.S. 1964 Tokyo Innsbruck , Austria 1968 Mexico City Grenoble , France 1972 Munich , West Germany Sapporo , Japan 1976 Montreal Innsbruck , Austria 1980 Moscow Lake Placid , New York , U.S. 1984 Los Angeles Sarajevo , Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina ) 1988 Seoul , South Korea Calgary , Alberta , Canada 1992 Barcelona , Spain Albertville, France 1994 *** Lillehammer , Norway 1996 Atlanta , Georgia , U.S. *** 1998 *** Nagano , Japan 2000 Sydney , Australia *** 2002 *** Salt Lake City , Utah , U.S. 2004 Athens *** 2006 *** Turin , Italy 2008 Beijing *** 2010 *** Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada 2012 London *** 2014 *** Sochi , Russia 2016 Rio de Janeiro *** 2018 *** Pyeongchang county, South Korea 2020 Tokyo *** 2022 *** Beijing 2024 Paris *** 2026 *** Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo , Italy 2028 Los Angeles *** 2030 *** French Alps 2032 Brisbane , Australia *** 2034 *** Salt Lake City

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[Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) - [The ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games#ref59589) - [Origins](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games#ref249541) - [Competition and status](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games#ref249542) - [Women and the Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games) - [Demise of the Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref59591) - [The modern Olympic movement](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref59593) - [Revival of the Olympics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249544) - [Organization](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249545) - [The International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249546) - [The awarding of the Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Women-and-the-Olympic-Games#ref249547) - [Corruption](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Corruption) - [Political pressures](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Corruption#ref249549) - [Commercialization](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Corruption#ref249550) - [National Olympic committees, international federations, and organizing committees](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Corruption#ref249551) - [Programs and participation](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation) - [Amateurism versus professionalism](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref249553) - [Doping and drug testing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref249554) - [Ritual and symbolism](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref59599) - [Olympic ceremonies](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref60481) - [The opening ceremony](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref249555) - [The medal ceremonies](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref249556) - [The closing ceremony](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Programs-and-participation#ref249557) - [Olympic symbols](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols) - [The flag](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols#ref249558) - [The motto](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols#ref249559) - [The flame and torch relay](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols#ref249560) - [Mascots](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Olympic-symbols#ref249561) - [History of the modern Summer Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games) - [Athens, Greece, 1896](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref59602) - [Paris, France, 1900](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref59603) - [St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., 1904](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref249562) - [Athens, Greece, 1906](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-modern-Summer-Games#ref249563) - [London, England, 1908](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908) - [Stockholm, Sweden, 1912](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908#ref59606) - [Antwerp, Belgium, 1920](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908#ref59607) - [Paris, France, 1924](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908#ref59608) - [Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1928](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908#ref59609) - [Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1932](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/London-England-1908#ref59610) - [Berlin, Germany, 1936](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Berlin-Germany-1936) - [London, England, 1948](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59612) - [Helsinki, Finland, 1952](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59613) - [Melbourne, Australia, 1956](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Berlin-Germany-1936#ref59614) - [Rome, Italy, 1960](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Rome-Italy-1960) - [Tokyo, Japan, 1964](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Rome-Italy-1960#ref59616) - [Mexico City, Mexico, 1968](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Rome-Italy-1960#ref59617) - [Munich, West Germany, 1972](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972) - [Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1976](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59619) - [Moscow, U.S.S.R., 1980](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59620) - [Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1984](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59621) - [Seoul, South Korea, 1988](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972#ref59622) - [Barcelona, Spain, 1992](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Barcelona-Spain-1992) - [Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249564) - [Sydney, Australia, 2000](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249565) - [Athens, Greece, 2004](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Barcelona-Spain-1992#ref249566) - [Beijing, China, 2008](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Beijing-China-2008) - [London, England, 2012](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Beijing-China-2008#ref308461) - [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2016](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Beijing-China-2008#ref338286) - [Tokyo 2021](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Beijing-China-2008#ref467751) - [Paris 2024](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Beijing-China-2008#ref472623) - [History of the Olympic Winter Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games) - [Chamonix, France, 1924](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref215477) - [St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1928](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214319) - [Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1932](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214320) - [Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/History-of-the-Olympic-Winter-Games#ref214321) - [St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1948](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948) - [Oslo, Norway, 1952](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214323) - [Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, 1956](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214324) - [Squaw Valley, California, U.S., 1960](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/St-Moritz-Switzerland-1948#ref214325) - [Innsbruck, Austria, 1964](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Innsbruck-Austria-1964) - [Grenoble, France, 1968](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214327) - [Sapporo, Japan, 1972](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214328) - [Innsbruck, Austria, 1976](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Innsbruck-Austria-1964#ref214329) - [Lake Placid, New York, U.S., 1980](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980) - [Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, 1984](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214331) - [Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214332) - [Albertville, France, 1992](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214333) - [Lillehammer, Norway, 1994](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Lake-Placid-New-York-U-S-1980#ref214334) - [Nagano, Japan, 1998](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Nagano-Japan-1998) - [Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., 2002](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Nagano-Japan-1998#ref252823) - [Turin, Italy, 2006](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Nagano-Japan-1998#ref249567) - [Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010) - [Sochi, Russia, 2014](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref315126) - [Pyeongchang county, South Korea, 2018](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref467752) - [Beijing 2022](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref472624) - [Milano Cortina 2026](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Vancouver-British-Columbia-Canada-2010#ref472625) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Olympic-Games) [Images, Videos & Interactives](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/images-videos) [![Lighting the Olympic flame](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/250281-004-3B4EDC17/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/250281-050-C80CCDEB/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg) [![When Were the First Olympic Games?](https://cdn.britannica.com/60/179660-138-487C22E7/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia/-192454) [![Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/253818-138-7D8A15C6/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024/-301770) [![Ancient Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-004-A79CB8F8/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-050-06FA423B/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg) [![Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19159-004-E97F9F18/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19159-050-A02B04DA/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg) [![Strange Moments in Olympic history](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/225122-138-3A7F148B/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments/-257234) [![How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/253562-138-120DAAE6/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games/-307606) [![How Are Olympic Sports Scored?](https://cdn.britannica.com/66/284166-049-BD9C5E1A/how-are-olympic-sports-scored.jpg)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) [![Olympic Athletes vs. Animals](https://cdn.britannica.com/28/284428-049-B414D62D/olympic-athletes-versus-animals-comparisons.jpg)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games) [![Opening ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/47/199147-004-86AC4AB1/brazil-olympic-team-2016-olympic-summer-games-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/47/199147-050-536E0B11/brazil-olympic-team-2016-olympic-summer-games-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg) At a Glance [![default image](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/shared/new-thistle.svg?v=3.179.9)](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Olympic-Games) [Olympic Games summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Olympic-Games) Quizzes [![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) [The Olympics Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/the-olympics-quiz) [![Marble bust of Alexander the Great, in the British Museum, London, England. Hellenistic Greek, 2nd-1st century BC. Said to be from Alexandria, Egypt. Height: 37 cm.](https://cdn.britannica.com/58/159658-131-6562599E/Alexander-the-Great-marble-bust-British-Museum.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/ancient-greece) [Ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/ancient-greece) [![Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb, front, is greeted at the finish line after teaming with Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curtis Tomasevicz to win the first Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in 62 years for Team USA ,(cont)](https://cdn.britannica.com/31/164631-131-222AC662/Steven-Holcomb-2010.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/the-olympic-games) [The Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/the-olympic-games) [![Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after breaking the world record with a time of 19.30 to win the gold medal as Churandy Martina (left) of Netherlands Antilles and Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe come in after him in the Men's 200m Final at the National Stadium during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Summer Olympics, track and field, athletics)](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/235355-131-5EA8CFD4/Usain-Bolt-Jamaica-gold-medal-breaking-world-record-200m-Beijing-Summer-Olympics-August-20-2008.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/i-am-the-greatest-athlete) [I Am the Greatest (Athlete)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/i-am-the-greatest-athlete) [![Assorted sports balls including a basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, baseball and others.](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/139052-131-7A7975D1/Balls-shapes-colors-sizes-sports.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/american-sports-nicknames) [American Sports Nicknames](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/american-sports-nicknames) Related Questions - [When did the Olympic Games start?](https://www.britannica.com/question/When-did-the-Olympic-Games-start) - [When are the Olympic Games?](https://www.britannica.com/question/When-are-the-Olympic-Games) - [Where are the Olympic Games held?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Where-are-the-Olympic-Games-held) - [Who started the modern Olympics?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-started-the-modern-Olympics) - [Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-has-won-the-most-Winter-Olympic-gold-medals) ![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 [![Lighting the Olympic flame](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/250281-050-C80CCDEB/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/250281-050-C80CCDEB/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg) [Lighting the Olympic flame](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/250281-050-C80CCDEB/Athens-Greece-2017-flame-transfer-organizers-Pyeongchang-South-Korean-Winter-Olympics-2018.jpg) An actress playing the role of an Athenian high priestess lights the Olympic flame in Athens, October 31, 2017. The torch was later carried to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Olympics. (more) # Olympic Games Homework Help Also known as: Olympiad Written by [Harold Maurice Abrahams Broadcaster and journalist. Chairman, British Amateur Athletic Board. Olympic Gold Medalist (100-metre dash), whose experiences at the 1924 Olympics provided the subject of the 1981 film Chariots...](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Harold-Maurice-Abrahams/6) Harold Maurice Abrahams[All](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/additional-info#contributors) 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 Apr. 13, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/sports/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 Top Questions ### What are the Olympic Games? The Olympic Games are an athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece) and were revived in the late 19th century. They are the world’s foremost sports competition and include athletes from all over the world. ### When did the Olympic Games start? Athletic festivals were being held in [ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. The Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), had achieved major importance in Greece by the end of the 6th century bce. They began to lose popularity when Greece was conquered by Rome in the 2nd century bce, and the Games were officially abolished about 400 ce because of their [pagan](https://www.britannica.com/topic/paganism) associations. The Olympics were revived in the late 19th century, with the first modern Games being held in [Athens in 1896](https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games). ### When are the Olympic Games? The Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games are each held every four years. After 1992, when both a Summer and Winter Games were held, they have been held on a staggered two-year schedule so that the Olympic Games occur every two years in either summer or winter. The next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030. ### Where are the Olympic Games held? The [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) chooses the location of each Olympic Games. The choice is based on applications made by the chief authority of a city, with support of the national government. Read *Britannica*’s list of [Olympic Games host cities](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games-host-cities) to find out where the Olympics have been held in the past and where they are scheduled to take place in the future. ### What are the prizes at the Olympics? In individual Olympic events the award for first place is a [gold medal](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold), for second place a silver medal, and for third place a bronze medal. Diplomas are awarded for fourth through eighth places, and all competitors and officials receive a commemorative medal. ### Who started the modern Olympics? [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) (1863–1937), is usually credited as the person most responsible for starting the modern Olympic Games. He was a French educator who, at the 1889 Universal Exhibition in [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris), launched a series of congresses on physical education and international sport that coincided with inspiring new archaeological finds from [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece). He made a public call for an Olympic revival at one of these congresses in 1892, which initially fell on deaf ears. He persevered, and in 1894 a second Sorbonne congress resolved to hold an international [Olympic Games in Athens](https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games), which took place in 1896. He was a founding member of the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC) and served as its president from 1896 to 1925. ### When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics? Women athletes first competed at the modern Olympic Games in [1900 in Paris](https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-1900-Olympic-Games). That year 22 women participated in [croquet](https://www.britannica.com/sports/croquet), [equestrian](https://www.britannica.com/topic/horsemanship), [golf](https://www.britannica.com/sports/golf), [sailing](https://www.britannica.com/), and [tennis](https://www.britannica.com/sports/tennis) events. The 2024 Games, also held in Paris, set the record for women’s participation: Women accounted for 49.2 percent of all athletes competing. ### Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals? Norwegian cross-country skier [Johannes Høsflot Klæbo](https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-is-Johannes-Hosflot-Klaebo-the-Winter-Olympian-with-the-most-gold-medals) has won the most gold medals at the Winter Olympics: 11. He set the record at the [2026 Milano Cortina Games](https://www.britannica.com/event/Milano-Cortina-2026-Olympic-Winter-Games). How do other Winter Olympians rank? Find out in the list below. - 1\. [Johannes Høsflot Klæbo](https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-is-Johannes-Hosflot-Klaebo-the-Winter-Olympian-with-the-most-gold-medals) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 11 - 2\. [Marit Bjørgen](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marit-Bjorgen) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 8 - 3\. [Ole Einar Bjørndalen](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ole-Einar-Bjorndalen) (Norway; biathlon, cross-country skiing): 8 - 4\. [Bjørn Daehlie](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bjorn-Daehlie) (Norway; cross-country skiing): 8 - 5\. [Ireen Wüst](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ireen-Wust) (Netherlands; speed skating): 6 ## News • [Swimming becomes first major Olympic sport to lift restrictions on Russian athletes](https://www.britannica.com/news/428005/21e6a5e3ad73844cb2eef29b72a96326) • Apr. 13, 2026, 1:04 PM ET (AP) ...(Show more) [Olympic gold medalist boxer at center of gender controversy advances to Asian semifinals](https://www.britannica.com/news/428005/15a5bb14953d80f53a048f59d2d439f0) • Apr. 3, 2026, 4:19 AM ET (AP) [Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dies](https://www.britannica.com/news/428005/1fb702fe2c85e8ca2f94649711430028) • Apr. 1, 2026, 5:44 AM ET (AP) [A'ja Wilson returns to USA Basketball camp in Phoenix during Final Four week](https://www.britannica.com/news/428005/f2d649659ad9b716e3158900f8d43a03) • Mar. 31, 2026, 3:07 PM ET (AP) [Taiwan Olympic boxing champ involved in gender debate wins first bout at Asian titles](https://www.britannica.com/news/428005/32d906c7daf238565feb076fc1c8f75a) • Mar. 31, 2026, 6:06 AM ET (AP) Show less **Olympic Games**, athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece) and was [revived](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/revived) in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in [basketball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball) and [football (soccer)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer). The [ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games) included several of the sports that are now part of the [Summer Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) program, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports). In 1924 the [Winter Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Winter-Olympic-Games) were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports [competition](https://www.britannica.com/science/competition-biotic-interaction). The next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French [Alps](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alps) in 2030. ## The ancient Olympic Games ## Origins [![When Were the First Olympic Games?](https://cdn.britannica.com/60/179660-138-487C22E7/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/Olympic-Games-Overview-Greece-Olympia/-192454) When Were the First Olympic Games?Overview of the first Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/images-videos) Just how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in [Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece); the [Pythian Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Pythian-Games) at [Delphi](https://www.britannica.com/place/Delphi-ancient-city-Greece); the [Nemean Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Nemean-Games) at Nemea; and the [Isthmian Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Isthmian-Games), held near [Corinth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Corinth-Greece). Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome), [Naples](https://www.britannica.com/place/Naples-Italy), Odessus, [Antioch](https://www.britannica.com/place/Antioch-ancient-city-west-central-Turkey), and [Alexandria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alexandria-Egypt). [![Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.](https://cdn.britannica.com/18/253818-138-7D8A15C6/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/olympics-history-ancient-greece-paris-olympic-games-2024/-301770) What Is the History of the Olympics?The first Olympic Games consisted of a singular event: a footrace. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/images-videos) Of all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an [intrinsic](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrinsic) part of a religious festival. They were held in honor of [Zeus](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zeus) at Olympia by the [city-state](https://www.britannica.com/topic/city-state) of [Elis](https://www.britannica.com/place/Elis) in the northwestern [Peloponnese](https://www.britannica.com/place/Peloponnese). The first Olympic [champion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/champion-English-history) listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on [myth](https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth), not historical evidence. According to one [legend](https://www.britannica.com/art/legend-literature), for example, the Games were founded by [Heracles](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Heracles), son of Zeus and [Alcmene](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Alcmene). ## Competition and status [![Ancient Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-050-06FA423B/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-050-06FA423B/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg) [Ancient Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-050-06FA423B/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the *pankration*. (more) At the meeting in 776 bce there was apparently only one event, a [footrace](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sprint-running) that covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the [stade](https://www.britannica.com/science/stade-measurement), was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word *stade* also came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word *stadium*. In 724 bce a two-length race, the *[diaulos](https://www.britannica.com/sports/diaulos)*, roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the *[dolichos](https://www.britannica.com/sports/dolichos-running-race)*, a long-distance race possibly [comparable](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/comparable) to the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added. [Wrestling](https://www.britannica.com/sports/wrestling#ref8012) and the [pentathlon](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pentathlon) were introduced in 708 bce. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the [long jump](https://www.britannica.com/sports/long-jump), the [javelin throw](https://www.britannica.com/sports/javelin-throw), the [discus throw](https://www.britannica.com/sports/discus-throw), a footrace, and wrestling. [![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) [![Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19159-050-A02B04DA/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19159-050-A02B04DA/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg) [Wrestlers on an ancient Greek cup](https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19159-050-A02B04DA/Men-wrestling-detail-cup-Epictetus-Greek-Agora.jpg)Men wrestling, detail of an ancient Greek cup, by Epictetus, c. 520 bce; in the Agora Museum, Athens. (more) [Boxing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/boxing) was introduced in 688 bce and [chariot racing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/chariot-racing) eight years later. In 648 bce the [pancratium](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pankration) (from Greek *pankration*), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 bce events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for [heralds](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/heralds) and for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the [athletics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/athletics) (track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and [horse racing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/horse-racing), which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the [hippodrome](https://www.britannica.com/technology/hippodrome-architecture) south of the stadium. In the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the [eccentric](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eccentric) (to be nude in public without an [erection](https://www.britannica.com/science/erection) demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a [rite of passage](https://www.britannica.com/topic/rite-of-passage), (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of [hunting](https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport) and [gathering](https://www.britannica.com/topic/hunter-gatherer), (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary. Key People: [Jerry Lucas](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jerry-Lucas) [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) [Pat Summitt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pat-Summitt) [Bob Knight](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Knight) [Sammy Lee](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sammy-Lee) *(Show more)* Related Topics: [organizing committee for the Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/organizing-committee-for-the-Olympic-Games) [torch relay](https://www.britannica.com/sports/torch-relay) [Olympic Village](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Village) [national Olympic committee](https://www.britannica.com/sports/national-Olympic-committee) [Olympic flame](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-flame) *(Show more)* Notable Honorees: [Eleanor Holm](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eleanor-Holm) [Jacques Anquetil](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacques-Anquetil) [Ben Johnson](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Johnson-Canadian-athlete) [Wolfgang Linger](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wolfgang-Linger) *(Show more)* Related Facts And Data: [Tokyo - Facts](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Tokyo) *(Show more)* [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Olympic-Games) Explore Britannica Premium\! Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) The Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the [Italian peninsula](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italian-Peninsula) and in [Asia Minor](https://www.britannica.com/place/Anatolia) and [Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa). Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread [adulation](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adulation) and often lavish benefits from his home city. ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI *chevron\_right* Olympic Games *close* [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. # [Women](https://www.britannica.com/topic/women) and the Olympic Games Although there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In [Sparta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sparta), girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), however, the [Herean festival](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Herean-festival), held every four years in honor of the goddess [Hera](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hera), included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the [Roman Empire](https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Empire). Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic [venues](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venues). The 2nd-century-ce traveler [Pausanias](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pausanias-Greek-geographer) wrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been [invoked](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invoked). His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear. ## Demise of the Olympics [Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece) lost its independence to [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome) in the middle of the 2nd century bce, and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on [athletics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/athletics) with contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was [degrading](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/degrading) in their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor [Augustus](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augustus-Roman-emperor) staged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the [Circus Maximus](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Circus-Maximus) in Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor [Nero](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor) was also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a [chariot race](https://www.britannica.com/sports/chariot-racing), fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway. Romans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman [gladiator](https://www.britannica.com/sports/gladiator) shows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each [culture](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture) used to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests (*agōnes*), while for the Romans they were games (*ludi*). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400 ce by the Roman emperor [Theodosius I](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodosius-I) or his son because of the festival’s pagan associations. ## The modern Olympic movement ## Revival of the Olympics [![Strange Moments in Olympic history](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/225122-138-3A7F148B/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/what-the-fact-the-Olympic-Games-weirdest-moments/-257234) Strange Moments in Olympic historyLearn more about weird moments in Olympic history. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/images-videos) The ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was [Pierre de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), born in [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) on New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially [physical education](https://www.britannica.com/topic/physical-education). In 1890 he traveled to [England](https://www.britannica.com/place/England) to meet Dr. [William Penny Brookes](https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Penny-Brookes), who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the [ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games), getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) starting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from [Panagiotis Soutsos](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Panayotis-Soutsos), a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public [apathy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apathy) and opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens. *[Are Olympic Medals Made of Gold?](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold)* When Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of [reviving](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reviving) the Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said: > Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into [Europe](https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe) the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. He then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin [reiterated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reiterated) his proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers Dimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee), and Professor William M. Sloane of the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), from the [College of New Jersey](https://www.britannica.com/topic/College-of-New-Jersey) (later [Princeton University](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Princeton-University)), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.” [![How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/253562-138-120DAAE6/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/How-are-sports-chosen-for-the-Olympic-Games/-307606) How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?Even tug-of-war once held its own as a respected Olympic sport. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/images-videos) It was at first agreed that the Games should be held in [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) in 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the [venue](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venue) to Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek [prime minister](https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister) to stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on [Greek Independence Day](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greek-Independence-Day) (which was on March 25 according to the [Julian calendar](https://www.britannica.com/science/Julian-calendar) then in use in Greece). ## Organization ## The [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) At the [Congress](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Congress) of Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC; Comité International Olympique). During [World War I](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I) Coubertin moved its headquarters to [Lausanne](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lausanne), Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) throughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin. IOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense [delegates](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delegates) to the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence. The IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents. The IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be [convened](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convened) at any time that one-third of the members so request. | name | country | years | |---|---|---| | Dimítrios Vikélas | Greece | 1894–96 | | [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) | France | 1896–1925 | | Henri, comte de Baillet-Latour | Belgium | 1925–42 | | J. Sigfrid Edström | Sweden | 1946–52 | | [Avery Brundage](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Avery-Brundage) | United States | 1952–72 | | [Michael Morris, Lord Killanin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Morris-3rd-Baron-Killanin-of-Galway) | Ireland | 1972–80 | | [Juan António Samaranch](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Juan-Antonio-Samaranch-marques-de-Samaranch) | Spain | 1980–2001 | | [Jacques Rogge](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacques-Rogge) | Belgium | 2001–13 | | Thomas Bach | Germany | 2013–25 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 2025–present | ## The awarding of the Olympic Games The honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government. Applications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any [discrimination](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination) on grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the [assurance](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assurance) that the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of [Taiwan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Taiwan) because they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China), under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must [undertake](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/undertake) to strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions. | year | Summer Games | Winter Games | |---|---|---| | \*The Winter Games were not held until 1924. | | | | \*\*Games were not held during World War I and World War II. | | | | \*\*\*Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule. | | | | 1896 | [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) | \* | | 1900 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | \* | | 1904 | [St. Louis](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Louis-Missouri), [Missouri](https://www.britannica.com/place/Missouri-state), [U.S.](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) | \* | | 1908 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | \* | | 1912 | [Stockholm](https://www.britannica.com/place/Stockholm) | \* | | 1916 | \*\* | \* | | 1920 | [Antwerp](https://www.britannica.com/place/Antwerp-Belgium), [Belgium](https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgium) | \* | | 1924 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | [Chamonix](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc), [France](https://www.britannica.com/place/France) | | 1928 | [Amsterdam](https://www.britannica.com/place/Amsterdam) | [St. Moritz](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Moritz), [Switzerland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Switzerland) | | 1932 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | [Lake Placid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Placid), [New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state), U.S. | | 1936 | [Berlin](https://www.britannica.com/place/Berlin) | [Garmisch-Partenkirchen](https://www.britannica.com/place/Garmisch-Partenkirchen), [Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany) | | 1940 | \*\* | \*\* | | 1944 | \*\* | \*\* | | 1948 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | [St. Moritz](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Moritz) | | 1952 | [Helsinki](https://www.britannica.com/place/Helsinki), [Finland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Finland) | [Oslo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Oslo), [Norway](https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway) | | 1956 | [Melbourne](https://www.britannica.com/place/Melbourne), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 1960 | [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome) | Squaw Valley (now [Olympic Valley](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympic-Valley)), [California](https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state), U.S. | | 1964 | [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) | [Innsbruck](https://www.britannica.com/place/Innsbruck), [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria) | | 1968 | [Mexico City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico-City) | [Grenoble](https://www.britannica.com/place/Grenoble), [France](https://www.britannica.com/place/France) | | 1972 | [Munich](https://www.britannica.com/place/Munich-Bavaria-Germany), [West Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Germany) | [Sapporo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sapporo), [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) | | 1976 | [Montreal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Montreal) | [Innsbruck](https://www.britannica.com/place/Innsbruck), [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria) | | 1980 | [Moscow](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moscow) | [Lake Placid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Placid), [New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state), U.S. | | 1984 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | [Sarajevo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sarajevo), [Yugoslavia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003) (now in [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina)) | | 1988 | [Seoul](https://www.britannica.com/place/Seoul), [South Korea](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea) | [Calgary](https://www.britannica.com/place/Calgary), [Alberta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province), [Canada](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada) | | 1992 | [Barcelona](https://www.britannica.com/place/Barcelona), [Spain](https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain) | Albertville, France | | 1994 | \*\*\* | [Lillehammer](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lillehammer), [Norway](https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway) | | 1996 | [Atlanta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlanta-Georgia), [Georgia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Georgia-state), U.S. | \*\*\* | | 1998 | \*\*\* | [Nagano](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nagano-Japan), [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) | | 2000 | [Sydney](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sydney-New-South-Wales), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | \*\*\* | | 2002 | \*\*\* | [Salt Lake City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Salt-Lake-City), [Utah](https://www.britannica.com/place/Utah), U.S. | | 2004 | [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) | \*\*\* | | 2006 | \*\*\* | [Turin](https://www.britannica.com/place/Turin-Italy), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 2008 | [Beijing](https://www.britannica.com/place/Beijing) | \*\*\* | | 2010 | \*\*\* | [Vancouver](https://www.britannica.com/place/Vancouver), [British Columbia](https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Columbia), [Canada](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada) | | 2012 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | \*\*\* | | 2014 | \*\*\* | [Sochi](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sochi), [Russia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia) | | 2016 | [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-state-Brazil) | \*\*\* | | 2018 | \*\*\* | Pyeongchang county, [South Korea](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea) | | 2020 | [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) | \*\*\* | | 2022 | \*\*\* | [Beijing](https://www.britannica.com/place/Beijing) | | 2024 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | \*\*\* | | 2026 | \*\*\* | [Milan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Milan-Italy) and [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 2028 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | \*\*\* | | 2030 | \*\*\* | French [Alps](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alps) | | 2032 | [Brisbane](https://www.britannica.com/place/Brisbane), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | \*\*\* | | 2034 | \*\*\* | [Salt Lake City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Salt-Lake-City) | Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. *print* 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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Abrahams, Harold Maurice, Young, David C.. "Olympic Games". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 13 Apr. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games. Accessed 16 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/Olympic-Games> External Websites - [PBS LearningMedia - Origins of the Olympics \| The Greeks](https://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/thegreeks_ep2_clip03/thegreeks_ep2_clip03/) - [HistoryWorld - History of the Olympic Games](http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac28) - [Humanities LibreTexts - Olympic games](https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Art/SmartHistory_of_Art_Individual_Books_V2/02%3A_Ancient_Mediterranean/05%3A_Ancient_Greece/5.01%3A_A_beginners_guide-_Ancient_Greece/5.1.07%3A_Olympic_games) - [World History Encyclopedia - Ancient Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [Olympic Games - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Olympic-Games/353563) - [Olympic Games - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Olympic-Games/276182)

Readable Markdown

Top Questions ### What are the Olympic Games? ### When did the Olympic Games start? ### When are the Olympic Games? ### Where are the Olympic Games held? ### What are the prizes at the Olympics? ### Who started the modern Olympics? ### When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics? ### Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals? ## News • **Olympic Games**, athletic festival that originated in [ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece) and was [revived](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/revived) in the late 19th century. Before the 1970s the Games were officially limited to competitors with amateur status, but in the 1980s many events were opened to professional athletes. Currently, the Games are open to all, even the top professional athletes in [basketball](https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball) and [football (soccer)](https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer). The [ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games) included several of the sports that are now part of the [Summer Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Summer-Olympic-Games) program, which at times has included events in as many as 32 different [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports). In 1924 the [Winter Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Winter-Olympic-Games) were sanctioned for winter sports. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports [competition](https://www.britannica.com/science/competition-biotic-interaction). The next edition of the Olympics will be the [Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028](https://www.britannica.com/event/Los-Angeles-2028-Summer-Olympic-Games). The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French [Alps](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alps) in 2030. ## The ancient Olympic Games ## Origins Just how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in [Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece) almost 3,000 years ago. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece); the [Pythian Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Pythian-Games) at [Delphi](https://www.britannica.com/place/Delphi-ancient-city-Greece); the [Nemean Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Nemean-Games) at Nemea; and the [Isthmian Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Isthmian-Games), held near [Corinth](https://www.britannica.com/place/Corinth-Greece). Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome), [Naples](https://www.britannica.com/place/Naples-Italy), Odessus, [Antioch](https://www.britannica.com/place/Antioch-ancient-city-west-central-Turkey), and [Alexandria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alexandria-Egypt). Of all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous. Held every four years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek history that in late antiquity historians measured time by the interval between them—an Olympiad. The Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, were an [intrinsic](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrinsic) part of a religious festival. They were held in honor of [Zeus](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zeus) at Olympia by the [city-state](https://www.britannica.com/topic/city-state) of [Elis](https://www.britannica.com/place/Elis) in the northwestern [Peloponnese](https://www.britannica.com/place/Peloponnese). The first Olympic [champion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/champion-English-history) listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on [myth](https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth), not historical evidence. According to one [legend](https://www.britannica.com/art/legend-literature), for example, the Games were founded by [Heracles](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Heracles), son of Zeus and [Alcmene](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Alcmene). ## Competition and status [Ancient Olympic Games](https://cdn.britannica.com/43/198043-050-06FA423B/events-Infographic-athletes-Olympic-Games-pankration-pentathlon.jpg)Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games, including running events, the pentathlon, and the *pankration*. At the meeting in 776 bce there was apparently only one event, a [footrace](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sprint-running) that covered one length of the track at Olympia, but other events were added over the ensuing decades. The race, known as the [stade](https://www.britannica.com/science/stade-measurement), was about 192 meters (210 yards) long. The word *stade* also came to refer to the track on which the race was held and is the origin of the modern English word *stadium*. In 724 bce a two-length race, the *[diaulos](https://www.britannica.com/sports/diaulos)*, roughly similar to the 400-meter race, was included, and four years later the *[dolichos](https://www.britannica.com/sports/dolichos-running-race)*, a long-distance race possibly [comparable](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/comparable) to the modern 1,500- or 5,000-meter events, was added. [Wrestling](https://www.britannica.com/sports/wrestling#ref8012) and the [pentathlon](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pentathlon) were introduced in 708 bce. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events—the [long jump](https://www.britannica.com/sports/long-jump), the [javelin throw](https://www.britannica.com/sports/javelin-throw), the [discus throw](https://www.britannica.com/sports/discus-throw), a footrace, and wrestling. [![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) [Boxing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/boxing) was introduced in 688 bce and [chariot racing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/chariot-racing) eight years later. In 648 bce the [pancratium](https://www.britannica.com/sports/pankration) (from Greek *pankration*), a kind of no-holds-barred combat, was included. This brutal contest combined wrestling, boxing, and street fighting. Kicking and hitting a downed opponent were allowed; only biting and gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 bce events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added, including a footrace in which athletes ran in partial armor and contests for [heralds](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/heralds) and for trumpeters. The program, however, was not nearly so varied as that of the modern Olympics. There were neither team games nor ball games, and the [athletics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/athletics) (track and field) events were limited to the four running events and the pentathlon mentioned above. Chariot races and [horse racing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/horse-racing), which became part of the ancient Games, were held in the [hippodrome](https://www.britannica.com/technology/hippodrome-architecture) south of the stadium. In the early centuries of Olympic competition, all the contests took place on one day; later the Games were spread over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing-ceremony presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. In most events the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the [eccentric](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eccentric) (to be nude in public without an [erection](https://www.britannica.com/science/erection) demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a [rite of passage](https://www.britannica.com/topic/rite-of-passage), (2) nudity was a holdover from the days of [hunting](https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport) and [gathering](https://www.britannica.com/topic/hunter-gatherer), (3) nudity had, for the Greeks, a magical power to ward off harm, and (4) public nudity was a kind of costume of the upper class. Historians grasp at dubious theories because, in Judeo-Christian society, to compete nude in public seems odd, if not scandalous. Yet ancient Greeks found nothing shameful about nudity, especially male nudity. Therefore, the many modern explanations of Greek athletic nudity are in the main unnecessary. Go beyond the basics with trusted, in-depth knowledge for professionals, students, and lifelong learners. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=basics-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) The Olympic Games were technically restricted to freeborn Greeks. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the [Italian peninsula](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italian-Peninsula) and in [Asia Minor](https://www.britannica.com/place/Anatolia) and [Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa). Most of the participants were professionals who trained full-time for the events. These athletes earned substantial prizes for winning at many other preliminary festivals, and, although the only prize at Olympia was a wreath or garland, an Olympic champion also received widespread [adulation](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adulation) and often lavish benefits from his home city. [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. ## [Women](https://www.britannica.com/topic/women) and the Olympic Games Although there were no women’s events in the ancient Olympics, several women appear in the official lists of Olympic victors as the owners of the stables of some victorious chariot entries. In [Sparta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sparta), girls and young women did practice and compete locally. But, apart from Sparta, contests for young Greek women were very rare and probably limited to an annual local footrace. At [Olympia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece), however, the [Herean festival](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Herean-festival), held every four years in honor of the goddess [Hera](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hera), included a race for young women, who were divided into three age groups. Yet the Herean race was not part of the Olympics (they took place at another time of the year) and probably was not instituted before the advent of the [Roman Empire](https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Empire). Then for a brief period girls competed at a few other important athletic [venues](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venues). The 2nd-century-ce traveler [Pausanias](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pausanias-Greek-geographer) wrote that women were banned from Olympia during the actual Games under penalty of death. Yet he also remarked that the law and penalty had never been [invoked](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invoked). His account later incongruously stated that unmarried women were allowed as Olympic spectators. Many historians believe that a later scribe simply made an error copying this passage of Pausanias’s text here. Nonetheless, the notion that all or only married women were banned from the Games endured in popular writing on the topic, though the evidence regarding women as spectators remains unclear. ## Demise of the Olympics [Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece) lost its independence to [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome) in the middle of the 2nd century bce, and support for the competitions at Olympia and elsewhere fell off considerably during the next century. The Romans looked on [athletics](https://www.britannica.com/sports/athletics) with contempt—to strip naked and compete in public was [degrading](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/degrading) in their eyes. The Romans realized the political value of the Greek festivals, however, and Emperor [Augustus](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augustus-Roman-emperor) staged games for Greek athletes in a temporary wooden stadium erected near the [Circus Maximus](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Circus-Maximus) in Rome and instituted major new athletic festivals in Italy and in Greece. Emperor [Nero](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor) was also a keen patron of the festivals in Greece, but he disgraced himself and the Olympic Games when he entered a [chariot race](https://www.britannica.com/sports/chariot-racing), fell off his vehicle, and then declared himself the winner anyway. Romans neither trained for nor participated in Greek athletics. Roman [gladiator](https://www.britannica.com/sports/gladiator) shows and team chariot racing were not related to the Olympic Games or to Greek athletics. The main difference between the Greek and Roman attitudes is reflected in the words each [culture](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture) used to describe its festivals: For the Greeks they were contests (*agōnes*), while for the Romans they were games (*ludi*). The Greeks originally organized their festivals for the competitors, the Romans for the public. One was primarily competition, the other entertainment. The Olympic Games were finally abolished about 400 ce by the Roman emperor [Theodosius I](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodosius-I) or his son because of the festival’s pagan associations. ## The modern Olympic movement ## Revival of the Olympics The ideas and work of several people led to the creation of the modern Olympics. The best-known architect of the modern Games was [Pierre de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin), born in [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) on New Year’s Day, 1863. Family tradition pointed to an army career or possibly politics, but at age 24 Coubertin decided that his future lay in education, especially [physical education](https://www.britannica.com/topic/physical-education). In 1890 he traveled to [England](https://www.britannica.com/place/England) to meet Dr. [William Penny Brookes](https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Penny-Brookes), who had written some articles on education that attracted the Frenchman’s attention. Brookes also had tried for decades to revive the [ancient Olympic Games](https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games), getting the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) starting in 1859. The Greek Olympics were founded by Evangelis Zappas, who, in turn, got the idea from [Panagiotis Soutsos](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Panayotis-Soutsos), a Greek poet who was the first to call for a modern revival and began to promote the idea in 1833. Brookes’s first British Olympiad, held in London in 1866, was successful, with many spectators and good athletes in attendance. But his subsequent attempts met with less success and were beset by public [apathy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apathy) and opposition from rival sporting groups. Rather than give up, in the 1880s Brookes began to argue for the founding of international Olympics in Athens. *[Are Olympic Medals Made of Gold?](https://www.britannica.com/sports/Are-Olympic-Medals-Made-of-Gold)* When Coubertin sought to confer with Brookes about physical education, Brookes talked more about Olympic revivals and showed him documents relating to both the Greek and the British Olympiads. He also showed Coubertin newspaper articles reporting his own proposal for international Olympic Games. On November 25, 1892, at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris, with no mention of Brookes or these previous modern Olympiads, Coubertin himself advocated the idea of [reviving](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reviving) the Olympic Games, and he propounded his desire for a new era in international sport when he said: > Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into [Europe](https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe) the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. He then asked his audience to help him in “the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.” The speech did not produce any appreciable activity, but Coubertin [reiterated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reiterated) his proposal for an Olympic revival in Paris in June 1894 at a conference on international sport attended by 79 delegates representing 49 organizations from 9 countries. Coubertin himself wrote that, except for his coworkers Dimítrios Vikélas of Greece, who was to be the first president of the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee), and Professor William M. Sloane of the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), from the [College of New Jersey](https://www.britannica.com/topic/College-of-New-Jersey) (later [Princeton University](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Princeton-University)), no one had any real interest in the revival of the Games. Nevertheless, and to quote Coubertin again, “a unanimous vote in favor of revival was rendered at the end of the Congress chiefly to please me.” It was at first agreed that the Games should be held in [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) in 1900. Six years seemed a long time to wait, however, and it was decided (how and by whom remains obscure) to change the [venue](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venue) to Athens and the date to April 1896. A great deal of indifference, if not opposition, had to be overcome, including a refusal by the Greek [prime minister](https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister) to stage the Games at all. But when a new prime minister took office, Coubertin and Vikélas were able to carry their point, and the Games were opened by the king of Greece in the first week of April 1896, on [Greek Independence Day](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greek-Independence-Day) (which was on March 25 according to the [Julian calendar](https://www.britannica.com/science/Julian-calendar) then in use in Greece). ## Organization ## The [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) At the [Congress](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Congress) of Paris in 1894, the control and development of the modern Olympic Games were entrusted to the [International Olympic Committee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Olympic-Committee) (IOC; Comité International Olympique). During [World War I](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I) Coubertin moved its headquarters to [Lausanne](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lausanne), Switzerland, where they have remained. The IOC is responsible for maintaining the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, seeing that the Games are carried out in the spirit that inspired their revival, and promoting the development of [sports](https://www.britannica.com/sports/sports) throughout the world. The original committee in 1894 consisted of 14 members and Coubertin. IOC members are regarded as ambassadors from the committee to their national sports organizations. They are in no sense [delegates](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delegates) to the committee and may not accept, from the government of their country or from any organization or individual, any instructions that in any way affect their independence. The IOC is a permanent organization that elects its own members. Reforms in 1999 set the maximum membership at 115, of whom 70 are individuals, 15 current Olympic athletes, 15 national Olympic committee presidents, and 15 international sports federation presidents. The members are elected to renewable eight-year terms, but they must retire at age 70. Term limits were also applied to future presidents. The IOC elects its president for a period of eight years, at the end of which the president is eligible for reelection for further periods of four years each. The executive board of 15 members holds periodic meetings with the international federations and national Olympic committees. The IOC as a whole meets annually, and a meeting can be [convened](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convened) at any time that one-third of the members so request. | name | country | years | |---|---|---| | Dimítrios Vikélas | Greece | 1894–96 | | [Pierre, baron de Coubertin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-baron-de-Coubertin) | France | 1896–1925 | | Henri, comte de Baillet-Latour | Belgium | 1925–42 | | J. Sigfrid Edström | Sweden | 1946–52 | | [Avery Brundage](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Avery-Brundage) | United States | 1952–72 | | [Michael Morris, Lord Killanin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Morris-3rd-Baron-Killanin-of-Galway) | Ireland | 1972–80 | | [Juan António Samaranch](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Juan-Antonio-Samaranch-marques-de-Samaranch) | Spain | 1980–2001 | | [Jacques Rogge](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacques-Rogge) | Belgium | 2001–13 | | Thomas Bach | Germany | 2013–25 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 2025–present | ## The awarding of the Olympic Games The honor of holding the Olympic Games is entrusted to a city, not to a country. The choice of the city lies solely with the IOC. Application to hold the Games is made by the chief authority of the city, with the support of the national government. Applications must state that no political meetings or demonstrations will be held in the stadium or other sports grounds or in the Olympic Village. Applicants also promise that every competitor shall be given free entry without any [discrimination](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination) on grounds of religion, color, or political affiliation. This involves the [assurance](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assurance) that the national government will not refuse visas to any of the competitors. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, however, the Canadian government refused visas to the representatives of [Taiwan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Taiwan) because they were unwilling to forgo the title of the Republic of [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China), under which their national Olympic committee had been admitted to the IOC. This Canadian decision, in the opinion of the IOC, did great damage to the Olympic Games, and it was later resolved that any country in which the Games are organized must [undertake](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/undertake) to strictly observe the rules. It was acknowledged that enforcement would be difficult, and even the use of severe penalties by the IOC might not guarantee elimination of infractions. | year | Summer Games | Winter Games | |---|---|---| | \*The Winter Games were not held until 1924. | | | | \*\*Games were not held during World War I and World War II. | | | | \*\*\*Beginning in 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held on a staggered two-year schedule. | | | | 1896 | [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) | \* | | 1900 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | \* | | 1904 | [St. Louis](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Louis-Missouri), [Missouri](https://www.britannica.com/place/Missouri-state), [U.S.](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States) | \* | | 1908 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | \* | | 1912 | [Stockholm](https://www.britannica.com/place/Stockholm) | \* | | 1916 | \*\* | \* | | 1920 | [Antwerp](https://www.britannica.com/place/Antwerp-Belgium), [Belgium](https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgium) | \* | | 1924 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | [Chamonix](https://www.britannica.com/place/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc), [France](https://www.britannica.com/place/France) | | 1928 | [Amsterdam](https://www.britannica.com/place/Amsterdam) | [St. Moritz](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Moritz), [Switzerland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Switzerland) | | 1932 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | [Lake Placid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Placid), [New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state), U.S. | | 1936 | [Berlin](https://www.britannica.com/place/Berlin) | [Garmisch-Partenkirchen](https://www.britannica.com/place/Garmisch-Partenkirchen), [Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany) | | 1940 | \*\* | \*\* | | 1944 | \*\* | \*\* | | 1948 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | [St. Moritz](https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Moritz) | | 1952 | [Helsinki](https://www.britannica.com/place/Helsinki), [Finland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Finland) | [Oslo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Oslo), [Norway](https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway) | | 1956 | [Melbourne](https://www.britannica.com/place/Melbourne), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 1960 | [Rome](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome) | Squaw Valley (now [Olympic Valley](https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympic-Valley)), [California](https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state), U.S. | | 1964 | [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) | [Innsbruck](https://www.britannica.com/place/Innsbruck), [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria) | | 1968 | [Mexico City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico-City) | [Grenoble](https://www.britannica.com/place/Grenoble), [France](https://www.britannica.com/place/France) | | 1972 | [Munich](https://www.britannica.com/place/Munich-Bavaria-Germany), [West Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Germany) | [Sapporo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sapporo), [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) | | 1976 | [Montreal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Montreal) | [Innsbruck](https://www.britannica.com/place/Innsbruck), [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria) | | 1980 | [Moscow](https://www.britannica.com/place/Moscow) | [Lake Placid](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Placid), [New York](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state), U.S. | | 1984 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | [Sarajevo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sarajevo), [Yugoslavia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Yugoslavia-former-federated-nation-1929-2003) (now in [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina)) | | 1988 | [Seoul](https://www.britannica.com/place/Seoul), [South Korea](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea) | [Calgary](https://www.britannica.com/place/Calgary), [Alberta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province), [Canada](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada) | | 1992 | [Barcelona](https://www.britannica.com/place/Barcelona), [Spain](https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain) | Albertville, France | | 1994 | \*\*\* | [Lillehammer](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lillehammer), [Norway](https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway) | | 1996 | [Atlanta](https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlanta-Georgia), [Georgia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Georgia-state), U.S. | \*\*\* | | 1998 | \*\*\* | [Nagano](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nagano-Japan), [Japan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan) | | 2000 | [Sydney](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sydney-New-South-Wales), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | \*\*\* | | 2002 | \*\*\* | [Salt Lake City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Salt-Lake-City), [Utah](https://www.britannica.com/place/Utah), U.S. | | 2004 | [Athens](https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens) | \*\*\* | | 2006 | \*\*\* | [Turin](https://www.britannica.com/place/Turin-Italy), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 2008 | [Beijing](https://www.britannica.com/place/Beijing) | \*\*\* | | 2010 | \*\*\* | [Vancouver](https://www.britannica.com/place/Vancouver), [British Columbia](https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Columbia), [Canada](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada) | | 2012 | [London](https://www.britannica.com/place/London) | \*\*\* | | 2014 | \*\*\* | [Sochi](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sochi), [Russia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia) | | 2016 | [Rio de Janeiro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-state-Brazil) | \*\*\* | | 2018 | \*\*\* | Pyeongchang county, [South Korea](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea) | | 2020 | [Tokyo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokyo) | \*\*\* | | 2022 | \*\*\* | [Beijing](https://www.britannica.com/place/Beijing) | | 2024 | [Paris](https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris) | \*\*\* | | 2026 | \*\*\* | [Milan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Milan-Italy) and [Cortina d'Ampezzo](https://www.britannica.com/place/Cortina-dAmpezzo), [Italy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy) | | 2028 | [Los Angeles](https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California) | \*\*\* | | 2030 | \*\*\* | French [Alps](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alps) | | 2032 | [Brisbane](https://www.britannica.com/place/Brisbane), [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) | \*\*\* | | 2034 | \*\*\* | [Salt Lake City](https://www.britannica.com/place/Salt-Lake-City) |

ML Classification

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Content Metadata

Language

Author

Harold Maurice Abrahams

Publish Time

2026-04-13 00:00:00 (11 days ago)

Original Publish Time

2016-06-14 15:22:09 (9 years ago)

Republished

Yes

Word Count (Total)

4,696

Word Count (Content)

3,040

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External Links

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289

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Meta Noarchive

JS Rendered

Yes

Redirect Target

null

Performance

Download Time (ms)

203

TTFB (ms)

201

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33,102

Shard

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Unparsed URL

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