FAQ
When were the first modern Olympic Games held?
Athens hosted the first modern Games in April 1896. Some 241 male athletes from 14 nations competed in 9 sports at the rebuilt Panathenaic Stadium, with Greek runner Spyridon Louis winning the marathon.
Why were there no Olympics in 1916, 1940 or 1944?
World wars wiped out those editions. Berlin 1916 and the 1940 and 1944 summer and winter Games were cancelled, and the IOC kept the numbering, so Antwerp 1920 was still the seventh Olympiad. Tokyo 1940 had been the first Asian host city ever chosen.
Which cities have hosted the most Olympic Games?
London and Paris lead with three summer editions each: London in 1908, 1948 and 2012, Paris in 1900, 1924 and 2024. Los Angeles joins the club in 2028 after 1932 and 1984.
Why are the Winter and Summer Games in different years now?
In 1986 the IOC voted to split the calendars so the Winter Games would not compete with the summer edition for sponsors and television attention. Lillehammer 1994 was the first winter edition in the new slot, two years after Albertville.
What are the Youth Olympic Games?
A festival for athletes aged roughly 14 to 18, staged every four years since Singapore 2010, mixing sport with culture and education programs. Dakar 2026 will be the first Olympic event of any kind held in Africa.
Did people compete in the Olympics before 1896?
Yes. The ancient festival ran at Olympia from 776 BC until the late 4th century AD. Revivals began with the Wenlock games in 1850 and the Zappas games in Athens from 1859, and the unofficial intercalated Games of 1906 bridged the early modern era.