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11 of the most historic Summer Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a legendary sporting event, from its ancient origins to record-breaking athletes. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in full swing, read on to discover some of the most memorable modern Olympic Games.
Author: Aimee White - SEO Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Date Published: 2 August 2024
 

The first Olympic Games took place in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC and were held until 393 BC. Much like today's games, they were held every four years, although the sports have changed over the centuries: the ancient Olympics included events like chariot racing, the pankration and boxing.
 

While the ancient games ended in 393 BC, the Olympic Games were finally reintroduced in 1896. There are similarities to its ancient roots, but the games have welcomed modern additions with the likes of the Winter Olympics, Paralympics and Youth Olympics.
 

As Paris hosts the Summer Olympic Games between July to August 2024, read on to discover some of the most historic Olympic Games over the years:

Athens, Greece: 1896

As the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Greece reignited the ancient event by hosting the first modern Olympic Games. The Athens 1896 Olympic Games were held in the Panathenaic Stadium, a structure dating back to 330 BC.
 

Athletes representing 14 nations, including Greece, Germany, France and Great Britain, took part in 43 events, but it was the USA that made modern history. James Connolly won the triple jump, earning him the title as the first Olympic champion in over 1,500 years.

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Los Angeles, California, USA: 1932

The 1932 Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles, taking place at the still-standing Coliseum Olympic stadium. Although the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression, this Californian city introduced additions that set new standards and traditions for the games as we know them today.
 

Some 100,000 spectators watched the now-standard opening ceremony, and the 1932 Olympic Games marked the first time that winners stood on podiums. Plus, the length of the games were reduced to 16 days - they've remained between 15 to 18 days ever since. Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.

Image: Wikipedia/Public Domain

Berlin, Germany 1936

The 1936 Berlin Olympic Games were one of the most controversial games in history. Just a few years before the start of World War Two, the Nazi regime was in full swing, and Adolf Hitler officially opened the event. Many nations threatened to boycott the event, and three athletes refused to participate.
 

The Berlin 1936 games were important for a variety of reasons - it was the first time the Olympic Games were broadcast on television, and we saw the first Olympic torch relay from Olympia (Greece) to Berlin. Most significantly, though, were the standout athletes: the USA's Jesse Owens won four gold medals in track and field events, while the USA's Marjorie Gestring made history as the youngest female gold medallist in Summer Olympic Games history.

Image: Wikipedia/Public Domain

Melbourne, Australia: 1956

The Melbourne Olympic Games marked the first time that the event was held in Oceania, with 72 countries participating across 145 events. It was also the first Games to take place in two different countries, continents and seasons - horse quarantine requirements meant that the equestrian events took place in Stockholm (Sweden) instead!
 

The 1956 Olympic Games took place during the Soviet invasion of Hungary, with tensions extremely high during the polo match between the USSR and Hungary. Both sides suffered kicks and punches; this led to its notoriety as the infamous 'Blood in the Water' match.

Rome, Italy: 1960

The Olympic Anthem made its debut at the Olympic Games in 1960. With Rome's mighty ancient past, it made sense to make use of its mighty ancient structures, with sports events taking place at the likes of the Basilica of Maxentius and the Caracalla Baths.
 

It wasn't all things ancient, though, as the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome was a year for creating history. As Abebe Bikila crossed the finish line under the Arch of Constantine, the Ethiopian athlete not only won the marathon bare-footed, but also made history as the first Black African Olympic champion.

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Mexico City, Mexico: 1968

Mexico City hosted the 1968 Olympic Games, marking the first time the games were held in Latin America. But this proved to be a controversial decision, as the city's high altitude (2,300 metres above sea level) caused speed time-related issues.
 

As sprinters broke world records, long distance times were significantly slower as a result. The 1968 Olympic Games also went down in history as the first time a woman - Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio - lit the Olympic cauldron.

Image: Wikipedia/Public Domain

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Montreal, Canada: 1976

In 1976, the Summer Olympic Games were hosted in Canada for the first time. The host city saw 29 countries boycott the event due to apartheid in South Africa, but the games were also remembered for the athletes' remarkable achievements.
 

Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, earned a world-first: a perfect score of 10.0 in the gymnastics arena for uneven bars; Cuban runner Alberto Juantorena achieved an unprecedented 400m and 800m double victory; and the USA's Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) won gold in the decathlon.

Barcelona, Spain: 1992

Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, marking the first post-Cold War Olympics. South Africa participated for the first time in 32 years, and we also saw the appearance of the Unified Team, representing former Soviet republics. It was clear that change was on the horizon - and in more ways than one.

What made the 1992 Olympic Games so special was the legacy it left on Barcelona. The games truly put the Catalan city on the tourist map, and following the event, Barcelona skyrocketed as one of Europe's top travel destinations.
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London, England, UK: 2012

In 2012, London hosted the Summer Olympic Games for the third time in history. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park held a huge spectacle, from its impressive opening ceremony to the closing celebrations. Some 10,500 athletes representing 204 countries took part in the 2012 Olympic Games, including female athletes representing Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Of course, it was the athletes who stole the show. Great Britain's Jessica Ennis (heptathlon), Greg Rutherford (long jump) and Mo Farah (10,000m) won gold medals in the space of one day that became known as 'super Saturday'. The London 2012 Olympics also saw Jamaica's Usain Bolt beat his own Olympic records as he won three gold medals in track events, while the USA's Michael Phelps dominated the swimming field with four gold and two silver medals.
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Tokyo, Japan: 2021

Officially called the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Japan's capital city actually hosted the games in 2021. The original event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that dominated the globe in 2020 - and Tokyo narrowly missed delaying the event again, when an unexpected outburst hit the country just two weeks before the start of the games.

There was a starkly different atmosphere at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as no spectators were allowed, far removed from the usual riotous support of the spectators. Still, the Tokyo Olympic Games spanned 339 events across 33 sports, marking the highest number in Olympic history. The games also welcomed new sports such as skateboarding, surfing and karate.  
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Paris, France: 2024

2024 marks the third time that Paris has hosted the Olympic Games; the French capital city also hosted the Summer Olympics in 1900 and 1924. The Paris 2024 Olympics will debut breakdancing as a new sport, and in total will see 10,500 athletes compete across 329 events.

Taking place between 26 July to 11 August 2024, the games are being held across 35 venues in Paris and further afield, from beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium to football at Bordeaux Stadium. With an action-packed schedule, the Paris Summer Olympic Games are certainly one to watch.
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