# Every Summer Olympic Games, from Athens 1896 to Paris 2024

Thirty editions of the modern Summer Olympics (three were cancelled by the World Wars), from the first Games in Athens to the opening ceremony on the Seine. Which were the best Games?

- 168 votes · 30 items
- Aug 20, 2024 · retrogamer.lost
- https://even.best/en/l/3035/every-summer-olympic-games-from-athens-1896-to-paris-2024

## Top 30

1. **Athens 1896** (14 · ▲14 ▼0) — The first modern Olympics, revived by Pierre de Coubertin.
2. **London 1908** (13 · ▲13 ▼0) — Where the marathon distance was fixed at 42.195 km.
3. **Los Angeles 1932** (9 · ▲10 ▼1) — The first Olympic village.
4. **St. Louis 1904** (7 · ▲8 ▼1) — The first Games outside Europe, with the World's Fair.
5. **Paris 1900** (6 · ▲8 ▼2) — The first Games with women competitors.
6. **Stockholm 1912** (5 · ▲7 ▼2) — The first with electronic timing and a photo finish.
7. **Melbourne 1956** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — The first Games in the southern hemisphere.
8. **Antwerp 1920** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — The debut of the Olympic flag and the athletes' oath.
9. **Paris 1924** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — The Games of Chariots of Fire.
10. **Tokyo 1964** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — The first Games in Asia.
11. **Munich 1972** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Mark Spitz's seven golds, overshadowed by the attack on the Israeli team.
12. **Los Angeles 1984** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Carl Lewis's four golds and the Soviet boycott.
13. **Atlanta 1996** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — The centenary Games, with Muhammad Ali lighting the flame.
14. **London 1948** (3 · ▲5 ▼2) — The "Austerity Games" after the war.
15. **Montreal 1976** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Nadia Comăneci's perfect 10.
16. **London 2012** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — The first city to host three Summer Games.
17. **Helsinki 1952** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Emil Zátopek's triple: 5,000, 10,000 and the marathon.
18. **Sydney 2000** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Cathy Freeman's night.
19. **Amsterdam 1928** (2 · ▲4 ▼2) — The first Olympic flame burned here.
20. **Rome 1960** (2 · ▲4 ▼2) — Abebe Bikila won the marathon barefoot.
21. **Berlin 1936** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Jesse Owens' four golds and the first torch relay.
22. **Moscow 1980** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Boycotted by the United States and dozens of countries.
23. **Beijing 2008** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps's eight golds.
24. **Tokyo 2020** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Held in 2021 without spectators because of the pandemic.
25. **Mexico City 1968** (1 · ▲4 ▼3) — Bob Beamon's leap and the Black Power salute.
26. **Barcelona 1992** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — The Dream Team and the archer who lit the flame.
27. **Athens 2004** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — The Games came home.
28. **Rio de Janeiro 2016** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — The first Games in South America.
29. **Paris 2024** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — The opening ceremony on the Seine.
30. **Seoul 1988** (0 · ▲2 ▼2) — Florence Griffith-Joyner's records.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.