Every Summer Olympic Games, from Athens 1896 to Paris 2024
The top 3 according to 168 votes from people: Athens 1896 · London 1908 · Los Angeles 1932. (Updated Aug 20, 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?
Top 30
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1
Athens 1896
The first modern Olympics, revived by Pierre de Coubertin.
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2
London 1908
Where the marathon distance was fixed at 42.195 km.
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3
Los Angeles 1932
The first Olympic village.
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4
St. Louis 1904
The first Games outside Europe, with the World's Fair.
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5
Paris 1900
The first Games with women competitors.
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6
Stockholm 1912
The first with electronic timing and a photo finish.
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7
Melbourne 1956
The first Games in the southern hemisphere.
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8
Antwerp 1920
The debut of the Olympic flag and the athletes' oath.
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9
Paris 1924
The Games of Chariots of Fire.
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10
Tokyo 1964
The first Games in Asia.
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11
Munich 1972
Mark Spitz's seven golds, overshadowed by the attack on the Israeli team.
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12
Los Angeles 1984
Carl Lewis's four golds and the Soviet boycott.
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13
Atlanta 1996
The centenary Games, with Muhammad Ali lighting the flame.
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14
London 1948
The "Austerity Games" after the war.
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15
Montreal 1976
Nadia Comăneci's perfect 10.
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16
London 2012
The first city to host three Summer Games.
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17
Helsinki 1952
Emil Zátopek's triple: 5,000, 10,000 and the marathon.
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18
Sydney 2000
Cathy Freeman's night.
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19
Amsterdam 1928
The first Olympic flame burned here.
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20
Rome 1960
Abebe Bikila won the marathon barefoot.
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21
Berlin 1936
Jesse Owens' four golds and the first torch relay.
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22
Moscow 1980
Boycotted by the United States and dozens of countries.
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23
Beijing 2008
Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps's eight golds.
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24
Tokyo 2020
Held in 2021 without spectators because of the pandemic.
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25
Mexico City 1968
Bob Beamon's leap and the Black Power salute.
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26
Barcelona 1992
The Dream Team and the archer who lit the flame.
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27
Athens 2004
The Games came home.
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28
Rio de Janeiro 2016
The first Games in South America.
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29
Paris 2024
The opening ceremony on the Seine.
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30
Seoul 1988
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (2)
Barcelona 92 for me. The archer lighting the cauldron is still the best opening moment ever.
London 2012 had the better ceremony, but Barcelona changed the whole city, so I get it