The Modern Olympic Games
Athens 1896 to the Present
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The book examines key moments including the 1936 Berlin Games, the 1968 Mexico City boycotts, and the 1972 Munich tragedy. It addresses controversies over amateurism, doping scandals, and the financial burden of hosting. Each chapter focuses on specific Olympic events and their broader historical context.
Whether you're a sports fan or history buff, this comprehensive guide offers essential insights into how the Olympics evolved from a single Greek event to today's global spectacle.
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Overview
The modern Olympic Games are international multi-sport events held every four years in alternating Summer and Winter editions, featuring different sports and open to amateur and professional athletes. Inspired by the ancient games in Olympia, Greece, the first modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896, organized by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the International Olympic Committee. The IOC governs the movement, determining host cities, sports, and the Olympic programme, while events like the Paralympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, and Continental Games have expanded the Olympics' scope. Since 1994, Summer and Winter Games occur two years apart within each Olympiad, substituting for world championships during their years. The 2020 Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic, and past Games have been canceled or boycotted because of world wars and political tensions. The Olympic Movement includes international sports federations, National Olympic Committees, and organizing committees, with rituals such as the flame relay and opening ceremonies marking each event. Over 14,000 athletes competed in the 2020 and 2022 Olympics combined, across 40 sports and 448 events, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded to first-, second-, and third-place finishers.
Ancient Olympics
The Ancient Olympic Games were held every four years at Olympia in Greece, beginning in 776 BC, and were part of a larger cycle called the Panhellenic Games. They honored Zeus and Pelops, and featured events like running races, wrestling, boxing, pankration, and chariot racing. The stadion footrace was the only event for the first thirteen Olympics, and winners were celebrated with olive wreaths, though fame often brought economic rewards too. According to myth, Heracles established the Games and named them after Mount Olympus. The festival started on the second day of the religious celebration, and although a truce was said to halt wars during the Games, it only protected pilgrims traveling to Olympia. The Games lasted until around 393 AD, when Emperor Theodosius I banned pagan practices.
Forerunners
Since the 17th century, the term "Olympic" has described athletic events, with the Cotswold Games, also called the "Cotswold Olimpick Games," being among the first. Organized by Robert Dover between 1612 and 1642 near Chipping Campden, England, these games were held annually and are cited by the British Olympic Association as "the first stirrings of Britain's Olympic beginnings." In Revolutionary France, L'Olympiade de la République took place from 1796 to 1798, attempting to recreate the ancient Olympics and introducing the metric system into sport. In Sweden, Olympic Games were held in Ramlösa in 1834 and 1836, and in Stockholm in 1843, organized by Gustaf Johan Schartau. In England, William Penny Brookes started an Olympian Class in Much Wenlock in 1850, later renamed the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1859, which continues today. John Hulley and Charles Pierre Melly organized Liverpool's Grand Olympic Festival between 1862 and 1867, the first wholly amateur and international event, although only "gentlemen amateurs" could compete. The program of the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 closely mirrored that of the Liverpool Olympics. In 1865, Hulley, Brookes, and E. G. Ravenstein founded the National Olympian Association in Liverpool, which helped shape the International Olympic Charter. A national Olympic Games was held in London's Crystal Palace in 1866.
Revival
The idea to revive the Olympic Games came from Greece during its fight for independence in 1821. A poet named Panagiotis Soutsos suggested it in a poem from 1833. Later, Evangelos Zappas, a wealthy Greek-Romanian man, offered to fund the effort. He wrote to King Otto in 1856 and sponsored the first modern games in 1859, held in an Athens square with athletes from Greece and the Ottoman Empire. Zappas also paid for the ancient Panathenaic Stadium to be restored. That stadium hosted the Olympics again in 1870 and 1875, drawing thirty thousand people in '70. In 1890, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, inspired by the Wenlock Olympian Society, helped form the International Olympic Committee. At a meeting in Paris in 1894, it was decided that the first IOC-sponsored Olympics would be in Athens in 1896. Demetrius Vikelas, a Greek writer, became the first IOC president.
1896 Games
The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896, hosted in the Panathenaic Stadium. They brought together 14 nations and 241 athletes competing in 43 events. The trust left by Zappas and his cousin Konstantinos Zappas helped fund the Games, while George Averoff contributed to the stadium’s refurbishment. The Greek government also provided support, expecting to recover costs through ticket sales and the first Olympic commemorative stamp set. Hosts and attendees alike were enthusiastic, with many athletes even demanding that Athens be the permanent home of the Olympics. But the IOC had planned for future Games to rotate around the world — the next Olympics were held in Paris.
Changes and adaptations
After the first modern Olympics in 1896, the Games faced a tough stretch that nearly ended them. The 1900 Paris Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition didn’t draw much attention or participation. Then came the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, which brought a wide international group of athletes and sparked public excitement. At the time, the International Olympic Committee officially recognized them, though they don’t count anymore. No games since have been called Intercalated.
Winter Games
The Winter Olympics began because snow and ice sports couldn't be held during Summer Games. Figure skating and ice hockey were already part of the Summer Olympics, in 1908 and 1920 respectively. The International Olympic Committee wanted to expand that list and so, at the 1921 Olympic Congress in Lausanne, they decided to create a separate winter version. In 1924, a winter sports week took place in Chamonix, France, connected to the Paris Summer Games three months later. That event became the first official Winter Olympics. Originally, the plan was for the same country to host both the Winter and Summer Games in the same year, but that didn't last. The IOC then set the rule that Winter Games would be held every four years, in the same year as the Summer Olympics. That continued until 1992 in Albertville, France. From 1994 onward, the Winter Games were moved to come two years after each Summer Olympics, which helped spread out costs and boost advertising revenue.
Paralympics
In 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised a multi-sport event at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to help rehabilitate soldiers after World War II. That event became an annual festival, and over the next twelve years, Guttmann and others continued using sports for healing. In 1960, Guttmann brought 400 athletes to Rome for what was called the "Parallel Olympics," which came to be known as the first Paralympics. Since then, the Paralympics have been held every Olympic year, and starting in 1988, the host city also hosted the Paralympics. In 2001, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee signed an agreement guaranteeing that host cities would manage both Games, which took effect at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Two years before the 2012 Games, Lord Coe said: “We want to change public attitudes towards disability, celebrate the excellence of Paralympic sport and to enshrine from the very outset that the two Games are an integrated whole.”
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Overview
The first modern Olympic Games, officially named the Games of the I Olympiad and known as Athens 1896, were held in Greece from April 6 to 15, 1896. These games were organized by the International Olympic Committee, formed by French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin, and featured fourteen nations with 241 male athletes, the majority from Europe, over 65% being Greek. Crown Prince Constantine presided over the opening ceremony in the Panathenaic Stadium, where King George later urged Coubertin to hold future Games in Athens. American James Connolly won the first Olympic medal in over 1,500 years, competing in the triple jump. The host nation Greece earned the most medals overall, 47, while the United States claimed the most golds, 11. German athlete Carl Schuhmann was the most successful competitor, winning four events. The marathon was won by Spyridon Louis, a Greek runner. The Games were considered a great success, drawing the largest crowd ever for a sporting event at that time.
Reviving the Games
In the 19th century, European sports festivals began adopting the name Olympic, including one held in 1870 at the Panathenaic Stadium that attracted 30,000 people. Pierre de Coubertin, a French pedagogue and historian, embraced William Penny Brookes's vision for a multi-national, multi-sport event, although the original Olympics were limited to Greek men. That year, 1890, Coubertin published an article in La Revue Athlétique highlighting Much Wenlock, where Brookes had launched the Wenlock Olympian Games in October 1850. Coubertin also looked to Evangelis Zappas, who organized Greek Olympic games in 1859, 1870, and 1875. The 1896 Athens Games were financed by legacies from Zappas and his cousin Konstantinos Zappas, as well as George Averoff, who was asked by the Greek government to fund the stadium's refurbishment. On 18 June 1894, Coubertin convened a congress at the Sorbonne in Paris, where representatives from 11 countries endorsed his plan. Though he proposed holding the Games alongside the 1900 Paris Exposition, the group chose 1896 instead. Athens was selected as the host city, though the process is unclear—Coubertin and Demetrius Vikelas gave differing accounts. Vikelas, speaking for Greece, made the proposal official on 23 June, and the congress approved unanimously. Vikelas then became the first president of the International Olympic Committee.
Organization
The revival of the Olympic Games in Greece generated public, media, and royal family enthusiasm, especially after Crown Prince Constantine offered support. Financial struggles and political instability created uncertainty about hosting the event. Prime ministers Charilaos Trikoupis and Theodoros Deligiannis alternated during the final years of the century, while Trikoupis and Stephanos Dragoumis doubted Greece could manage the Games. In late 1894, the organising committee led by Stephanos Skouloudis reported costs three times higher than expected—3.74 million gold drachmas. The IOC's first rule allowed only amateur athletes except in fencing, and women were excluded as Coubertin believed their participation would be "impractical, uninteresting, unaesthetic and incorrect." To raise funds, Constantine encouraged public contributions including a special postage stamp sale and ticket revenues. Businessman George Averoff donated 920,000 drachmas for the Panathenaic Stadium's restoration, and a statue was erected in his honor on 5 April 1896. The event's organisation drew on ancient titles like Ephor, Helanodic, and Alitarc, with Prince George serving as final referee.
Venues
The 1896 Summer Olympics spread across seven venues, with the Panathenaic Stadium serving as the central hub for four of the nine sports. The marathon and individual road races were held in Marathon, while fencing took place at the Zappeion, tennis at the Athens Lawn Tennis Club, and sport shooting at Kallithea. Swimming occurred in the Bay of Zea, a choice made to avoid the cost of building a dedicated pool. Four of these original locations returned for the 2004 Games. The velodrome was later converted into Karaiskakis Stadium in the 1960s and renovated again for football matches in 2003. Panathinaiko Stadium hosted archery and the marathon finish during 2004, while Marathon once more marked the start of both marathon events. The Zappeion acted as the headquarters for the organizing committee from 1998 to 1999 and later functioned as a press center during those Games.
Opening ceremony
On Easter Monday, 6 April—25 March by the Julian calendar used in Greece until 1923—the First Olympiad began in Athens. The Panathenaic Stadium welcomed between sixteen and eighty thousand people, including King George I of Greece, his wife Olga, and other royal family members. Most of the athletes stood in groups by country on the infield. After a speech from Crown Prince Constantine, the president of the organizing committee, his father officially opened the Games with these words: “I declare the opening of the first international Olympic Games in Athens. Long live the Nation. Long live the Greek people.” The Olympic Hymn, composed by Spyridon Samaras and written by poet Kostis Palamas, was then performed by nine bands and 150 choir singers.
Athletics
The 1896 Olympics featured athletics with the most international participation, highlighted by the marathon debut. Spyridon Louis, a lesser-known water carrier, won the marathon and became Greece's sole athletics champion and national hero. Though Greece was expected to excel in discus and shot put, American Robert Garrett took first place in both. No world records were set due to limited top-tier competitors and tight track curves. Thomas Burke of the U.S. won the 100- and 400-meter races using a crouch start that confused judges. Chile entered Luis Subercaseaux, who may have competed in the 100m, 400m, and 800m but is usually listed as a no-show; facial recognition confirmed his presence in the 100m sprint. Stamata Revithi ran the marathon course the day after the official race, finishing outside the stadium in 5 hours 30 minutes, though some believe she was "Melpomene" and had a faster time of 4½ hours. Women were excluded from the Olympics that year, so she was not officially entered.
Cycling
At the 1896 Olympics in Athens, cycling events followed rules set by the International Cycling Association, with the new Neo Phaliron Velodrome hosting track races. Only one road race took place, a grueling 87-kilometer course from Athens to Marathon and back. French cyclist Paul Masson dominated the track, winning the one-lap time trial, the sprint, and the 10,000-meter event. In the 100-kilometer race, Masson paced his fellow Frenchman Léon Flameng, who ultimately won after a fall and waiting for his Greek opponent Georgios Kolettis to fix a mechanical issue. Adolf Schmal, an Austrian fencer, won the 12-hour race, completed by just two cyclists. The road race was claimed by Aristidis Konstantinidis.
Fencing
The fencing competitions at the 1896 Olympics were held in the Zappeion, a venue built with funds from Evangelis Zappas to bring the ancient Games back to life, and it had never seen athletic action before. Fencing differed from other sports in that professionals were allowed to compete, though in their own separate event. These top fencers were still regarded as gentleman athletes, much like the amateurs. Four events were scheduled, but the épée contest was canceled for reasons unknown. Eugène-Henri Gravelotte of France won the foil title after defeating his fellow countryman Henri Callot in the final. Ioannis Georgiadis of Greece took gold in the sabre event, while Leonidas Pyrgos captured the masters foil competition.
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Overview
The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, is the group that runs the modern Olympic Games. It was created in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas and is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC organizes the Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympics. It also oversees the National Olympic Committees and the global Olympic Movement, which includes everyone involved in the Games. Since 2025, Kirsty Coventry has been the IOC president. As of 2026, 206 countries and territories are officially recognized by the IOC and take part in the Olympics.
IOC member oath
All members of the International Olympic Committee must take a solemn promise when they join. They swear to fully accept the responsibilities that come with being part of this group. They pledge to serve the Olympic Movement as best they can, and to always respect the Olympic Charter. They agree to follow IOC decisions and to act independently, without influence from politics or business. The oath also requires them to stay free from racial or religious bias, and to obey the IOC Code of Ethics. They promise to oppose all kinds of discrimination and to work for the good of both the IOC and the Olympic Movement. This is what every new member agrees to when they take their place on the committee.
History
The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin, with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president. As of February 2022, it had 105 active members and 45 honorary members, remaining among the most powerful international NGOs. The IOC organizes the Summer and Winter Games every four years, beginning with Athens in 1896 and Chamonix in 1924. Until 1992, both events were held in the same year; since then, the Winter Olympics have been moved to even-numbered years to better space planning and finances. In 1995, under President Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC added "environment" as a third pillar to its vision for the Olympics. The Beijing 2008 Games executed more than 160 environmental projects. In 2009, the UN granted the IOC Permanent Observer status. Approval came in 2015 to build a new headquarters in Vidy, Lausanne, which opened in 2019. Since 2002, the IOC has dealt with controversies including gifts and its handling of the 2008 Tibetan protest videos. In 2025, Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and first African to be elected as IOC President, emphasizing global accessibility and unity through sports. That same year, the IOC announced that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will take place in 2027 in Riyadh. In June 2026, the IOC approved amendments to the Olympic Charter to strengthen political neutrality and restructure how sports are evaluated for inclusion starting with the 2032 Brisbane Games.
IOC Session
The IOC Session is the yearly gathering where all members come together, each with one vote, making it the highest authority within the International Olympic Committee. Its decisions are final, and it meets annually to handle important matters like adopting or changing the Olympic Charter. The Session also elects new IOC members, including the Honorary President and honorary members, as well as the President, vice-presidents, and other Executive Board members. It selects the host city for the Olympic Games. If needed, extraordinary sessions can be called by the President or by at least one-third of the members.
Olympic marketing
During the first half of the 20th century, the International Olympic Committee operated on a small budget. Avery Brundage, who served as IOC president from 1952 to 1972, refused to allow the Olympics to engage with commercial interests, believing that corporate influence would interfere with the IOC's decisions. This stance left local organizing committees to handle their own sponsorship deals and use Olympic branding independently. When Brundage retired, the IOC had only two million dollars in assets; by 1980, that figure had grown to forty-five million. This shift came from a new approach embracing corporate partnerships and television rights. Juan Antonio Samaranch became IOC president in 1980 and wanted financial independence for the organization. He appointed Richard Pound as head of the "New Sources of Finance Commission." In 1982, the IOC hired International Sport and Leisure, a Swiss marketing firm, to create a global strategy. That company was later replaced by Meridian Management, a firm partly owned by the IOC in the early 1990s. Michael Payne, who had worked at ISL Marketing, joined the IOC in 1989 as its first marketing director. Working with ISL and then Meridian, Payne helped build a sponsorship program worth billions, along with better TV deals and financial management, which restored the IOC's economic health.
Revenue
The Olympic Movement generates revenue through five programs: IOC-managed broadcast deals, commercial sponsorships via the IOC's TOP program, domestic sponsorships by Organizing Committees, ticket sales, and licensing in host countries. During 2001-2004, the Movement earned over four billion dollars, with the IOC keeping about ten percent for its own costs. For 2013-2016, the IOC earned around five billion dollars, primarily from broadcasting and Olympic Partners. Rio 2016 organizers received one point five billion, while Sochi 2014 got eight hundred thirty-three million. Each National Olympic Committee and international federation received seven hundred thirty-nine million. In July 2000, historian Bob Barney said he had "yet to see matters of corruption in the IOC," though he noted there were "matters of unaccountability." He added that when the spotlight is on athletes, it can "eclipse impressions of scandal or corruption" surrounding Olympic bids.
National Olympic Committees
The International Olympic Committee supports National Olympic Committees through funding from the TOP programme and broadcast revenue. A portion of this money goes to Olympic Solidarity, which helps NOCs that need it most. The IOC has been able to increase support for NOCs with every Olympic quadrennium, giving around US$318.5 million to NOCs during the 2001–2004 period. This financial help allows NOCs to train and develop their athletes.
International Olympic Sports Federations
The International Olympic Committee is the largest single revenue source for most of the International Olympic Sports Federations, giving them money that helps develop their sports. The IOC supports 28 summer and seven winter Olympic sports federations. As Olympic broadcast values have grown, so has the financial support from the IOC. In Salt Lake City during 2002, the seven winter sports federations shared $85.8 million in broadcast revenue, along with €75 million.
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Overview
The Winter Olympic Games, known in French as Jeux olympiques d'hiver, are held every four years for snow and ice sports, usually in February. The International Olympic Committee, founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1894, oversees them, with the first modern Summer Games in Athens in 1896 inspiring the Winter Games, which began in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Originally featuring five sports, the program has grown to include new disciplines like snowboarding and freestyle skiing, while others such as military patrol have been discontinued and later reintroduced. The games were held every four years from 1924 to 1936, paused during World War II, then resumed in 1948. A decision in 1986 changed the schedule so that Summer and Winter Games alternate on separate cycles, starting with 1994. The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps from February 1 to 17, 2030, with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo hosting in 2026.
Early years
In 1901, General Viktor Gustaf Balck organised the Nordic Games in Stockholm, which continued in 1903 and 1905, and then every fourth year until 1926. A charter member of the IOC and close friend of Pierre de Coubertin, Balck tried to include winter sports like figure skating in the Olympics but wasn’t successful until the 1908 Summer Games in London, where Ulrich Salchow and Madge Syers won individual titles. Italian count Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux proposed a winter sports week as part of the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, but organisers rejected it to protect the Nordic Games and due to lack of facilities. The idea returned for the 1916 Berlin Games, planned to include speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, and Nordic skiing, but the Olympics were cancelled by World War I.
1920 to 1936
The first Winter Olympics took place in 1924 in Chamonix, France, with over 250 athletes from 16 nations competing in 16 events. Charles Jewtraw of the United States claimed the first gold medal in the 500-meter speed skate, while 11-year-old Sonja Henie of Norway competed in ladies' figure skating, finishing last but drawing fan attention. Gillis Grafström of Sweden retained his men's figure skating title, becoming the first athlete to win gold in both Summer and Winter Games. Germany was still banned, though it held its own winter games starting in 1922. The International Olympic Committee officially recognized the event in 1925, calling Chamonix's gathering the first Winter Olympics. St. Moritz, Switzerland, hosted the second Winter Games in 1928, where Sonja Henie returned to win at age 15, becoming the youngest Olympic champion for 70 years. Eddie Eagan of the United States won gold in bobsleigh, joining Grafström as the only athletes to earn gold in both Summer and Winter Games. The next Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, in 1932, the first outside Europe, with fewer participants due to the Great Depression. The 1936 Winter Games occurred in Garmisch and Partenkirchen, Germany, marking the final time Summer and Winter Games were hosted in the same country during the same year. Alpine skiing made its debut, but skiing teachers were excluded from competition, prompting skiers from Switzerland and Austria to boycott.
1948 to 1962
The 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, made it the first city to host the games twice. Twenty-eight countries competed, though Germany and Japan were not invited due to their Olympic committees not yet being recognized. A controversy arose over two U.S. hockey teams claiming legitimacy. The Olympic flag from Antwerp was stolen and replaced. These games saw unprecedented parity, with 10 countries winning gold medals. The flame tradition began in 1952 in Oslo, lit by Sondre Nordheim's fireplace and relayed by 94 ski bearers. Bandy was a demonstration sport, and Norway dominated, led by Hjalmar Andersen who won three speed skating golds. Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted in 1956, and the final torchbearer, Guido Caroli, fell and burned his arm while entering the stadium. These were the first Winter Games televised internationally. The Soviet Union made its Olympic debut, winning more medals than any other nation. Chiharu Igaya earned Japan's first Winter Olympics medal. Squaw Valley, California, was chosen for 1960, a surprise selection as it was undeveloped. It featured an athletes' village, IBM's first computer use for results, and female speed skating. Bobsleigh was not held due to insufficient entries and high costs; instead, a World Championship event was added.
1964 to 1980
Innsbruck hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics, where the Olympic torch was lit in a traditional ritual at Olympia for the first time. Unpredictable warmth led to snow shortages, so the Austrian army helped transport ice from elsewhere. Soviet Lidia Skoblikova made history by winning all four speed skating events, earning six golds total. Luge debuted, though it gained negative attention after a competitor died during training. Grenoble hosted the 1968 Games, the first to be broadcast in color; Jean-Claude Killy won all men's alpine events. The organizers spread venues across three areas to improve TV coverage, sparking criticism. Sapporo became the first Asian city to host the Winter Olympics in 1972, while controversy arose over amateur status when some skiers were found at a U.S. ski camp. Canada boycotted ice hockey, protesting the exclusion of professionals. Francisco Fernández Ochoa earned Spain's first Winter gold in slalom. Denver initially won the 1976 bid but withdrew due to cost and the oil crisis. The IOC turned to Innsbruck, which accepted with only half the usual preparation time; it was the second time the town hosted the Games. Eric Heiden set records in all five speed skating events in 1980 at Lake Placid, and Hanni Wenzel won gold for Liechtenstein. The "Miracle on Ice" saw the U.S. hockey team defeat the Soviet Union.
1984 to 1998
The 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo were well-organized and unaffected by the country's later war; Jure Franko earned Yugoslavia's first Olympic medal in alpine skiing, while British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won gold for their performance of Boléro. Calgary hosted the 1988 Games, introducing curling and freestyle skiing as demonstration sports; Dutch skater Yvonne van Gennip claimed three golds, and Matti Nykänen dominated ski jumping. Alberto Tomba and Christa Rothenburger made their marks, with Rothenburger becoming the only athlete to win medals in both Summer and Winter Games in 1988. The 1992 Games in Albertville marked the last time Winter Olympics were held in the same year as the Summer Games; this was also the first since the fall of Communism, with Germany competing as one nation and new countries like Croatia and Slovenia debuting. Finnish ski jumper Toni Nieminen became the youngest male champion at 16, and New Zealand's Annelise Coberger earned the first Winter Olympic medal from the southern hemisphere. In 1994, Lillehammer, Norway, hosted the first Winter Games in a different year from the Summer Olympics; it was also the first time the Olympic Truce was observed, and Juan Antonio Samaranch called them "the best Olympic Winter Games ever." Norwegian Johann Olav Koss won three speed skating golds, and 13-year-old Kim Yoon-Mi became the youngest Olympic gold medallist in a relay. The 1998 Games in Nagano were the first to host more than 2,000 athletes; the NHL allowed its players for the first time, and Tara Lipinski, at 15, became the youngest female individual gold medallist since Sonja Henie in 1928.
2002 to 2026
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City featured heightened security after 9/11, with tributes including a Ground Zero flag and honour guards from NYPD and FDNY. Vonetta Flowers became the first Black athlete to win Winter Olympic gold, teaming with Jill Bakken in bobsled. Georg Hackl won a silver in luge, becoming the first person to earn medals in the same individual event across five Olympics. Canada achieved an unprecedented double by winning both men's and women's ice hockey golds, though pairs figure skating judging controversy led the IOC to award both teams golds after evidence of biased scoring. Australian Steven Bradbury won the first southern hemisphere gold in short-track speed skating. Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, where South Korean athletes excelled especially in short-track, while Norwegian coach Bjørnar Håkensmoen helped Canadian Sara Renner win a silver. Kjetil-Andre Aamodt became the most decorated ski racer with four golds, and Claudia Pechstein earned nine speed skating medals. She was suspended in 2009 for blood manipulation but was allowed to compete in Vancouver after a legal battle. Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where Marit Bjørgen won five cross-country medals, and Canada became the first host nation to lead the gold medal count with 14. Russia's poor showing led to calls for reform, while Asian nations saw a surge in Winter Olympic success, with 31 medals including 11 golds.
Future
The Winter Olympics will continue to evolve, with the 2026 Games already behind us in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22. In July 2024, at the 142nd IOC Session, France was confirmed as the host for the 2030 Winter Olympics, taking place in the French Alps under the name Alpes 2030. This edition will be historic as the first Winter Olympics to reach full gender parity on the field of play. The United States has also been awarded the 2034 Winter Games, to be held in Utah, a state that previously hosted the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
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Overview
The United States has sent athletes to every modern Olympic Games since 1896, except in 1980 when it joined a boycott over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee is the country’s National Olympic Committee. American athletes have earned 2,774 medals at the Summer Games, including 1,106 gold, and another 363 at the Winter Games, with 126 gold. The U.S. sits atop the Summer medal table 19 times out of 30 held, though it has placed first only once in 24 Winter Olympics. The U.S. has hosted the modern Games eight times. Notably, the American Olympic team receives no government funding for training or prizes.
Medal tables
The United States first competed in the modern Olympics in 1896 in Athens, performing inconsistently before the World War I era, except in 1904 in St. Louis, where it achieved its largest medal haul still unmatched today. During the interwar period, the U.S. topped both gold and total medals at four straight Summer Games, falling short only in 1936 in Berlin. After World War II, the Soviet Union debuted in 1952, launching a state-sponsored approach that raised suspicions about doping and amateur status. The USSR dominated the gold medal count in 1972 in Munich, and the U.S. did not again lead non-boycotted games until 1996, five years after the Soviet Union collapsed. In 1984, Los Angeles saw the U.S. set a record for most gold medals in one Olympics, 83, helped by the Soviet boycott. Since 1992, with the IOC's push toward gender parity, the U.S. has topped the Summer medal table six times and placed second twice. In contrast, the U.S. was not a Winter Games power until 2002 in Salt Lake City, where hosting boosted its program. Since then, it has never placed below fourth in the medal count, winning 37 medals in 2010 in Vancouver, but only 23 in 2018 in Pyeongchang.
Reallocated medals of the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics
In 2024, the International Olympic Committee reevaluated medals from the 1900 and 1904 Summer Games, correcting past attributions based on athletes’ club affiliations rather than citizenship. For the 1900 Olympics, two medals— one gold and one silver—were reallocated to the United States, though they were won by non-American athletes who competed for American clubs. In 1904, 17 medals were reassigned to the U.S., including four gold, seven silver, and six bronze, again because the athletes represented American-affiliated teams. Three of those 1904 medals came from mixed teams that included non-Americans. Notably, American Pauline Whittier (silver) was affiliated with the St. Moritz Golf Club in Switzerland, and Abbie Pratt (bronze) with the Dinard Golf Club in France, so their medals were attributed to those countries instead.
Recent period (1994–present)
Since 1992, the United States has appeared in every Summer Olympics, steadily improving its performance, and placed first in the medal count at seven Games during that time. At the 2016 Games in Rio, Kim Rhode made history as the only female Olympian to win medals in six consecutive Olympics, earning three golds and two bronzes. The U.S. competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic; Eddy Alvarez and Sue Bird carried the flag at the opening ceremony, while Kara Winger did so at the closing. Simone Biles withdrew from gymnastics' all-around final due to health concerns, but Sunisa Lee stepped up, becoming the first Hmong American and first Asian descent gymnast to win Olympic gold in the event. Lydia Jacoby became the first Alaskan swimmer selected for Team USA, and Nelly Korda won women's golf. Ryan Crouser defended his shot put title, setting an Olympic record three times. The U.S. finished with 113 total medals, edging China by just one gold. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the U.S. boycotted diplomatically but athletes still earned 25 medals, placing third overall, including golds for Jessie Diggins, Nathan Chen, Erin Jackson, and Chloe Kim, with Lindsey Jacobellis winning two golds in snowboarding.
Amateurism and professionalism
The modern Olympics struggled with the idea of amateurism, especially when professionals were excluded. Jim Thorpe, the 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon champion, lost his medals after it was found he had played semi-professional baseball. His medals were not restored until 1983, decades later. The system changed when countries like the Soviet Union began sponsoring athletes full-time, even if they were listed as students or workers. These state-supported athletes outperformed those from Western nations who had to fund their own training. This imbalance hurt American results through the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn’t until the 1990s, after the Soviet Union fell, that the Olympics finally allowed professionals to compete.
Prize money
When a U.S. athlete wins an Olympic medal, as of 2016, the USOPC paid the winner $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze. The USOPC increased the payouts by 25% to $37,000 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze beginning in 2017. These numbers are significantly lower than in other countries, where Olympic gold medalists receive up to $1 million from their governments for a gold medal. Since 2018, payouts to Paralympic athletes have been the same as to the Olympians. The International Paralympic Committee noted that "'Operation Gold Awards' for [American] Paralympic athletes [would] be increased by as much as 400 percent."
Financial support for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes
In 2025, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee received a $100 million donation from Ross Stevens, founder of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, the largest in the organization's history. The gift will support athletes beginning with the 2026 Milan Games through 2032, providing $200,000 per Olympic appearance. Half becomes available 20 years after participation or when the athlete turns 45—whichever is later—with the rest going to families upon the athlete's death. The funding aims to ease financial strain and support post-Olympic careers, as many U.S. athletes struggle due to limited national support. Unlike other nations, the U.S. government does not fund its Olympic program, leaving athletes to depend on sponsorships and media deals that cover 75–80% of revenue. In 2024, USOPF president Christine Walshe said 57% of U.S. Olympians earn $50,000 or less annually. "You don't want athletes being destitute when they finish a long, storied career," USOPF chair Geoff Yang said, calling the donation "transformational."
Doping
The United States has had eight Olympic medals stripped, fifth most among countries, and all involved athletes acting alone. Swimmer Rick DeMont lost his 1972 gold medal after testing positive for ephedrine from his asthma medication Marax; the IOC refused to restore it despite the USOC recognizing his performance in 2001. In 2003, Wade Exum revealed that around 100 American athletes failed drug tests between 1988 and 2000, including Carl Lewis, Joe DeLoach, and Floyd Heard. Lewis admitted to three positive tests for stimulants at the 1988 trials but claimed inadvertent use, which the USOC accepted after proving his supplements contained ephedrine. The IOC later acknowledged the USOC handled those cases correctly under the rules at the time. Former sprinter Evelyn Ashford said athletes had no way to challenge the system.
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Overview
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially called the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and branded as Tokyo 2020, took place from July 23 to August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, with some events starting July 21. Originally scheduled for 2020, the Games were postponed one year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic—the first time in Olympic history such a delay happened. No spectators were allowed because of a state of emergency in the Greater Tokyo Area, making these the only Olympics held without official fans. The event was the most expensive ever, costing over $20 billion. Tokyo, chosen as host in 2013, became the first Asian city to hold the Summer Games twice. Baseball, softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding made their Olympic debuts, with three of those sports staying on the program. The United States led the medal count with 39 golds and 113 total medals, followed by China, Japan, Great Britain, and the ROC. Bermuda, the Philippines, and Qatar earned their first-ever Olympic golds, while Burkina Faso, San Marino, and Turkmenistan won their first Olympic medals overall.
Host city selection
On September 7, 2013, the International Olympic Committee made its choice in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the 125th IOC Session. The process used an exhaustive ballot system, and no candidate city earned more than half the votes during the first round. Madrid and Istanbul finished equally in second place, prompting a runoff to determine which would be removed from contention. The final decision came down to a direct contest between Tokyo and Istanbul. Tokyo received 60 votes compared to Istanbul’s 36, meeting the minimum of 49 votes needed to win majority support.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
In January 2020, concerns grew over how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The organizers and International Olympic Committee said they were watching the spread of the disease closely to protect athletes and visitors. The IOC noted that in 2020, Japanese leaders and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it clear Japan could not delay the Games beyond 2021. Unlike the Zika virus during the 2016 Rio Olympics, SARS-CoV-2 spreads directly between people, making it harder to control. And unlike H1N1 during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, there was no vaccine for COVID-19 until December 2020. In February 2020, London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey said London could host the Olympics if needed, but Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike called that comment inappropriate. By early 2021, Florida offered to host the delayed Games, and IOC vice president John Coates said the event would go ahead even if Japan was under a state of emergency. Estimates from Japanese health experts suggested states of emergency might be needed during the Games, with projections showing up to 10,000 new cases if spectators were allowed.
Qualifying event cancellation and postponement
In early 2020, pandemic concerns disrupted Olympic qualifying events, with some February scheduled competitions moved due to travel worries related to China. The women's basketball qualification occurred in Belgrade, Serbia, instead of Foshan, China. The Asia & Oceania boxing tournament, originally set for Wuhan, China, went to Amman, Jordan, in March. Matches in the third round of women's football qualification shifted to Australia. The European boxing event began in London on March 14 but was suspended after two days and later rescheduled for June 2021 in Paris due to renewed travel concerns in the UK. Many other events from March through June 2020 were postponed into that year or into 2021, as global sports competitions halted. A wide range of Olympic sports—archery, baseball, cycling, handball, judo, rowing, sailing, volleyball, and water polo—were all affected.
Effect on doping tests
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to major restrictions on doping tests for the upcoming Olympics. European anti-doping groups said they couldn’t do blood and urine tests and feared sending staff posed health risks. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said public safety was its top concern. China’s anti-doping agency, CHINADA, suspended testing on February 3 and planned to resume later that month. By March, the U.S., France, Great Britain, and Germany also cut back their efforts. It later came out that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine, but were allowed to compete after CHINADA said they unknowingly ingested tiny amounts from a kitchen. Among them were Zhang Yufei, Wang Shun, and Qin Haiyang, who went on to win medals. The situation shocked the global athletic community.
Postponement to 2021
The Tokyo Organizing Committee said preparations were continuing as planned on March 2, 2020. By March 23, Canada and Australia threatened to pull out if the Games weren't delayed. That day, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe voiced support for postponement, calling athlete safety "paramount," while IOC member Dick Pound expected the Games to be postponed. On March 24, the IOC, TOCOG, and Abe announced the Summer Olympics and Paralympics would move to a date "beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021." They said the event could serve as "a beacon of hope," and that the Olympic flame might become "the light at the end of the tunnel." Prime Minister Abe said IOC President Thomas Bach agreed fully with his proposal. For marketing and continuity, the Games would still be called Tokyo 2020. On March 30, the new dates were confirmed: July 23 to August 8, 2021, still in Tokyo. Athletes who had already qualified before March 24 would keep their spots.
Calls for cancellation
In April 2020, health experts warned the 2020 Summer Olympics might be canceled if the pandemic continued. Then president of TOCOG, Yoshirō Mori, said the Games would be "scrapped" if they couldn't happen in 2021. Prime Minister Abe insisted the event must go ahead to show the world had beaten the virus. Thomas Bach called reorganizing the Games "a mammoth task," admitting cancellation was possible. A member of Japan's COVID-19 Advisory Committee wrote in the British Medical Journal that holding the Games for political or economic reasons conflicted with global health commitments. By January 2021, reports said the government had privately decided to cancel, though it denied the claim. Prime Minister Suga confirmed G7 support for the postponed Games. In April 2021, with less than 1% of Japan's population vaccinated, officials still considered cancellation. Public opposition grew, with polls showing majority support for canceling or postponing. Medical groups, elected governors, and companies voiced concern. Kenji Utsunomiya collected over 351,000 signatures calling for the Olympics to prioritize life. Writers Jiro Akagawa and Fuminori Nakamura also urged cancellation. The Asahi Shimbun, a local sponsor, called for cancellation in May 2021. By July, all events were held behind closed doors due to a new state of emergency. A poll found that 55% supported cancellation, and 68% doubted organizers could control the virus. Toyota pulled an ad campaign, saying the Games had lost public understanding. Had they been canceled, it would have been the first time since World War II an Olympic event was scrapped due to circumstances unrelated to war. The cost of cancellation would have been ¥4.52 trillion.
Costs and insurance
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were delayed due to the pandemic, with professor emeritus Katsuhiro Miyamoto of Kansai University estimating postponing the Games by a year would cost 640.8 billion yen, or about $5.8 billion, mainly due to unused facilities. The Nomura Research Institute estimated cancelling the event altogether would cost around 1.81 trillion yen, or $17 billion, though that was less than the economic damage of another state of emergency. The Games were insured through Lloyd's of London, with global reinsurers Munich Re and Swiss Re providing coverage; the International Olympic Committee typically buys about $800 million in insurance per Summer Olympics, and the total for 2020 likely exceeded $2 billion. Insurance covered losses from the delay, including those from local organizers, sponsors, hospitality firms, and travel providers. Ticket holders who bought overseas were entitled to refunds, though the actual refund costs were not disclosed. Reuters reported that the Tokyo Olympics Committee had taken out between $500 million and $800 million in insurance, but most of that would go toward rebooking venues and the Olympic Village rather than refunding tickets. In June 2022, the Tokyo Organizing Committee revealed the final cost was 640.4 billion yen, or about $5.8 billion, for the Olympics alone—higher than Rio 2016—and the total cost of the delayed Games came to 1.4 trillion yen, or $13 billion.
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Overview
The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially called the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and branded as Paris 2024, took place in France from July 26 to August 11, with some events starting on July 24. Paris hosted the Games, while football and other events were held in 16 other cities, including Marseille and Tahiti. The city was chosen by the International Olympic Committee in 2017, after Los Angeles and Paris were left as finalists. Paris became only the second city to host the Summer Olympics three times, following London. This marked the centennial of the 1924 Games and the return to the traditional four-year cycle after the 2020 Olympics were held in 2021 due to the pandemic. Breaking debuted as an Olympic sport, and the Games were the last under IOC President Thomas Bach's leadership. The opening ceremony was held outdoors along the Seine, a first for modern Olympics, and gender parity was achieved for the first time. The United States topped the medal table with 40 golds, followed by China who tied them on gold but finished second overall. France, as host, placed fifth with 16 golds. Several nations, including Dominica and Botswana, won their first Olympic medals, and the Refugee Team earned its first-ever Olympic medal as well. Despite some controversies, the Games were considered a success, with over 9.5 million tickets sold.
Host selection
Paris had hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924, but didn’t try again until it bid for 2024, aiming to mark a century since its last Olympics. Six cities were initially in the running: Paris, Hamburg, Boston, Budapest, Rome, and Los Angeles. Boston withdrew in 2015 after city residents showed mixed feelings. Hamburg pulled out in November 2015 following a referendum. Rome quit in September 2016 citing fiscal trouble. Budapest left the race in February 2017 after a petition collected enough signatures to trigger a vote. The International Olympic Committee then decided to pick both the 2024 and 2028 hosts at once. Paris was understood to be the preferred choice for 2024. On 31 July 2017, Los Angeles became the only contender for 2028, confirming Paris as host for 2024. Both bids were praised for their innovative use of existing and temporary venues.
Venues
The 2024 Summer Olympics unfolded across a vast stretch of France, with the majority of events hosted in Paris and its surrounding communities including Saint-Denis, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Versailles, and Vaires-sur-Marne. Basketball preliminaries and handball finals took place in Lille, roughly 225 kilometers from the capital. Sailing competitions and certain football games were held in Marseille, located 777 kilometers away. Surfing events occurred in Teahupo'o, a village in French Polynesia, making it a journey of 15,716 kilometers from Paris. Football matches were also played in five additional cities: Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu, Nantes, Nice, and Saint-Étienne, with some of those locations being home to Ligue 1 clubs.
Medals
In February 2024, Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee, revealed the medals for the upcoming Games. The Olympic and Paralympic medals were crafted by Monnaie de Paris and designed by Chaumet. On the obverse, hexagon-shaped pieces of scrap iron from the original Eiffel Tower construction are embedded, with the Games’ logo engraved into them. The reverse shows Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, inside the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics occurred in 1896. The Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower appear in the background on both sides of the medal. Each weighs between 455 and 529 grams, is 85 millimeters in diameter, and 9.2 millimeters thick. Gold medals are made of 98.8 percent silver and 1.13 percent gold, while bronze medals contain copper, zinc, and tin. Around 5,084 medals were produced.
Podium
The 2024 Olympic podiums were made from recycled plastic and French wood, crafted by Le Pavé, Global Concept, and Giffard. They featured a gray finish honoring Paris rooftops, inspired by the Eiffel Tower’s design. Each podium was built from plastic modules that could be adjusted depending on how many medalists there were; the football event's podium stretched thirty-three meters, while individual events had ones three point six meters long. A total of 685 modules were created using eighteen tons of plastic waste. The front was white with Olympic rings and Paralympic agitos, and the top matched the gray color of Parisian roofs. “Paris 2024” was inscribed on the sides, and special ramps made the Paralympic versions accessible.
Security
France collaborated with Europol and the UK Home Office for 2024 Summer Olympics security, sharing intelligence and deploying drones and sea barriers protecting the Channel. The British Army contributed Starstreak surface-to-air missile units for air defense. Paris police rehearsed bomb disposal operations, preparing much like they had for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. During Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's visit, agreements enhanced Olympic security, with Poland sending sniffer dog handlers and the Qatari Minister of Interior convening a April 2024 meeting with officials including Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour Al Thani. Lekhwiya forces arrived in Paris on 16 July. More than forty countries sent police support, including Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the UK, and the US. The opening ceremony's public Seine event was scaled back due to security concerns, with attendance cut in half and free viewing replaced by invitations. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the event might be moved or reduced if needed. Authorities placed about 75,000 police and military personnel on the streets. After the Games, national counterterrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen said three terror plots were stopped, leading to five arrests.
Food
To reduce environmental impact, the 2024 Summer Olympics served twice as much plant-based food as in London 2012 or Rio 2016. Vegan chicken nuggets and hot dogs replaced meat options, and the Place de la Concorde, which hosted skateboarding and breakdancing, offered only plant-based meals. Football stadiums served 40% plant-based food, and about 30% of what athletes ate in the Olympic Village was also plant-based. A boulangerie baked fresh bread daily, and a 3,500-seat restaurant was built to highlight global cuisine. Great Britain’s team asked for porridge, and South Korea’s team requested kimchi. Still, some athletes complained about shortages of eggs and grilled meats in the Village, and several countries reportedly objected to raw meat being served, leading them to bring in their own chefs to feed their athletes outside the Olympic Village.
Air conditioning
As the 2024 Summer Olympics got underway, organizers announced that the Olympic Village would not have air conditioning. Instead, they planned to use a geothermal cooling system to keep indoor temperatures about six degrees Celsius cooler than outside. Many teams were unhappy with this decision and chose to bring their own air-conditioning units, including delegations from Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Japan, and the US. Athletes from countries with fewer resources, like Uganda, expressed concern that they couldn’t afford to provide cooling for their team members.
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Overview
The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles from July 14 to 30, 2028, with additional events across the Greater Los Angeles area and in Oklahoma City. Originally, Los Angeles had bid for the 2024 Games, but after multiple withdrawals, the International Olympic Committee awarded both Paris and Los Angeles the next two Summer Olympics. Paris was chosen for 2024, while Los Angeles agreed to host in 2028. The city will become the third to hold three Summer Olympics, and the first non-European city to do so. These Games will mark the first under IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s leadership. Skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing return as core events following their debut in 2020, while flag football and squash are added as optional sports. Baseball/softball, cricket, and lacrosse also return to the medal program.
Bidding process
On September 16, 2015, the International Olympic Committee named Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris, and Rome as candidate cities for the 2024 Summer Games. By that time, Budapest, Hamburg, and Rome had already withdrawn, leaving only Los Angeles and Paris in the running. At the IOC convention in Denmark on April 3, 2017, officials explored the idea of awarding both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics to these two cities. The IOC later approved this approach, and by July 2017, it was decided that Paris would host 2024 while Los Angeles became the sole candidate for 2028. On September 13, 2017, the IOC formally awarded the 2028 Games to Los Angeles following a unanimous vote. IOC president Thomas Bach praised the bid for relying entirely on private funding and using a record number of existing and temporary facilities.
Transportation
Los Angeles civic leaders originally planned for the 2028 Olympics to be “car-free,” aiming to cut down on traffic and meet security rules limiting parking near venues. Former Mayor Eric Garcetti launched the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative to finish 28 projects before the Games, most already in the works but accelerated by the effort. Funding came from county sales tax measures called Measure R and Measure M. Mayor Karen Bass supported remote work during the event to ease transportation demand. By March 2024, the list of projects had changed significantly, with 11 replaced by smaller, more doable tasks, some already finished. Late in 2024, concerns grew that only 5.2% of the $3.3 billion project list was funded, and many were behind schedule. Officials also cited staffing issues, coordination problems, and delays in finalizing venue locations. These challenges pushed leaders to shift from a fully “car-free” plan to a “transit-first” approach.
Rail projects
To handle the expected crowds for the 2028 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles is pushing forward several rail projects. The D Line extension, which began in 2014, is being finished in three stages. The first phase, from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega, was done in May 2026. The second will reach Century City by late 2026, and the third will extend to the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center by 2027, including a stop near UCLA that connects the Olympic Village to downtown venues. The Regional Connector, finished in 2023, links light rail lines in downtown LA, making it easier to travel between areas hosting Olympic events, like Long Beach and Santa Monica. The K Line opened in October 2022, connecting the Crenshaw District, Inglewood, and Westchester, and will link with a people mover at LAX, set to open January 6, 2027.
Bus fleet expansion
Los Angeles is preparing to nearly double its bus fleet for the 2028 Summer Olympics, because the city doesn’t have the continuous, high-capacity subway system that has supported previous Games. Organizers estimate that 2,700 additional buses will be needed, on top of the 2,320 vehicles currently operated by Los Angeles Metro. To meet this demand, Metro has asked transit agencies across the country to donate buses nearing the end of their service life, which could add hundreds more to the fleet. The cost is projected to be between $700 million and $1 billion. Through the Vision 2028 plan, Metro is seeking federal grants and arranging for the resale of buses after the Games to other cities. In February 2026, Metro announced that Congress had provided $94.3 million for mobility improvements, including planning for service, station experiences, and pedestrian access near Olympic venues.
Budget
The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are being funded almost entirely by private money, following the 1984 Games model that made a profit. In April 2019, the estimated cost was about $6.88 billion, with all funding coming from private sources. The city of Los Angeles is the main public backer, agreeing in August 2026 to provide $270 million upfront through the Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement with LAOCOG, with another $270 million committed if needed. The California legislature has given the governor authority to negotiate up to $250 million in additional public support. Sponsorships are projected to bring in around $2.5 billion, and ticket sales nearly $2 billion. Average ticket prices range from $28 to $3,350 for the men's basketball final. By late 2025, over $2 billion in sponsorships were secured, surpassing the 2024 Paris Games well ahead of schedule. The Los Angeles Police Department reports spending about $1.1 billion on security alone. LA28 OCOG says they are counting on funding promised by the Trump Administration, though city council members have expressed concern over the risk of federal funds not being provided and unclear cost arrangements.
Security
Security for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will be managed by the U.S. federal government, with an agreement signed in February 2020 between LAOCOG and the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS will cover security costs but not fund the Games themselves. Because the Olympics are the second since 9/11 and following the Boston Marathon bombings, they've been designated a National Special Security Event, meaning the U.S. Secret Service will lead a unified command. Casey Wasserman said there won't be problems getting visas for athletes and officials, noting bipartisan support from all past presidents, including Donald Trump. In January 2025, Trump met with LA28 officials at Mar-a-Lago and pledged help recovering from wildfires and holding "the greatest games." By July 2025, $1 billion was allocated through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for federal security planning. LAPD estimates spending about $1.1 billion on policing alone, while LAOCOG says funding depends on promises from the Trump administration, which has yet to clarify reimbursement plans.
Venues
The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place primarily in the Greater Los Angeles area, much like the 1984 Games, relying on existing or previously planned venues. Events are grouped into zones across downtown LA, the San Fernando Valley, Carson, and Long Beach, without any new permanent facilities built especially for the Games. The Coliseum will host athletics, while the Rose Bowl hosts football, making both the first stadiums to host three Olympic Games. Gymnastics will be held at Crypto.com Arena, and basketball at Intuit Dome; BMO Stadium will host flag football and lacrosse, and SoFi Stadium will host swimming, becoming the largest swimming venue in Olympic history. Riviera Country Club hosts golf, and equestrian returns to Santa Anita Park. Cricket is scheduled for the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, which opened in July 2026, and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will undergo renovations starting in April 2027 for diving. Association football matches will be played in six cities outside LA, including New York City, Nashville, and San Diego, with Etihad Park opening in July 2027.
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