,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(1400,720),gravity=Center)
The modern Olympic Games are the world’s foremost multi-sports event.
They are the largest sporting celebration in terms of the number of sports on the programme, the number of athletes present and the number of people from different nations gathered together at the same time, in the same place, in the spirit of friendly competition.
Organised every four years, they include a summer and a winter edition. Athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Olympic Refugee Team are eligible to compete in a wide range of sporting disciplines and events, watched by a worldwide audience.
The first edition of the modern Olympic Games was staged in Athens, Greece, in 1896, while the first winter edition was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Since 1994, the Olympic Games have alternated between a summer and winter edition every two years within the four-year period of each Olympiad.
Olympic Games: Roles and Responsibilities
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(690,388),gravity=Center)
Olympic Games news
-
![IOC President Thomas Bach]()
UN General Assembly adopts Olympic Truce for Beijing 2022, highlighting the contribution of sport to the promotion of peace and solidarity
-
![Tokyo 2020 banners]()
Dow set to inspire Japanese schoolchildren through Tokyo 2020 banner recycling project
-
![]()
IOC welcomes vaccine donation from Pfizer and BioNTech for Beijing 2022
-
![Olympic athletes]()
International Olympic Committee spotlights winter sports with uplifting short film
-
![Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre]()
As first snow falls, Beijing 2022 reports to IOC Executive Board
-
![Beijing 2022]()
Beijing 2022 readiness highlighted by success of test events
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,189),gravity=Center)
Upcoming Games
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
Past Games
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
YOG
Youth Olympic Games
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,188),gravity=Center)
The Youth Olympic Games are aimed at bringing together talented young athletes aged from 15 to 18 from around the world. The sports programme is mainly based on that of the Olympic Games. In addition, it includes exciting new sports, disciplines and formats.
Away from the field of play, the education programme uses a variety of fun and interactive activities, workshops and team-building exercises to give the participating athletes the opportunity to learn about the Olympic values, explore other cultures, develop the skills to become true ambassadors of their sport, and improve their training methods and performance.
Gangwon 2024
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(1045,587),gravity=Center)
The fourth edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024 will be held in Gangwon province in the cities of Pyeongchang and Gangneung (Republic of Korea), home to the Olympic Winter Games 2018.
Youth Olympic Games
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(560,315),gravity=Center)
More information
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(452,258),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(452,258),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(452,258),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(452,258),gravity=Center)
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(452,258),gravity=Center)
Olympics.com
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(1045,587),gravity=Center)
Preparing Olympic Games
,aspect=fill;Crop,size=(335,188),gravity=Center)
Once the host is chosen, years of work go into the preparation of the Olympic Games. Each edition of the Olympic Games is organised by a different host. Hosting duties are entrusted in principle to a city. However, in the interests of sustainability and to prioritise the use of existing or temporary venues and infrastructure, some hosting duties may take place outside the region or even the country. Find information about all the activities of the IOC around past Olympic Games here.