The modern stage of the Olympic Games (that is, its resumption, which took place since 1896, in the city of Athens), refers to one of the two existing types of this competition. The Olympic Games that we usually follow and that we send athletes to are actually the Games Summer Olympics (although they take place in July, the winter season for countries in the hemisphere south). There are also the Winter Olympic Games, whose Brazilian participation is still quite restricted, and whose television broadcast took place only in 2010, on the Record network.
The Summer Olympics have been held every four years since 1896. The Winter Games, as established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), take place at the same interval as the Summer Games, but interspersed. In that sense, there are the Summer Games, after two years, the Winter Games, after two years, the Summer Games again, and so on.
Although the International Olympic Committee has already considered the possibility of the same country hosting both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, this intention was of little effect. However, in the first editions of the Winter Games, the countries that would host the Summer Games had preference for the venue. This priority was broken in 1938, due to the reform of the Olympic Charter. From then onwards, the cities for each of the Games are chosen independently, however, using the same criteria for evaluating the cities.
The process for selecting the host city begins with the cities' application to the International Olympic Committee. Each registered city presents a document specifying the plans to be fulfilled, if chosen to host the event. After analyzing these processes, the IOC will elect the cities that are effectively candidates.
The second phase of the process consists of detailing the initial plan, which will be followed by direct observation “in loco” in the candidate cities. After this stage, a vote follows, valid only for official members of the International Olympic Committee, in which each member has the right to one vote. Only then is the host city actually selected.
List of host cities for the Summer Olympic Games:
| Year | City |
| 1896 | Athens |
| 1900 | Paris |
| 1904 | St. Louis |
| 1908 | London |
| 1912 | Stockholm |
| 1916 | Berlin |
| 1920 | Antwerp |
| 1924 | Paris |
| 1928 | Amsterdam |
| 1932 | Los Angeles |
| 1936 | Berlin |
| 1940 | Helsinki |
| 1944 | London |
| 1948 | London |
| 1952 | Helsinki |
| 1956 | Melbourne |
| 1960 | Pomegranate |
| 1964 | Tokyo |
| 1968 | Mexico City |
| 1972 | Munich |
| 1976 | Montreal |
| 1980 | Moscow |
| 1984 | Los Angeles |
| 1988 | Seoul |
| 1992 | Barcelona |
| 1996 | Atlanta |
| 2000 | sydney |
| 2004 | Athens |
| 2008 | Beijing |
| 2012 | London |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro |
List of host cities of the Winter Olympic Games:
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| Year | City |
| 1924 | Chamonix |
| 1928 | St. Moritz |
| 1932 | Lake Placid |
| 1936 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen |
| 1948 | St. Moritz |
| 1952 | Oslo |
| 1956 | Cortina d'Ampezzo |
| 1960 | squaw valley |
| 1964 | Innsbruck |
| 1968 | Grenoble |
| 1972 | Sapporo |
| 1976 | Innsbruck |
| 1980 | Lake Placid |
| 1984 | Sarajevo |
| 1988 | Calgary |
| 1992 | Albertville |
| 1994 | Lillehammer |
| 1998 | Nagano |
| 2002 | Salt Lake City |
| 2006 | Turin |
| 2010 | Vancouver |
| 2014 | Sochi |
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "How are the Host Cities of the Olympic Games Chosen?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/como-escolhida-cidadesede-dos-jogos-olimpicos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
