Which Countries Have Hosted The Most Olympics?
The modern Olympic Games, having made its debut in 1896 in none other than Athens, Greece, have since been hosted in dozens of countries around the world every four years. This celebration of athletics around the globe has made a point of changing host cities most years. Since 1994, two Olympic games have been held in differing years: the Summer Olympics (often referred to simply as "The Olympic Games") and the Winter Olympics.
The games have been going on for well over a century at this point, and over the decades, there are certain countries who have stepped up as hosts more than others. Reasons can vary, and there is a lot that goes into qualifying, from financial feasibility, availability of sporting facilities, ability to provide amenities for both athletes and guests, and political climate.
The United States takes the lead, hosting more Olympic Games than any other country. Learn more about which countries have been home to the Olympic Games the most, with a focus on the notable entries that have hosted more than two.
1. United States - 8
Given its size, population, wealth, and plethora of opportunities to compete internally on both a professional and amateur level, it should not be a big surprise that the United States has hosted the highest number of Olympics. Having numerous cities that fit the bill for either winter or summer events (or both in some instances), a total of eight Olympic Games have taken place in the US. There have been four Summer Games, with a fifth one scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028, and four Winter Games.
Summer Olympics
Winter Olympics
- Lake Placid - 1932
- Olympic Valley (formerly "Squaw Valley) - 1960
- Lake Placid - 1980
- Salt Lake City - 2002
2. France - 6
Like the United States, France's main reasons for successfully landing so many games are likely due to its abundance of suitable cities for both summer and winter events and its robust economy. From the snowcapped mountains of the Alps to bustling cities like Paris, France has no shortage of places that are perfect to host events in all seasons.
Summer Olympics
- Paris - 1900
- Paris - 1924
- Paris - 2024
Winter Olympics
- Chamonix - 1924
- Grenoble - 1968
- Albertville - 1992
3. Japan - 4
Despite having two entire games canceled (one for the winter in Sapporo in 1940 and one for the summer in Tokyo, also in 1940) due to Japan initiating the widely decried Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and their involvement in World War II, Japan still sits with an impressive number of four. With two winter games in the country's mountainous regions of Hokkaido and Nagano Basin, and two summer games hosted in the massive city of Tokyo, Japan has more than proven why they continue to be a top pick for the games.
Summer Olympics
- Tokyo - 1964
- Tokyo - 2020 (postponed to 2021)
Winter Olympics
- Sapporo - 1972
- Nagano - 1998
4. United Kingdom - 3
The United Kingdom has hosted three Olympics, all of which were held in its capital city of London and all of which were Summer Games. Notably, the 1944 London Olympics were canceled because of World War II and then rescheduled to 1948.
Summer Olympics
- London - 1908
- London - 1948
- London - 2012
Winter Olympics
- 0
4. Canada - 3
With Canada's abundance of cold, mountainous regions and reputation for having lengthy winters, on top of its financial and political stability, it has been the host of multiple Winter Olympics. Surprisingly, Canada's biggest city (in several categories, by quite a margin too), Toronto, has never hosted, despite being the home of similar large-scale sporting events like the 2015 Pan American Games.
Summer Olympics
- Montreal - 1976
Winter Olympics
4. Italy - 3
Italy is yet another country that had its games canceled during World War II. It has since made up for the loss with one summer game in its capital of Rome and two winter games in its idyllic northern Alps.
Summer Olympics
- Rome - 1960
Winter Olympics
- Cortina d'Ampezz - 1956
- Turin - 2006
4. Germany - 3
Germany is not only the fourth country to tie at fourth for the most Olympics hosted, but it also had its games canceled in World World II, that being the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Olympics of 1940. Germany has had a total of one Summer Olympics and two Winter Olympics within its borders since.
Summer Olympics
- Berlin - 1936
Winter Olympics
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen - 1936
- Munich (formerly in West Germany) - 1972
Countries That Have Hosted the Olympics
23 different countries have hosted the Olympic Games since its beginning over 128 years ago. Here are all of the countries that have had the honor of doing so and the number of Olympics they have held so far:
| Country | Number of Olympics Hosted |
|---|---|
| United States | 8 |
| France | 6 |
| Japan | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 3 |
| Canada | 3 |
| Italy | 3 |
| Germany | 3 |
| China | 2 |
| South Korea | 2 |
| Russia | 2 |
| Greece | 2 |
| Norway | 2 |
| Austria | 2 |
| Australia | 2 |
| Switzerland | 2 |
| Brazil | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
| Yugoslavia | 1 |
| Mexico | 1 |
| Finland | 1 |
| Netherlands | 1 |
| Belgium | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
