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2004 - Athens
The Olympics returned to its spiritual home of Athens in 2004 and despite initial fears they wouldn't be ready in time, the Greeks put on a terrific 17-day spectacle to rival the Games of Sydney. Read Full Article
2000 - Sydney
Generally considered to be the best-ever Games as Britain's Steven Redgrave produced an heroic performance to become the first rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympics. Read Full Article
1996 - Atlanta
Michael Johnson's double success over 200m and 400m was the first for a man in Olympic history while Carl Lewis became only the fourth person to win the same individual event four times. Read Full Article
1992 - Barcelona
American basketball's Dream Team were the highlight of Barcelona as NBA All Stars such as Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan swept all before them, averaging 117 points in their eight matches. Read Full Article
1988 - Seoul
Drugs reared their head with the biggest scandal of modern times when sprinter Canadian Ben Johnson was disqualified after winning the 100m with a new world record time. Read Full Article
1984 - Los Angeles
A revenge boycott led by the Soviet Union depleted the field in certain sports but a record 140 nations still took part as American sprinter Carl Lewis stole the show with four gold medals. Read Full Article
1980 - Moscow
Another boycott, led by the USA against the invasion of Afghanistan, reduced the number of participating nations to 80 while on the track their was drama between Seb Coe and Steve Ovett. Read Full Article
1976 - Montreal
In another Games affected by non-sporting issues, Romanian 14-year-old gymnast Nadia Comaneci caused a sensation on the uneven bars when she was awarded the first-ever perfect score of 10.0. Read Full Article
1972 - Munich
The tragic events at the Olympic Village completely overshadowed American swimmer Mark Spitz's incredible seven gold medals to go with the two he had earned in 1968. Read Full Article
1968 - Mexico City
Mexico saw Bob Beamon leap into history while it was also the birthplace of the Fosbury flop - the high jump style perfected by American Dick Fosbury which also won him a gold medal. Read Full Article
1964 - Tokyo
The first Games to be held in Asia had a poignant opening ceremony involving Yoshinori Sakai, who was born in Hiroshima the day the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in WW2. Read Full Article
1960 - Rome
More than 50 years after giving up their chance to host the Olympics, Italy finally got their opportunity and these were the Games at which the greatest boxing star of all time was born. Read Full Article
1956 - Melbourne
These were the first Games to be held in the southern hemisphere but strict quarantine laws prevented foreign horses entering the country so the equestrian events were held in Stockholm. Read Full Article
1952 - Helsinki
Czechoslovakian long-distance runner Emil Zatopek became the only person in Olympic history to win the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Olympics. Read Full Article
1948 - London
The first Games to be shown on home television, although very few people actually owned sets, London also saw the first participation of Communist countries. Read Full Article
1936 - Berlin
Berlin saw the introduction of the torch relay but the Games were infamous for Adolf Hitler's failed attempt to use them to prove his theories of Aryan racial superiority. Read Full Article
1932 - Los Angeles
The Great Depression meant the number of competitors was half what it had been four years previously but 18 world records were broken at the 16-day event - shorter than ever before. Read Full Article
1928 - Amsterdam
At the opening ceremony the Olympic protocol of Greece, the birthplace of the modern Games, leading the parade of nations with the host country marching in last was established. Read Full Article
1924 - Paris
The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" was introduced, as was the closing ceremony ritual of raising the flags of the IOC, the host nation and the next host nation. Read Full Article
1920 - Antwerp
The 1916 Olympics were scheduled to be held in Berlin but were cancelled because of WW1 and the 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honour the suffering Belgian people. Read Full Article
1912 - Stockholm
The Swedish hosts introduced the use of unofficial electronic timing devices for the track events, as well as the first use of a public address system. Read Full Article
1908 - London
The 1908 Olympics saw athletes march into the opening ceremony by nation for the first time and by the end of the Games Great Britain had topped the medal table. Read Full Article
1906 - Athens
In an effort to reinvigorate the Olympics after the lack-lustre Games of 1900 and 1904, Greece organised the "interim Olympics" but they weren't officially recognised by the IOC. Read Full Article
1904 - St Louis
Once again the Olympic competitions were spread out over four and a half months although these Games were the first at which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded. Read Full Article
1900 - Paris
The Games were held as part of the Paris World's Fair and events were spread over five months with less emphasis on their Olympic status. Read Full Article
1896 - Athens
The revival of the ancient Olympics attracted athletes from 14 nations, with the largest delegations coming from Greece, Germany and France. Read Full Article
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Stars to watch
Andy Schooler picks out 10 non-British superstars to watch at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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