How Often Does the Summer Olympics Happen?

The Summer Olympics stretch to 776 BC, when ancient Greeks staged athletic contests to honor their gods. It was revived in modern times as a means of promoting peace and understanding between nations, and its spirit has flourished--in one form or another--for more than a century.

  1. Ancients

    • The ancient Greeks met every four years on the plains of Olympia. The concept of the Olympic truce held that even wars would be stopped to host the Games.

    Olympiad

    • The four-year intervals were known as "Olympiads" and marked the games for more than 11 centuries until Emperor Theodosius banned them in 393 AD.

    Modern Games

    • The modern Summer Games began in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Like the ancient Games, they would be held every four years.

    Time of Year

    • The first Games were held in April, and most Games take place during the traditional summer months. One notable exception was the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, which took place in December (summertime in the Southern hemisphere).

    Missed Dates

    • Three times in modern history--1916, 1940 and 1944--the Summer Olympics were canceled. In all three cases was because of world wars.