Since the inaugural edition in 1896, the Olympic Games have grown to become one of the most important sporting events in the world. Every four years, the world’s attention turns to a single city that hosts the best athletes from around the world.

Each edition of the modern Olympics has featured a stadium that is used to host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as much of the athletics program. These venues are often the setting of some the most memorable cultural and sporting moments at each Olympic Games.

From 1920 to 1936, the Olympic Games were hosted by five different cities across Europe and North America. Paris became the first city to host the Olympic games for a second time in 1924. The 1916 edition of the games were awarded to Berlin but cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I.

1920 – Olympic Stadium, Antwerp

The stadium opened in 1920 and was purpose built to serve as the main stadium for that year’s Olympic Games. Originally built to accommodate 30,000 spectators, the stadium’s capacity has since been reduced to 12,500.

The stadium hosted 10 out of the 29 events that were featured at the 1920 games. The stadium was the first to witness the reading of the Olympic Oath, the first to feature the release of doves and the first in which the Olympic flag was flown. These additions were all especially important considering the 1920 games were the first to be held post World War I.

Following the games, the running track was removed and the stadium was converted to a football stadium. The stadium is currently the home ground of Belgian football team Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen.

1924 – Olympic Stadium, Paris

The stadium was originally opened in 1907 before being renovated in time for 1924 Olympic Games. Although featuring a simple, single bowl design with two small covered stands the stadium was still able to accommodate 45,000 spectators.

The stadium hosted 8 out of the 17 sports featured at the games as well as the event’s ceremonies. The stadium is notable for hosting the first ever world football tournament organized by FIFA where the Uruguayan national football team would win the gold medal match against Switzerland.

Post Olympics, the stadium was used as a venue for the 1938 FIFA World Cup hosting three matches including the final between Italy and Hungry. The stadium was heavily renovated in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Olympic games where it is expected to host the field hockey program.

1928 – Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

The stadium took one year to build opening in time for the 1928 Olympic Games with a seating capacity of 31,600. The stadium was built in the Amsterdam School architectural style and is considered one of its finest examples of this style.

Seven out of the 1928 game’s 14 sports were held at the stadium including the opening ceremony. The stadium was the first to feature an Olympic cauldron as part of the stadium’s design, this structure was known as the marathon tower and remained lit for the duration of the games.

Following the games, the capacity of the stadium was increased to 64,000. The stadium was used for various sports since hosting the Olympics but mostly considered to be a football stadium regularly hosting matches for the Dutch national football team and select matches for Dutch club football team Ajax.

1932 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

The stadium opened in 1923 as a memorial to veterans of World War I. The stadium was expanded in the lead up to 1932 games increasing the capacity to 101,574, the largest for any Olympic stadium up until that point. The stadium’s east end features a peristyle capped with the Olympic cauldron and has become the stadium’s signature feature.

The stadium hosted the ceremonies and four out of the event’s 14 sports. The 1932 games became the first to feature an Olympic victory podium for medal ceremonies, a feature that has been used at every edition since.

Post Olympics, that stadium would be used for every kind of sport and major event over the next 100 years. Apart from hosting two Olympic games, the stadium is most associated as being the home field of the USC college football team for over 100 years. The stadium was also the main venue for the 1984 Olympic Games and is expected to once again play a part when Los Angeles hosts the Olympics for a third time in 2028.

1936 – Olympic Stadium, Berlin

The stadium was originally built in preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games opening with a capacity of 100,000. The stadium was built as the centerpiece of the Reichssportfeld which also included several other sporting venues and spaces for parades and celebrations.

The opening and closing ceremonies and four out of the event’s 19 sports were held at the stadium. At these Olympics, the stadium would feature as part of the first televised Olympic Games and as the finale of the first ever Olympic torch relay. The stadium was also the location of one of the game’s most memorable moments where African-American track and field athlete Jesse Owens would win four gold medals.

The stadium currently serves as the home ground of German club football team Hertha Berlin as well as hosting most of the German national football team’s matches. The stadium also regularly hosts major athletics events and is a popular concert venue.