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 1948 to 1964, the Olympic Games were hosted by five different cities across three continents. The 1956 and 1964 edition of the games were hosted for the first time in Oceania and Asia respectively. The 1940 were first award to Tokyo, then Helsinki before being cancelled due to World War II. Similarly, the 1944 edition awarded to London was also cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.

1948 – Wembley Stadium, London

The stadium was originally opened as Empire Stadium in 1923 and was used as one of the main venues for the British Empire Exhibition held from 1924-1925. Despite only every intended to be temporary the stadium would go on to become of the most famous in the world.

The 85,000-seat stadium was able to host the opening and closing ceremonies, the athletics program, equestrian jumping as well as the football and field hockey finals.

Post Olympics the stadium would go on the host a number of prolific events. The 1966 World Cup Final, 1996 European Championship, five European Cup Finals and the permanent home of the FA Cup for the entirety of is existence were held at the iconic stadium.

1952 – Olympic Stadium, Helsinki

The stadium was built in 1938 in anticipation of the city’s hosting of the 1940 Summer Olympics Games which were eventually cancelled due to World War II. The city would get another chance in 1952 with only minor updates required to the 70,000-seat stadium.

The stadium was used to host the events opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics competitions, football finals and equestrian show jumping.

Since the Olympics, the stadium has hosted a number of high-profile athletics events as well as regularly hosting concerts by local and international artists. Extensive renovations took place in the late 2010s which has ensured the stadium will remain an integral part of the city’s sporting and entertainment culture.

1956 – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

The historic MCG was initially built in 1853 and primarily known as cricket venue until it was used as the main stadium at the 1956 Olympics. The stadium’s ovaloid shape allowed for the stadium to feature capacity of over 100,000 when hosting games the largest such venue up until that point.

The stadium would host the game’s opening and closing ceremonies as well as the field hockey and football finals. Although it was common for Equestrian events to be held at Olympic stadiums at the time, the equestrian events at the 1956 games were held in Sweden due to quarantine concerns.

Since the games, the stadium was been expanded several times, currently featuring a capacity of 100,024 making the 11^th largest in the world and largest in the southern hemisphere. The stadium continues to host regular sporting events and has become Australia’s most famous venue for Cricket and Australia rules football (AFL).

1960 – Olympic Stadium, Rome

The current iteration of the stadium was opened in 1990 although a stadium has existed on the same site since the 1920s. The stadium took on its current name when the city was awarded the right to host the 1960 edition of the games.

The opening and closing ceremonies as well as the equestrian and athletics program were held at the stadium during the games.

Apart from the occasional athletics competitions the stadium became primarily a football venue post Olympics. The stadium would host matches at three European Championships including the final in 1968 and 1980, matches at the 1990 FIFA World Cup including the final and several European Cup finals. The stadium is also still used by two of Italian footballs biggest teams AS Roma and SS Lazio.

1964 – National Stadium, Tokyo

The stadium was built in 1958 and would become the centerpiece of the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, the first held in Asia.

The stadium was used as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, the athletics program, equestrian jumping and the football finals.

Post Olympics the stadium would continue to be used for a number of athletics events but the stadium was best known as the long-time home of the Intercontinental Cup. The stadium was demolished in 2015 and replaced by the current National Stadium the centerpiece of the 2020 Olympic Games.