The Summer Olympics in full swing in London, here a list of Olympic posters going back to 1896. Through out the years there have been numerous stories of great athletic achievements in the Olympics, from individuals like Carl Lewis, to Usain Bolt, Brandi Chastain, and many others from around the world have created memories that will last forever in the Olympics. Here is a list of the posters for the games dating all the way back to the Olympic poster of 1896, billed as the first modern Olympics.
London – Summer 2012
Host city London, England, United Kingdom
Motto Inspire a Generation
Nations participating 204
Athletes participating 10,500 (estimated)
Events 302 in 26 sports
Opening ceremony 27 July
Closing ceremony 12 August
Beijing – Summer 2008
Host city Beijing, China
Motto One World, One Dream
(同一个世界 同一个梦想)
Nations participating 204 NOCs
Athletes participating 11,028[1]
Events 302 in 28 sports
Opening ceremony August 8
Closing ceremony August 24
Athens – Summer 2004
Host city Athens, Greece
Motto Welcome Home
Nations participating 201[1]
Athletes participating 10,625[1]
Events 301 in 28 sports
Opening ceremony August 13
Closing ceremony August 29
Sydney – Summer 2000
Host city Sydney, Australia
Motto Thousands of hearts with one goal
Share the Spirit
Dare to Dream
Nations participating 199
Athletes participating 10,651
(6,582 men, 4,069 women)
Events 300 in 28 sports
Opening ceremony 15 September
Closing ceremony 1 October
Atlanta – Summer 1996
Host city Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Motto The Celebration of the Century
Nations participating 197
Athletes participating 10,320
(6,797 men, 3,523 women)
Events 271 in 26 sports
Opening ceremony July 19
Closing ceremony August 4
Barcelona – Summer 1992
Host city Barcelona, Spain
Motto Amigos Para Siempre (Spanish)
Amics Per Sempre (Catalan)
(Friends Forever)
Nations participating 170
Athletes participating 9,356 (6,652 men, 2,704 women)
Events 286 in 32 sports
Opening ceremony July 25
Closing ceremony August 9
Seoul – Summer 1988
Host city Seoul, South Korea
Motto Harmony and Progress
Nations participating 160
Athletes participating 8,391 (6,197 men, 2,194 women)
Events 263 in 27 sports
Opening ceremony September 17
Closing ceremony October 2
Los Angeles – Summer 1984
Host city Los Angeles, California, United States
Nations participating 140
Athletes participating 6,829
(5,263 men, 1,566 women)[1]
Events 221 in 23 sports
Opening ceremony July 28
Closing ceremony August 12
Moscow – Summer 1980
Host city Moscow, Soviet Union
Nations participating 80[1]
Athletes participating 5,179
(4,064 men, 1,115 women)[1]
Events 203 in 21 sports
Opening ceremony 19 July
Closing ceremony 3 August
Montreal – Summer 1976
Host city Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Nations participating 92
Athletes participating 6,028 (4,781 men, 1,247 women)
Events 198 in 21 sports
Opening ceremony July 17
Closing ceremony August 1
Munich – Summer 1972
Host city Munich, West Germany
Nations participating 121
Athletes participating 7,170 (6,075 men, 1,095 women)
Events 195 in 23 sports
Opening ceremony August 26
Closing ceremony September 10
Mexico – Summer 1968
Host city Mexico City, Mexico
Nations participating 112
Athletes participating 5,530
(4,750 men, 780 women)
Events 172 in 20 sports
Opening ceremony October 12
Closing ceremony October 27
Tokyo – Summer 1964
Host city Tokyo, Japan
Nations participating 93
Athletes participating 5,151
(4,473 men, 678 women)
Events 163 in 19 sports
Opening ceremony October 10
Closing ceremony October 24
Rome – Summer 1960
Host city Rome, Italy
Nations participating 83
Athletes participating 5,338
(4,727 men, 611 women)
Events 150 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony August 25
Closing ceremony September 11
Melbourne / Stockholm – Summer 1956
Host city Melbourne, Australia
Nations participating 72
Athletes participating 3,314
(2,938 men, 376 women)
Events 145 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony 22 November
Closing ceremony 8 December
Helsinki – Summer 1952
Host city Helsinki, Finland
Nations participating 69
Athletes participating 4,955
(4,436 men, 519 women)
Events 149 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony July 19
Closing ceremony August 3
London – Summer 1948
Host city London, England, United Kingdom
Nations participating 59[1]
Athletes participating 4,104
(3,714 men, 390 women)[1]
Events 136 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony 29 July
Closing ceremony 14 August
Berlin – Summer 1936
Host city Berlin, Germany
Nations participating 49
Athletes participating 3,963
(3,632 men, 331 women)
Events 129 in 19 sports
Opening ceremony August 1
Closing ceremony August 16
Los Angeles – Summer 1932
Host city Los Angeles, California, United States
Nations participating 37
Athletes participating 1,332 (1,206 men, 126 women)
Events 116 in 14 sports
Opening ceremony July 30
Closing ceremony August 14
Amsterdam – Summer 1928
Host city Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nations participating 46
Athletes participating 2,883 (2,606 men, 277 women)
Events 109 in 15 sports
Opening ceremony July 28
Closing ceremony August 12
Paris – Summer 1924
Host city Paris, France
Nations participating 44
Athletes participating 3,089
(2,954 men, 135 women)
Events 126 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony 4 May
Closing ceremony 27 July
Antwerp – Summer 1920
Host city Antwerp, Belgium
Nations participating 29
Athletes participating 2,626
(2,561 men, 65 women)
Events 154 in 22 sports
Opening ceremony April 20
Closing ceremony September 12
Stockholm – Summer 1912
Host city Stockholm, Sweden
Nations participating 28
Athletes participating 2,406 (2,359 men, 47 women)
Events 102 in 14 sports
Opening ceremony 6 July
Closing ceremony 22 July
London – Summer 1908
Host city London, England, United Kingdom
Nations participating 22
Athletes participating 2,008
(1,971 men, 37 women,)
Events 110 in 22 sports
Opening ceremony April 27
Closing ceremony October 31
St. Louis – Summer 1904
Host city St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Nations participating 12
Athletes participating 651
Events 91 in 17 sports
Opening ceremony July 1
Closing ceremony November 23
Paris – Summer 1900
Host city Paris, France
Nations participating 24
Athletes participating 997
Events 95 in 19 sports
Opening ceremony May 14
Closing ceremony October 28
Athens – Summer 1896
Host city Athens, Greece
Nations participating 14[1]
Athletes participating 241[2]
Events 43 in 9 sports
Opening ceremony April 6
Closing ceremony April 15
All of these fine posters can be purchased at Sports Poster Warehouse.
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