The Winter and Summer Olympic Games are a time to come together to celebrate the fastest, strongest, brightest athletes in the world. We all enjoy the stories and the achievements of the incredible humans who devote their lives to their sport. Recent games have been particularly challenging, and these athletes' perseverance is something to admire.
But after the closing ceremonies are over and everyone has gone home with their medals or with life-long memories, the spirit of the Olympics lives on in each city.
Many of our guidebooks take you to revisit Olympic Games of the past. Here are some of those spots from 111 Places guides to cities that you can visit and feel like an Olympian!
1928 Amsterdam Olympics Summer Games
The Summer Games in 1926 in Amsterdam hosted the very first lighting of the Olympic Flame, a tradition that has continued for almost 100 years. These were also the first games designated for the summer specifically, to differentiate them from winter games. The Olympic Stadium still functions today as a sports center, and you can visit a museum there about the Olympic experience! 111 Places in Amsterdam That You Shouldn't Miss
1936 Berlin Olympics Summer Games
Arguably the most controversial Olympic Games were held in Berlin, Germany in 1936. The historic highlight was the performance of track-and-fielder Jesse Owens, a Black American who won four gold medals at these games, held under the Nazi Regime. The games also hosted four diving events, and you can jump off the same 3-meter diving board as those Olympians at Olympia Park Swimming Stadium! 111 Places in Berlin That You Shouldn't Miss
1964 Tokyo Olympics Summer Games
Visit the Olympic Stadium in where the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place. Today, it's a sports facility and a park for all kinds of outdoor activities. The area known as Komazawa Olympic Park was originally developed for the 1944 Olympic Games, which were canceled due to World War II. This giant structure is called the Control Tower, and it was designed by Japanese architect Yoshinobu Ashihara. Tokyo's 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed till 2021 due to the global pandemic, but the games went on! 111 Places in Tokyo That You Must Not Miss
1996 Atlanta Olympics Summer Games
You can visit the Olympic Cauldron that was the heart of the the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the opening ceremonies, it was lit by a surprise superstar, Muhammad Ali. Ali won the Gold Medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1984, and his participation in Atlanta was truly memorable. Read all about it – and also about the rogue Olympic torch – in 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss.
1998 Calgary Olympics Winter Games
Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, and one of the legacy facilities that is still looking towards the future is the Olympic Skating Oval at the University of Calgary. You can come skate here on one of the fastest ice ovals in the world! The public is welcome for skating, and they also have a jogging track for you to work up to a personal best on the ice. There is a full-service shop, where you'll find the perfect skates, as well as every other possible equipment you can imagine. Helmets are mandatory! 111 Places in Calgary That You Must Not Miss
2010 Vancouver Olympics Winter Games
Vancouver, British Columbia, hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The Athletes' Village have has since been converted to regular apartments, which are now graced by two giant sparrows. Look for The Birds, 16-foot-high works art, which were created by sculptor Myfanwy Macleod as part of the City of Vancouver’s Olympic and Paralympic Public Art Program. After years of being irresistible to kids and skateboarders, they were recently repaired and restored to their original splendor. 111 Places in Vancouver That You Must Not Miss
2010 Vancouver Olympics Winter Games - Whistler Events
Peak Podium on Whistler Mountain may be the coolest selfie spot in the world! Stand in front of the Olympic Rings with two great friends who'll let you claim the Gold Medal spot on the center podium. Many of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics events were actually held in Whistler, just up the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The original podiums were handcrafted from locally sourced wood. You can still feel the incomprehensible joy of the athletes who stood on this spot with magnificent views that seem to go on forever. 111 Places in Whistler That You Must Not Miss
2010 Singapore Summer Youth Olympics
In 2010, Singapore hosted the very first Youth Olympic Games. Each participating country's Olympic Committee received had a palm tree dedicated to their nation here in Youth Olympic Park. Over 3,500 young athletes from around the world competed for medals, and the spirit of the Olympic Games was amplified by their youth and their enthusiasm. You can look for the signs at the foot of each tree to see which country it represents. and you can walk through the park to see more reminders of these groundbreaking games. 111 Places in Singapore That You Shouldn't Miss
2012 London Summer Youth Olympics
A 22-ton bell in Queen Elizabeth Park rang in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The Olympic Bell is actually the second heaviest bell in Europe – only the one in the Cologne Cathedral is heavier. On it is inscribed, "Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises," from Caliban’s speech in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Bradley Wiggins, who had become the first British winner of the Tour de France earlier that year, rang the bell at the Opening Ceremonies, but it was so loud that it will only be rung for very special occasions. 111 Places in London's East End That You Shouldn't Miss
So enjoy watching the rest of the exciting Olympics, and then make your plans to go visit the places where incredible athletes made their dreams come true and their countries proud!
111 Places Guidebooks are available where books are sold in shops and online around the world. Find the guide to your favorite cities and regions and plan your next adventure!
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