Where were the 2016 Olympics held?
Quick answer
The 2016 Summer Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21, 2016. They were the first Olympic Games ever held in South America, with about 11,000 athletes from more than 200 nations competing in 28 sports.
Key facts
- Host city
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Dates
- August 5–21, 2016
- Main stadium
- Maracanã (opening and closing ceremonies)
- Top of medal table
- United States (46 gold)
Memorable moments
- Michael Phelps won 5 golds, ending his career with 23; see who has the most Olympic gold medals.
- Usain Bolt completed his third straight Olympic 100 m and 200 m double.
- Simone Biles won four gymnastics golds.
- Brazil won its first Olympic gold in men’s football, beating Germany on penalties, with Neymar scoring the winning kick.
- The first Refugee Olympic Team competed under the Olympic flag.
- Golf and rugby sevens returned to the Games.
Top of the medal table
| Rank | Country | Gold | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 46 | 121 |
| 2 | Great Britain | 27 | 67 |
| 3 | China | 26 | 70 |
| 4 | Russia | 19 | 56 |
| 5 | Germany | 17 | 42 |
Challenges
The Rio Games faced concerns before and during the event, including the Zika virus, polluted water in Guanabara Bay used for sailing, Brazil’s economic crisis and questions about the cost of venues, some of which fell into disuse afterward.
Summer Olympics hosts since 2000
| Year | Host |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Sydney |
| 2004 | Athens |
| 2008 | Beijing |
| 2012 | London |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro |
| 2020 (held 2021) | Tokyo |
| 2024 | Paris |
| 2028 | Los Angeles (scheduled) |
| 2032 | Brisbane (scheduled) |
For the first Olympics held outside Europe, see St. Louis 1904. Rio sits on Brazil’s coast; Brazil shares a border with France through French Guiana, as explained in which countries border France.
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