1896 Athens
The first Olympic Games of modern times were initiated by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, of France. A total of 13 teams and 285 athletes competed in Greece.

1900 Paris
Notable for some bizarre sports, including high jump for horses and live pigeon shooting, and the first female Olympic champion, Charlotte “Chattie” Cooper, of Great Britain, who won the women’s singles tennis.

1904 St Louis
The first American Games. Marred by the absence of many top athletes because of the Russo-Japanese War, but the 200 metres record of 21.6sec, set by Archie Hahn, the US sprinter, stood for 28 years. Also saw the introduction of the gold, silver and bronze medal system we know today — until then only a silver medal had been given out to the winner.

1908 London
Britain’s first Olympics were held at White City, now the site of a huge BBC building. The host country topped the medals table with 146 — 99 more than the second-placed US.

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1912 Stockholm
The modern pentathlon, invented by Baron de Coubertin, was introduced.

1916 Berlin
The Games were awarded to the German capital, but were cancelled because of the First World War.

1920 Antwerp
The five-ringed Olympic flag was introduced. Oscar Swahn won a gold medal in deer shooting to become the Olympics’ oldest gold medal-winner at the age of 64 — a distinction he still holds.

1924 Paris
The Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger) was introduced. The film, Chariots of Fire, was based on Harold Abrahams’s exploits at these Olympics.

1928 Amsterdam
The Olympic flame was introduced as well as the first women track competitors. Johnny Weissmuller, later to star in the Tarzan films, won two swimming golds.

1932 Los Angeles
The first Olympic village for participants was used. Many athletes were unable to make the Games, however, because of the global financial situation.

1936 Berlin
Hitler’s Games.Despite the success of Jesse Owens, the black American runner, who won four gold medals (100m, 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay) and was taken to the hearts of the Berlin crowds, Germany topped the medals table by a mile.

1940 Tokyo / Helsinki
Japan was awarded the Games, but they were retracted in 1937 after the outbreak of war with China and Helsinki took over. The Second World War forced the Games’ cancellation.