2016 Summer Olympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Games of the XXXI Olympiad

Host city	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Motto	A new world (Portuguese: Um mundo novo)
Nations	207
Athletes	11,238
Events	306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines)
Opening	5 August
Closing	21 August
Opened by	Acting President Michel Temer
Cauldron	Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima
Stadium	Maracanã Estádio Olímpico
Summer
← London 2012 Tokyo 2020 →
Winter
← Sochi 2014 PyeongChang 2018 →

The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad was a major international sport and cultural event from 5 August 2016, to 21 August. The host city was Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games was also held in the same city and organized by the same organizing committee.

Possible host cities

Map showing location of cities bidding for the Games (click on the map to see more detail)

The bidding process for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games began on May 16, 2007. Each city had to submit an initial application to the IOC before September 13, 2007, saying they plan to make a bid. Completed official bids were submitted by each applicant city by January 14, 2008. The final candidate cities were shortlisted in June 2008, and the final selection was made by the full IOC membership, on October 2, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Americas

• Chicago, United States (Eliminated in the first round)
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Chosen)

Asia

• Tokyo, Japan (Eliminated in the second round)

Europe

• Madrid, Spain

Applicant cities

In June 2008, these cities were not chosen to continue:

Asia

• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Doha, Qatar

Europe

• Prague, Czech Republic

Sports

• Aquatics
  • Diving (8)
  • Swimming (34)
  • Synchronized swimming (2)
  • Water polo (2)
• Archery (4)
• Athletics (47)
• Badminton (5)
• Basketball (2)
• Boxing (13)
• Canoeing
  • Slalom (4)
  • Sprint (12)
• Cycling
  • BMX (2)
  • Mountain biking (2)
  • Road (4)
  • Track (10)
• Equestrian
  • Dressage (2)
  • Eventing (2)
  • Jumping (2)
• Fencing (10)
• Field hockey (2)
• Football (2)
• Golf (2)
• Gymnastics
  • Artistic (14)
  • Rhythmic (2)
  • Trampoline (2)
• Handball (2)
• Judo (14)
• Modern pentathlon (2)
• Rowing (14)
• Rugby sevens (2)
• Sailing (10)
• Shooting (15)
• Table tennis (4)
• Taekwondo (8)
• Tennis (5)
• Triathlon (2)
• Volleyball
  • Volleyball (2)
  • Beach volleyball (2)
• Weightlifting (15)
• Wrestling
  • Freestyle (12)
  • Greco-Roman (6)

Olympic Games
Summer Games: 1896, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, (1916), 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028
Winter Games: 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
Athens 2004 — Turin 2006 — Beijing 2008 — Vancouver 2010 — London 2012 — Sochi 2014 — Rio 2016 — Pyeongchang 2018 — Tokyo 2020 Games in italics will be held in the future, and those in (brackets) were cancelled because of war. See also: Ancient Olympic Games

Images for kids

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  A young girl adding her signature in support of Rio de Janeiro's candidacy

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  Barra Olympic Park

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  Mauá Square, with the Museum of Tomorrow, designed by Santiago Calatrava, and the light rail

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  Medals of the 2016 Summer Olympics

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  Basketball player Anderson Varejão carrying the torch in São Paulo

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  A scene from the opening ceremony

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  Refugee Olympic team arriving in Rio de Janeiro

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  The public cauldron, located outside the Candelária Church.

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  Deodoro Olympic Whitewater Stadium

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  International Broadcast Centre, at Barra Olympic Park

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  F-5EM Tiger II fighter jet of the Brazilian Air Force during an air intercept training for Rio 2016

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  Headquarters of the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow

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  Volunteers working at the Olympic Stadium during the Games

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  Future Arena, a temporary venue designed to be reconstructed into schools.

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  Youth Arena

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  Olympic BMX Centre

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  Rio 2016 Olympic Village

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  2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at Maracanã Stadium

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  Olympic rings displayed in Rio de Janeiro.

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  Sculpture of the Rio 2016 logo in Barra Olympic Park

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  Suspended president Dilma Rousseff during an interview with Al Jazeera at the Alvorada Palace on 1 June 2016

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  Fort Copacabana hosted the cycling road race (start and finish), marathon swimming and triathlon events.