Can You Match the Olympic Logo to the City?

Tasha Moore

Image: ibusca / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Calling all sports fans and history buffs! Take on our Olympics challenge and discover how many world cities you're able to name. We will show you a catalog of Winter and Summer Games logos so that you can choose the right Olympic city. 

If you didn't know it already, the Olympics are a really big deal! Cities around the world petition the International Olympic Committee (IOC) years in advance for the chance to host the Games. Even the petition phase entails strict rules to deter bribery. Allegedly, a few or more Salt Lake City executives didn't get that memo one year. The Utah city eventually won hosting rights, nevertheless. 

Legally enticing the IOC is no small feat. Prospective host cities must prove that they have adequate infrastructure (transportation systems, venue space, etc.) to pull off the intricate affair. Many people didn't believe that Nagano, Japan, could accommodate all that was necessary for the '98 Winter Olympics, but the host city did a spectacular job, nailing every detail expected of an Olympic host city and then some. Once a host city wins their hosting bid, unleashing a comprehensive marketing campaign for the Games is a logical next step. Torino, Italy, blamed poor attendance numbers for their 2006 Games on insufficient marketing, and the city's tourism revenue suffered as a result.

Care to compete and learn more Olympic city facts? The race is about to start!

Can you identify the 2018 Olympic city represented in this image?

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games took place despite ongoing tensions between North and South Korea. The South Korean city chose to capitalize the C in the middle of its name, to avoid confusion with the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang.

Water pollution threatened to cancel water events at these 2016 Games. Can you ID the city?

Brazil was experiencing several controversies at the dawn of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Political unrest threatened to oust President Dilma Rousseff, warnings of Zika virus intimidated participants and raw sewage almost shut down water competition sites.

This Russian city prepared for the Olympic Games in a short time span. Try to choose the correct city?

Sochi, Russia, won their bid to host the 2014 Games in July 2007. The city beat out International Olympic Committee favorites like Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Salzburg, Austria. Russia's President Vladimir Putin successfully constructed Olympic venues from scratch in preparation for the Games.

Runner Usain Bolt sped through these 2012 Games with ease. See if you can choose the right city option fast?

Jamaican track star Usain Bolt won the 100-meter dash in 9.63 seconds during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Immediately before the race, someone threw an empty plastic bottle in front of the runner, which didn't faze Bolt. A female Dutch Judo athlete eventually found the offender and beat him up.

Lack of snow was a major concern at the 2010 Olympic Games in which city?

Lack of snow was a primary concern for the city of Vancouver, Canada, during the 2010 Olympic Games. Organizers facilitated "ongoing snow harvesting" to ensure an ample supply of the white flakes by importing it from higher elevations for public ski events held at Cypress Mountain.

Do you know the China city associated with this Olympic emblem?

China promised that over 20,000 international journalists would be granted unrestricted access during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Additionally, the government assured that it would issue permits for aerial photography, which is normally illegal in the country.

Poor attendance was a bit of a problem at the 2006 Games. Do you spot the city?

Elda Tessore, Councillor for the 2006 Torino Olympic Games held in Turin, Italy, blamed spotty attendance on late marketing campaigns and the fact that the city was not well-known internationally. Turin, also known as Torino, had anticipated at least one million visitors to help offset high construction costs.

The 2004 Olympics in Greece were held in which city?

Many economists agree that the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, greatly contributed to the country's debt crisis. Greece spent millions constructing a canoe slalom and a fencing arena that the country had no need for after the Summer Games.

Can you select the United States city that carried the 2004 Winter Games?

The 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City were plagued with allegations of payoffs and bribes to International Olympic Committee members in order to bring the Games to the city. Some key organizers for the Games resigned amid the controversy.

The last Summer Olympic Games of the 20th century was held in the Australian city of ________?

During the Women's Gymnastics All-Around competition at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, a number of women had already performed vault exercises - and some fell - before gymnast Allana Slater asked to have the equipment measured. Officials discovered that the vault was two inches too low. Gymnasts were allowed to redo their vaults if they wanted, but the damage was already done.

Many were pleasantly surprised at how well this Olympic city in Japan pulled off the Winter Games. Do you know which city is associated with this sign?

When Nagano won the bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, critics did not believe that the Japanese city of 360,000 people could pull it off. The '98 Games are regarded as one of the most successful. Foreign attendees made note of the city's hospitality and intricately-organized events.

Do you know which U.S. city turned its Olympic Village into college dorms for future use?

Following the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, the athletes' accommodations at the Olympic Village were converted into dorms - some for the Georgia Institute of Technology. Many Atlantans benefited economically, but other neighborhoods remain in decline.

Russia struggled and ultimately excelled at these 1994 Winter Games, held in which Norway city?

The Soviet Union had recently crumbled when Russia's athletes were sent to perform their best at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Although Russian skiers could not afford high-altitude training and the bobsled team had to rent sleighs, the nation won the most gold medals, at 11.

The 1992 Summer Olympic Games were a major image booster for one Spain location. Are you confident that you know the city name?

The 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, generated a superb legacy for the city. The success of the Games helped Barcelona to win many international accolades in the following decades, including premier European city for innovation, second-best sports city in the world and a smart city designation.

Athletes and attendees took to the mountains in which Winter Olympics city?

The 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France, and Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain, were the last that took place in the same year. Since then, Winter and Summer Games have alternated, with one taking place every two years.

One Jamaican team shocked the world during Canada's '88 Winter Games. Do you know where this happened?

The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, lasted for 16 days and featured the debut of the Jamaican bobsled team. It was also the year of the dueling Brians, between American skater Brian Boitano and Canadian Brian Orser.

An unprecedented moment occurred in which Korean city during the 1988 Summer Games?

Amateur boxing conducted the first rematch in Olympic history at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, Korea. The fight's redo between American light welterweight Todd Foster and Chun Jim-chil of South Korea occurred after initial confusion concerning bell and buzzer sounds.

Is it hard for you to recognize the European locale linked to this design?

Sarajevo's Olympic venues lay in ruins today, following war in the former Yugoslavia. British skaters Torvill and Dean won perfect scores in a skating arena that has since been destroyed.

One California place received Hollywood treatment during the '84 Summer Olympics. Do you see the correct city?

Hollywood composer-conductor John Williams, who scored music for "Star Wars" and "Jaws," composed the "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" for the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, California. Williams won a Grammy Award for the composition.

A young U.S. hockey team went up against undefeated Soviet veteran players at the '80 Winter Games. In which of these New York State cities did it all happen?

The 1980 Winter Olympic Games, held at Lake Placid, New York, generated a significant economic boom for the small year-round resort town. Lake Placid's "1980 Rink" is where the United States men's hockey team defeated the dominant Soviet Union team during the Games.

The 1980 Summer Olympics was rife with controversy from the very beginning. Can you ID the city connected with this badge?

The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Soviet Union, was the first Olympics ever awarded to a Communist country. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 led to the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Games.

In Winter '76, two downhillers dueled to the finish in which Austrian city?

After participating in one of the most celebrated downhill races in Olympic history against fellow ski-racer Franz Klammer from Austria, Swiss Olympian Bernhard Russi designed downhill courses for the games. Klammer defeated Russi for gold during the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics in Austria.

Taiwan bailed at the 1976 Games held in which Canadian city?

Canada recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of China for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and refused to allow China-controlled Taiwan to participate separately. Amid international controversy, the Taiwanese team left the Games.

Do you know which Japanese Olympic city did a lot with a modest budget?

The 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, was the first ever Winter Games held outside of Europe and the United States. Sapporo hosted 35 events for 10 sports that involved 1,006 competitors.

Germany showed off at the '72 Summer Olympics. What city did the country use to strut their creative stuff?

Gunter Behnisch and Partners, a German architecture firm, designed the 75,000-square-meter Olympic roof for the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games. German graphic artist Otl Aicher crafted the Games' iconic emblem and posters.

Can you identify the Alps city that hosted the 1968 Winter Games?

The southeastern city of Grenoble, France, lies at the edge of the Alps. It is surrounded by the Belledonne, Vercors and Chartreuse mountain ranges. Grenoble is also referred to as the "Capital of the Alps."

Summer Games in this Mexico location took on a somber tone. How well do you know the '68 city?

Ten days before the start of the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico, a government-backed security agency opened fire on student protesters in the plaza at Tlatelolco in Mexico City. That summer, thousands of pro-democracy students had been protesting the government's one-party rule.

A few years before the 1964 Winter Games, a devastated U.S. struggled to assemble a skating team. Where did the 1964 Games take place?

All 18 members of the transitional U.S. figure skating team were lost during a 1961 plane crash in Berg, Belgium. The United States hastened to replace the lost talent in time for the 1964 Innsbruck Games.

This location gave the Games a serious reboot in 1964. What Japanese city set a new standard?

The 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo allowed Japan to demonstrate post-war recovery achievements two decades after World War II. The Tokyo Games symbolized the dawn of architectural modernity for both the country and the Games' international governing body.

Can you ID the California city associated with this mark?

Squaw Valley, California, hosted the 1960 Winter Olympic Games that included 30 countries, 27 events and 665 athletes. Alpine Meadows and Sugar Pine Point Park near Tahoma were key event locations during the Squaw Valley Games.

Try to quickly pick the Italian city that named athlete Wilma Rudolph the "Black Gazelle" in 1960?

Ultimately winning the gold medal, U.S. track star Wilma Rudolph ran one leg of the 4x100-meter relay in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. She broke three world records that summer.

The 1956 Winter Games were not televised. In what cozy Italian city did the Games take place?

The 1956 Winter Olympic Games were held at Cortina d'Ampezzo, a resort town in northern Italy, in the Dolomites near the Austrian border. Every event held at the Games was held outdoors.

One city had to move a few events across the globe in '56. What two cities ended up hosting the Games symbolized by this logo?

Due to horse quarantine restrictions in place in Australia, the equestrian segments of the 1956 Summer Olympic Games took place in Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm also hosted the 1912 Games.

Which Norway place was the site of a major Olympics first in 1952?

The first time that women competed in the cross-country event was at the 1952 Winter Olympics held in Oslo, Norway. Lydia Wideman from Finland won gold in the 10-kilometer race.

Do you know the Finland city that hosted the '52 Olympics?

At age 17, Hawaii native Bill Woolsey was the youngest member of the U.S. gold medal 4x200-meter freestyle relay team, at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Initially, the city had been slated to host the 1940 Summer Games.

The Swiss town that hosted the 1948 Games was ________?

The 1948 St. Moritz Winter Games were known as the "Games of Renewal." They followed a 12-year hiatus, due to World War II. In this post-war Games, 22 events were held.

A man named "Bones" dominated a Summer Olympics event in 1948. Where did he sprint past the competition?

Harrison "Bones" Dillard failed to make the 1948 U.S. hurdle team, but he managed to qualify as a sprinter during the 100-meter trials. During the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Dillard won gold in the event.

In 1984, Germany honored a U.S. athlete for his performance at the '36 Summer Games. Do you know the city tied to this Olympic image?

U.S. athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. In 1984, Germany renamed a street near Berlin's Olympic Stadium "Jesse-Owens-Allee" to commemorate Owens' top achievements from the historic Games.

India began an impressive winning streak in which European city during the 1928 Games?

India began dominating the Olympics field hockey event, starting with the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games when the team won gold. Between 1928 and 1980, India won eight gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the sport.

By this logo, do you know where the first modern Winter Games were held?

In 1922, the International Olympic Committee resolved to produce "International Sports Week" at Chamonix, a city in eastern France. The event was renamed the first Winter Olympic Games.

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