2018 Winter Olympics: How many Olympics have there been?

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games are the latest in a long line of Olympics. Let’s look back at the century-long history of the Winter and Summer Games.

The modern Olympic Games started modestly with the 1896 Summer Games in Athens. Nine sports — athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling — sent representatives to the Greek capital. Winners received medals made of silver rather than gold. The runner-up in each of the 43 individual events received a copper medal.

Winter events received demonstration status at several Summer Games. Chamonix, France held the first Winter Games in 1924. The Olympic program featured Nordic skiing, figure skating and speed skating, bobsled, curling, and ice hockey. Alpine skiing was not included on the list of events despite Chamonix’s location in the shadow of Mont Blanc and the French Alps.

Both events grew over time. Between 1896 and 1936 there were 11 Summer Games on a regular quadrennial cycle. World War II interrupted the event. The Summer Games returned in 1948 when London hosted the festivities a second time.

The war also interrupted the Winter Games. Between 1924 and 1936, four editions of the winter tournament were held. St. Moritz, Switzerland, host of the 1928 Winter Games, also held the 1948 edition after the war.

The Olympics weren’t always the massive global event they are today.

After 122 years, 43 cities on five continents hosted either the Winter or Summer Games. Among host nations, the United States leads the way after hosting four Winter Games and four Summer Games. A fifth Summer Olympiad will be hosted by Los Angeles in 2028.

Both the Summer and Winter Olympics have proliferated in size and scope of the events offered. From nine sports and 43 medal events in 1896, the most recent Summer Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 featured 306 medal events in 28 sports. The Winter Games have grown from a half-dozen sports to encompass 102 medal opportunities in 15 disciplines.

Next: Winter Olympics: How many US athletes are going to South Korea?

In total, the Summer Games have been held 31 times through Rio de Janeiro 2016 in Brazil. The fortnight of competition and camaraderie conclude in Pyeongchang mark the 23rd celebration of the Winter Games.