The 2016 Summer Olympics took place in Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro hosted the Games from 5 to 21 August 2016, making Brazil the first South American country to stage the Summer Olympics. The event used venues across Rio, including the Maracanã Stadium, the Olympic Stadium, and facilities in the Barra da Tijuca zone. The opening ceremony took place at Maracanã.
More than 11,000 athletes from 207 National Olympic Committees competed. The program included 28 sports, with golf and rugby sevens returning to the Olympics after long absences. Refugee athletes also competed under the first Olympic Refugee Team.
The United States topped the medal table, while Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history during the Games. Brazil’s hosting was celebrated as a regional milestone, but the event also faced scrutiny over cost, construction, pollution concerns, and the country’s political and economic crisis.