London hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first city to stage the Games three times.
The London Games opened on 27 July 2012 and closed on 12 August. London had previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1908 and 1948, so the 2012 edition made it the first city to serve as host three times.
The main Olympic Park was built in Stratford in east London. Its venues included the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome and Basketball Arena. The opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, presented a theatrical history of Britain and featured music, film and industrial imagery.
London’s record was later matched by Paris, which hosted in 1900, 1924 and 2024. Los Angeles also hosted in 1932, 1984 and 2028, meaning the distinction now belongs to a small group of cities rather than London alone.