Olympic cities

Sochi, a resort town in southwestern Russia along the Black Sea, is nicknamed “the Russian Riviera.”   (Sergei L. Loiko / Los Angeles Times)

London, whose attractions include Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral, has been selected to host the Olympics four times, though the 1944 Games were canceled because of World War II.   (Johannes Eisele / AFP/Getty Images)

An aerial view of Vancouver, one of the hemisphere’s most ethnically diverse cities.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Lightning fills the sky above the Bird’s Nest on the eve of the Beijing Olympics’ closing ceremony.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The abandoned Olympic beach volleyball venue built for the 2004 Games in southern Athens. The Greek city played host to the first modern Olympic Games, held in 1896.  (Thanassis Stavrakis / Associated Press)

The Queen Mary 2 docked at Sydney Harbor. To the left is the Sydney Opera House.   (Matt Blyth / Getty Images)

Georgia Dome, left, was a venue during the Atlanta Olympics.  (Dave Martin / Associated Press)

Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, center, has been in construction since the late 1800s.   (David Ramos / Getty Images)

The town of Albertville, nestled in the French Alps, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Games at Olympic Park.   (Jean-Pierre Clatot / AFP/Getty Images)

With a population of about 10 million, Seoul is one of the world’s largest cities. Its history dates back 600 years. Historic sites include Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces.  (Dan Istitene / Getty Images)

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has hosted the Olympics twice, in 1984 and 1932.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Skier Jure Franko won the first Winter Olympics medal for what was then Yugoslavia at the 1984 Games.  (Amel Emric / Associated Press)

Moscow’s Red Square.   (Sergei Supinsky / AFP/Getty Images)

Students skate on the oval just outside the arena in which the U.S. won the 1980 hockey gold medal.  (Jim McKnight / Associated Press)

French-speaking Montreal is Quebec’s largest city and serves as its cultural and economic capital.   (Stephan Poulin / Associated Press)

An aerial view of Mexico City’s Palace of Fine Arts.  (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images)

The National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, which served as the main venue for the 1964 Games.  (Kimimasa Mayama / EPA)

Statues at Stadium of the Marbles in Rome, an Olympic venue during the 1960 Games.   (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

People watch the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games at Federation Square in Melbourne. The 1956 Olympics marked the first time the Games were held in the Southern Hemisphere.   (Scott Barbour / Getty Images)

Due to Australia’s strict quarantine regulations, Stockholm held the equestrian events of the 1956 Olympics.   (Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP/Getty Images)

Cortina d’Ampezzo, in northern Italy, is known for ski slopes and scenery.   (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP/Getty Images)

Sixty years after the 1952 Games, many venues that hosted the Helsinki Olympics are still in use, including Olympic Stadium.   (Otto Turunen / Associated Press)

Horses race on a frozen Lake St. Moritz.   (Alex Livesey / Getty Images)

Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, built for the 1936 Summer Games. The city was selected to host the 1916 Games, but they were canceled due to World War I.   (Anick Jesdanun / Associated Press)

The Eiffel Tower in Paris. Women participated in the Olympics for the first time in 1900.  (Richard Derk / Los Angeles Times)

St. Michel church in Chamonix.   (Jean-Pierre Clatot /AFP/Getty Images)

Flags fly outside Antwerp City Hall.   (Dirk Waem / AFP/Getty Images)

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The 1904 Games marked the first time gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place.   (Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images)