The 1964 Tokyo Olympics were the first Games held in Asia, with the United States leading in gold medals and the Soviet Union in total medals.
Key Facts
- Total athletes
- 5,151
- Participating NOCs
- 93
- Events
- 163 across 19 sports
- Most gold medals (nation)
- United States — 36 gold
- Most total medals (nation)
- Soviet Union — 96 medals
- Most medals (individual)
- Larisa Latynina — 6 medals
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tokyo was awarded the 1964 Summer Olympics as Japan sought international rehabilitation following World War II. The IOC excluded South Africa over apartheid policies and barred athletes who had competed at the unsanctioned Games of the New Emerging Forces in 1963, prompting withdrawals by North Korea and Indonesia.
The Games of the XVIII Olympiad were held in Tokyo from 9 to 24 October 1964, featuring 5,151 athletes from 93 nations competing in 163 events. Judo and volleyball debuted as Olympic sports, with volleyball marking the first women's team sport added to the program. The United States led in gold medals with 36, while the Soviet Union accumulated the most total medals with 96.
The Tokyo Games established Asia as an Olympic host region and set precedents for political exclusions based on human rights policies. Larisa Latynina's six medals gave her 18 Olympic medals in total, a world record that stood for 48 years until Michael Phelps surpassed it at the 2012 Games. Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, and the Bahamas each earned their first Olympic medals.
Result
at Tokyo, Japan