2012 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXX Olympiad, in London, United Kingdom
London became the first city to host the modern Summer Olympics three times, and the Games marked the first at which every sport included female competitors.
Key Facts
- Athletes
- 10,518 from 206 National Olympic Committees
- Duration
- 27 July – 12 August 2012
- Top medal nation (gold)
- United States, 48 gold / 105 total
- Michael Phelps total medals
- 22 Olympic medals (all-time record)
- Olympic Park area
- 200 hectares, built in Stratford, East London
- London's Olympic hosting count
- Third time (1908, 1948, 2012)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
London won the right to host the 2012 Games at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore on 6 July 2005, beating bids from Moscow, New York City, Madrid, and Paris. The successful bid was led by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and Mayor Ken Livingstone, with a plan centring on urban regeneration in Stratford, East London.
The Games of the XXX Olympiad ran from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, with some events held at venues across the United Kingdom. A 200-hectare Olympic Park was constructed on a former industrial site. The opening ceremony was directed by Danny Boyle and received widespread acclaim. Women's boxing debuted, making these the first Games at which every sport featured female competitors.
The United States topped the medal table with 105 medals, while Great Britain finished third with 65. Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with 22 medals. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Brunei fielded female athletes for the first time. The Games concluded the IOC presidency of Jacques Rogge, who was succeeded by Thomas Bach in 2013.
Result
at Olympic Park, Stratford, London