a definitive ranking of all summer olympics since 1984

I disagree with most of it, but we both agree that Beijing would be 1.

I disagree with your last place. I think Rio was better than Atlanta and Athens in most aspects you describe.

It depends also if you consider each of your criteria equally. From a historical / legacy perspective, I guess Barcelona 1992 is widely considered as the best Olympics ever.

Seoul is also too low in your list. Don't forget it was the first Games following the boycotts of 1980 and 1984. The 70s were not easy as well with the terrorism in Munich 1972 and bankruptcy in Montreal 1976. So Seoul brought the movement back in a sense and paved the way to Barcelona.

I was in doubt if I would rank Atlanta or Athens last. Both did not excel from a performance perspective and were really disasters operationally speaking. I think the legacy of Atlanta was probably better (it is the only of the 9 cities I haven't been to) but then you had a bomb exploding in the Village. Well, I guess overall Atlanta was the worst of the pack.

Well, here is my list.

1. Beijing 2008

2. Barcelona 1992

3. Los Angeles 1984

4. Seoul 1988

5. Sydney 2000

6. London 2012

7. Rio 2016

8. Athens 2004

9. Atlanta 1996

olympic insider wrote:

1. Beijing 2008

2. Barcelona 1992

3. Los Angeles 1984

4. Seoul 1988

5. Sydney 2000

6. London 2012

7. Rio 2016

8. Athens 2004

9. Atlanta 1996

The only issue I have with this one is Rio above Athens. Why do you think Athens was worse, or why Rio was better?

As long as NBC and Costas are covering them, they are all equally terrible

every time there's another Olympics, it's worse than the last

so it's like that office space quote:

Peter Gibbons:

So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.

Dr. Swanson:

What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?

Peter Gibbons:

Yeah.

hombre3000 wrote:

olympic insider wrote:

1. Beijing 2008

2. Barcelona 1992

3. Los Angeles 1984

4. Seoul 1988

5. Sydney 2000

6. London 2012

7. Rio 2016

8. Athens 2004

9. Atlanta 1996

The only issue I have with this one is Rio above Athens. Why do you think Athens was worse, or why Rio was better?

1) Hype / Interest.

I would argue that hype / interest was higher for Athens than it was for Rio. Rio had so many issues, with Zika, the Guanabara bay, and others. Both Games were similar in many aspects but the expectations (and therefore disappointment) was higher in Athens. Interest, I don't know. Probably audience was higher in Rio.

2) Athletic performances

Rio was better I believe. I don't have numbers to share but there were some really big stories in Rio. Phelps coming back, Bolt tripling, Mo Farah doubling, Simone Biles, Kate Ledecky. Yes Athens also had a young Phelps winning golds but my feeling is Rio was better. In the sports that matter the most in Olympics, at least.

3) Athletic personalities

Not sure what you mean here. Athletics personalities are always arguably "the best" at their respective times, hard to compare. But if we take the Athletes mentioned in 2, I guess Rio also wins. Rio had Usain Bolt, that has to make a big difference in terms of personality (yes Bolt was also in Athens but he was a nobody)

4) Architecture / facilities

Probably similar in terms of venue infrastructure. Rio scenery is more beautiful so if we count that, IMO Rio also wins this criteria.

5) Non-athletic events (opening/closing ceremonies, medal ceremonies, media events, etc)

I honestly dont remember much of the Opening or Closing ceremony in Athens. Rio ceremonies were not as great as the ones in London or Beijing, but they've done a solid job - i'd say at least on pair w/ Athens.

6) Crowds enthusiasm and attendance

If we take only Athletics, then yes Athens wins. If we take other sports... well I guess it depends what sports. Rio had some pretty passionate crowds in some sports, notably Soccer, Judo, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, it has certainly topped Athens (and probably all others OG) in these Sports.

7) Historical legacy

Both are bad, really bad. But i guess at least Rio was more recent. Athens is a pretty done (and bad) deal in terms of legacy.

1984 LA is too low. If you are including hype/legacy in there, it stands apart because the Soviet Bloc countries boycotted as retaliation to the US Boycotting the 1980 games. This epitomizes the cold war, p1ssing-match mentality of the world at the time.

Plus ... first women's marathon ever won by the GOAT Joannie. Carl Lewis made his olympic debut.

Mary Lou Retton - first women outside of Soviet Bloc to win the gymnastics all-around.

Michael Jordan won a gold medal before starting his rookie NBA season.

Last but not least, John Williams composed the Olympic Fanfare that we all know and love for the 1984 games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWdOFgDQIn0

hombre3000 wrote:

1. Beijing 2008 - Bolt

2. London 2012 - Rudisha

3. Barcelona 1992 - Dan & Dave

4. Sydney 2000 - Ngeny over El G

5. Los Angeles 1984 - Carl Lewis

6. Athens 2004 - El G double gold

7. Seoul 1988 - Ben Johnson

7. Atlanta 1996 - Michael Johnson

8. Rio 2016 - Centro & Van W

Agree or disagree?

I'm going to say the first thing that comes to mind for each of these. Associations above.

For me Barcelona 1992 is definitely last. Atlanta 1996 might be first for me but maybe it's because I was in my formative years as a high school track geek. MJ's 19.32 stands out to me as my favorite Olympic moment.

evenflow wrote:

hombre3000 wrote:

1. Beijing 2008 - Bolt

2. London 2012 - Rudisha

3. Barcelona 1992 - Dan & Dave

4. Sydney 2000 - Ngeny over El G

5. Los Angeles 1984 - Carl Lewis

6. Athens 2004 - El G double gold

7. Seoul 1988 - Ben Johnson

7. Atlanta 1996 - Michael Johnson

8. Rio 2016 - Centro & Van W

Agree or disagree?

I'm going to say the first thing that comes to mind for each of these. Associations above.

For me Barcelona 1992 is definitely last. Atlanta 1996 might be first for me but maybe it's because I was in my formative years as a high school track geek. MJ's 19.32 stands out to me as my favorite Olympic moment.

Does anyone remember Dave and Dan? What I remember most about Barcelona is the Dream Team. And in 1983 what I remember most was Coe and Slaney/Budd. In London I would add the 10K with Mo and Galen. The rest I pretty much agree with.