1859    The first modern revival of the Olympic Games takes place in Athens, Greece.

1906    The 1906 Summer Olympics, not now recognized as part of the official Olympic Games, open in Athens.

1948    Olympic Games: 948 Summer Olympics|The Games of the XIV Olympiad

1960    The boxer Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) is awarded the gold medal for his first place in the light heavyweight boxing competition at the Olympic Games in Rome.

1964    South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies.

1972    Mark Spitz becomes the first competitor to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games.

1972    Munich Massacre: 9 Israel athletes taken hostage at the Munich Olympic Games by the Palestinian "Black September" terrorist group died (as did a German policeman) at the hands of the kidnappers during a failed rescue attempt. 2 other Israeli athletes are slain in the initial attack the previous day.

1976    Nadia Comăneci became the first person in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 in gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

1991    South Africa is readmitted into the Olympic movement after 30 years of exclusion.