The 2016 Summer Olympics, branded as Rio 2016, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5–21, marking the first Olympics held in South America. Over 11,000 athletes from 207 nations competed in 306 events, with the USA leading the medal table, Brazil achieving historic football gold, and new sports like rugby sevens and golf debuting. The Games featured a compact venue layout in four zones and celebrated Brazilian culture, despite facing challenges like Zika virus concerns and polluted waterways.

Key Highlights:
First in South America: The first time the Olympic Games were hosted on the South American continent.
Host Nation Success: Brazil won its first-ever Olympic gold in men’s football and achieved its highest medal count ever.
New Sports: Rugby sevens and golf were added to the Olympic program.
Refugee Olympic Team: The first-ever Refugee Olympic Team competed.
Environmental Focus: Introduced an Olympic Forest initiative and used a minimalist cauldron.