Football at the Summer Olympics

Football (soccer) has been included in every Summer Olympic Games except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's football was added to the official programme in 1996.

History

Football was not on the original modern Olympic Games programme, perhaps unsurprisingly, as international football was in its infancy in 1896. However an unofficial football tournament was organised during the first competition. Complete records have been lost but it seems that only two games may have been played. An Athens XI lost to a team representing Smyrna (Izmir), then part of the Ottoman Empire. Smyrna went on to be beaten 15-0 by a team from Denmark. Demonstration tournaments were played at the 1900 and 1904 games and the "Intercalated Games" of 1906, but these were contested by various clubs and scratch teams, and are not considered to be official Olympic events. In 1906 teams from Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Netherlands and France were withdrawn from an unofficial competition and left Denmark, Smyrna (one Armenian, two Frenchmen and eight Britons), Athens and Thessaloniki Music Club to compete. Denmark won the final against Athens 9-0.

British successes

In the London Games of 1908 a proper international tournament was organised by the Football Association, featuring just six teams, rising to 11 in 1912 (at which event the competition was organised by the Swedish Football Association. These early matches were fairly unbalanced, as witnessed by some large scores; two players, Sophus Nielsen in 1908 and Gottfried Fuchs in 1912, each scored ten goals in a match, a record that stood for over 90 years. All players were amateurs, in accordance with the Olympic spirit, which meant that some countries could not send their full international team. Great Britain got around this problem by sending the England national amateur team (some of whom played with professional clubs within England, most notably Derby County's Ivan Sharpe and Chelsea's Vivian Woodward), who managed to win the first two official tournaments convincingly, beating Denmark on both occasions.

The 1920s and the rise of the Uruguayans

The competition became increasingly important throughout the 1920s, although that decade witnessed a bad day in the history of the Olympic movement when, during the 1920 final, Czechoslovakia walked from the field of play, in order to raise awareness of their displeasure regarding the refereeing of John Lewis and the militarised mood within the stadium in Antwerp. In both the 1924 and 1928 editions of the competition, the Olympic movement was given an almighty filip with the entrance of Uruguay and Argentina. The first of those teams were successful in both competitions (these were the only competitions that they have ever participated in) and FIFA became conscious that the Olympic movement was not only hindering the ability of nations to participate on an equal footing but, given that the Olympics only permitted amateurs to participate, was not representing the true strength of the international game.

The Olympics after the First World Cup

With Henri Delauney's proposal, in 1929, to initiate a professional World Championship of football (hence the launch of the World Cup in Uruguay in 1930), FIFA did not want the Olympic tournament to overshadow their own showpiece event, so football was dropped from the 1932 Los Angeles Games (the official reason was that the game was not popular in the United States), and it returned at the 1936 Berlin Games. The German organisers were intent on the return of the game to the Olympic movement since it guaranteed vital income into the organisation's coffers. In any event, it proved to be a considerable success, more so since the German national side was defeated by Norway in a second round match that was attended by Adolf Hitler. As professionalism spread around the world, the gap in quality between the two tournaments widened. The countries that benefited most were the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe, where the top athletes were state sponsored while retaining their status as "amateurs". Between 1948 and 1980, 23 out of 27 Olympic medals were won by Eastern European countries, with only Sweden (gold), Denmark (silver) and Japan (bronze) breaking their dominance.

Changes and developments

For the 1984 Los Angeles Games, the IOC felt a change was necessary to bring interest back, and decided to admit professional players. FIFA still did not want the Olympics to rival the World Cup, so a compromise was struck that allowed teams from Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America, Central America and the Caribbean to field their strongest professional sides, while only allowing UEFA and CONMEBOL teams to pick players who had not previously played in a World Cup. Many teams therefore fielded very young teams, including France, who won the 1984 Olympic title in between two semi-final appearances at World Cups.

The idea of youth teams found favour at both FIFA and the IOC, and since 1992 players must be under 23 years of age, with three over-23 players allowed per squad. The tournament is now effectively an "Under-23 World Cup", complementing FIFA's own tournaments at Under-20 and Under-17 levels. The new format allows teams from around the world to compete equally, and African and Asian countries have taken particular advantage of this, with Nigeria and Cameroon winning in 1996 and 2000 respectively.

Because of the unusual format, several of the historically strongest footballing countries have unimpressive Olympic records. The Netherlands won bronze in the first three tournaments, but has not reached the finals since 1952. Uruguay won the tournament in their first two attempts, in 1924 and 1928, but those are their only appearances. Argentina won silver twice before the 2004 Athens Games, but its appearance in Athens, in which it won the gold medal, was only their fifth overall. Brazil's two silver medals in the 1980s is the best they have achieved, and the men's team failed to qualify in 1992 and 2004. Hungary won three gold medals, in 1952, 1964 and 1968, but has not returned to the finals since 1996.

British non-involvement

Great Britain's performances declined after 1912, and its last appearance at the finals was in 1960, even if they participated in the qualifying competitions for the following tournaments. After 1974, when the Football Association abolished the distinction between "amateur" and "professional" football, Great Britain no longer entered the qualifying competition, and this continued after the change of format in 1984. The main obstacle these days to their participation is political, since the four UK nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - have separate international identities within FIFA, which includes a guaranteed position as Vice-Presidency on the FIFA Management Committee and have a 50% presence on the International Football Association Board (which sits annually to debate changes within the Laws of Association Football), but compete together as Great Britain in the Olympics. Producing a single team for the Olympics may lead to calls for the UK's special four-team status to be abolished altogether. Now London has been selected as the host for the 2012 Games there will be considerable pressure for the UK to field men's and women's teams for those games, an idea the Scottish Football Association have already distanced themselves from. One suggestion to resolve this is for the four nations to play a tournament with the winning team going on to represent the UK in the Olympics. [1]

Venues

Due to the great number of large stadia required for the Olympic tournament, venues in distant cities - often more than 200 km (120 miles) away from the main host city - are typically used for the football tournament, especially in the early rounds. In an extreme example, two early-round venues for the 1984 Games were on the U.S. East Coast, well over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the host city of Los Angeles. The next Games held in the United States, the 1996 Games, were unique in that no matches were held in the host city of Atlanta; the nearest venue and the site of all finals was about 65 miles (105 km) away on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.

Here is a list of all the venues used in the Olympic football tournaments

Edition of the Olympic Games	City	Stadium
Athens 1896	No football tournament
Paris 1900	Paris	Vélodrome de Vincennes
Saint Louis 1904	Saint Louis, Missouri	Francis Field
London 1908	London	White City Stadium
Stockholm 1912	Stockholm	Stockholms Olympiastadion
		Råsunda Stadium
		Tranenberg Stadium
Antwerp 1920	Antwerp	Olympisch Stadion
		Royal Antwerp Football Club Stadium
	Brussels	Stade de l’Union St. Gilloise
	Ghent	Stade d’A.A. La Gantoise
Paris 1924	Paris	Stade Olympique, Colombes
		Stade Bergeyre
		Stade de Paris, Saint-Ouen
		Stade Pershing, Vincennes
Amsterdam 1928	Amsterdam	Olympisch Stadion
	Rotterdam	Het Kasteel
		De Kuip
	Arnhem	Monnikenhuize
Los Angeles 1932	No football tournament
Berlin 1936	Berlin	Olympiastadion
		Poststadion, Tiergarten
		Mommsenstadion, Charlottenburg
		Herta-BSC-Platz
London 1948	London	Empire Stadium, Wembley
		White Hart Lane, Tottenham
		Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace
		Craven Cottage, Fulham
		Griffin Park, Brentford
		Arsenal Stadium, Highbury
		Cricklefield Stadium, Ilford
		Green Pond Road Stadium, Walthamstow
		Champion Hill, Dulwich
	Brighton	Goldstone Ground
	Portsmouth	Fratton Park
Helsinki 1952	Helsinki	Olympiastadion
		Football Grounds
	Turku	Kupittaa Stadium
	Tampere	Ratina Stadion
	Lahti	Lahden Stadion
	Kotka	Kotka Stadion
Melbourne 1956	Melbourne	Melbourne Cricket Ground
		Football and Athletics Ground, Olympic Park
Rome 1960	Rome	Stadio Flaminio
	Florence	Stadio Comunale
	Grosseto	Stadio Comunale
	Livorno	Stadio Ardenza
	Pescara	Stadio Adriatico
	L'Aquila	Stadio Comunale
	Naples	Stadio Fuorigrotta
Tokyo 1964	Tokyo	National Olympic Stadium
		Prince Chichibu Memorial Field
		Komazawa Stadium
		Omiya Football Stadium
	Yokohama	Mitsuzawa Stadium
Mexico City 1968	Mexico City	Estadio Azteca
	Puebla	Estadio Cuauhtémoc
	Guadalajara	Estadio Jalisco
	León	Estadio León
Munich 1972	Munich	Olympiastadion
	Augsburg	Rosenaustadion
	Ingolstadt	ESV-Stadion
	Regensburg	Jahnstadion
	Nuremberg	Frankenstadion
	Passau	Drei Flüsse Stadion
Montreal 1976	Montreal	Stade Olympique
	Sherbrooke	Municipal Stadium
	Toronto	Varsity Stadium
	Ottawa	Lansdowne Stadium
Moscow 1980	Moscow	Lenin Stadium
		Dynamo Stadium
	Leningrad	Kirov Stadium
	Kiev	Republican Stadium
	Minsk	Dinamo Stadium
Los Angeles 1984	Pasadena, California	Rose Bowl
	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Harvard Stadium
	Annapolis, Maryland	Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
	Palo Alto, California	Stanford Stadium
Seoul 1988	Seoul	Jamsil Olympic Stadium
		Dongdaemun Stadium
	Daegu	Daegu Stadium
	Busan	Busan Stadium
	Gwangju	Gwangju Stadium
	Daejeon	Daejeon Stadium
Barcelona 1992	Barcelona	Camp Nou
		Estadio Sarriá
	Sabadell	Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta
	Zaragoza	Estadio La Romareda
	Valencia	Estadio Luis Casanova
Atlanta 1996	Athens, Georgia	Sanford Stadium
	Orlando, Florida	Citrus Bowl
	Birmingham, Alabama	Legion Field
	Miami, Florida	Miami Orange Bowl
	Washington, D.C.	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Sydney 2000	Sydney	Olympic Stadium
		Sydney Football Stadium
	Brisbane	Brisbane Cricket Ground
	Adelaide	Hindmarsh Stadium
	Canberra	Bruce Stadium
	Melbourne	Melbourne Cricket Ground
Athens 2004	Athens	Athens Olympic Stadium
		Karaiskaki Stadium
	Patras	Pampeloponnisiako Stadium
	Volos	Panthessaliko Stadium
	Thessaloniki	Kaftanzoglio Stadium
	Iraklion	Pankritio Stadium
Beijing 2008	Beijing	Beijing National Stadium
		Olympic Sports Center Stadium
		Workers' Stadium
	Tianjin	Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium
	Shanghai	Shanghai Stadium
	Qinhuangdao	Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium
	Shenyang	Wulihe Stadium
London 2012	London	Wembley Stadium
	Glasgow	Hampden Park
	Cardiff	Millennium Stadium
	Manchester	Old Trafford
	Newcastle upon Tyne	St James' Park
	Birmingham	Villa Park

Events

Event	96	00	04	08	12	20	24	28	32	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	Years
Men's competition		X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	24
Women's competition																							X	X	X	X	4

Participating nations

Men

(Note: Where applicable, numbers refer to the number of teams from each country, which used to be common in the early days of Olympic football tournaments)

Nation	00	04	08	12	20	24	28	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	Years
Afghanistan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Algeria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Argentina	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	6
Australia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	6
Austria	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Belgium	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Brazil	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	10
Bulgaria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Burma	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Cameroon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	2
Canada	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	3
Chile	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	4
China	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	3
Chinese Taipei	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Colombia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	4
Costa Rica	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	3
Cuba	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Czech Republic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	1
Czechoslovakia	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	5
Denmark	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	8
North Korea	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
East Germany	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Egypt	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	10
El Salvador	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Finland	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
France	Y	-	2	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	11
Germany	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	8
Ghana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	6
Great Britain	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9
Greece	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	3
Guatemala	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	3
Guinea	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Honduras	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	1
Hungary	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	9
India	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Indonesia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Iran	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Iraq	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	4
Ireland	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Israel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Italy	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	14
Japan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	7
South Korea	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Kuwait	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	3
Lithuania	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Luxembourg	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5
Malaysia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Mali	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	1
Mexico	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	7
Morocco	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	6
Netherlands	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7
Netherlands Antilles	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Nigeria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	5
Norway	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	5
Paraguay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	2
Peru	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Poland	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	7
Portugal	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	3
Qatar	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	2
Romania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Russia	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Saudi Arabia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	-	3
Serbia and Montenegro	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	1
Slovakia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	1
Spain	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	9
Sudan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Sweden	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	9
Switzerland	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Syria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Thailand	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Tunisia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	4
Turkey	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5
Uruguay	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
United States	-	2	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	13
Soviet Union	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	6
Venezuela	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Yugoslavia	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	10
Zambia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	-	2
Nations	3	2	5	11	14	22	17	16	18	25	11	16	14	16	16	13	16	16	16	16	16	16	16

Women

Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games.

Nation	96	00	04	08	Years
Argentina	–	–	–	Q	1
Australia	–	7	5	–	2
Brazil	4	4	2	–	3
China	2	5	9	Q	3
Denmark	8	–	–	–	1
Germany	5	3	3	–	3
Greece	–	–	10	–	1
Japan	7	–	7	Q	3
Mexico	–	–	8	–	1
Nigeria	–	8	6	–	2
North Korea	–	–	–	Q	1
Norway	3	1	–	–	2
Sweden	6	6	4	–	3
United States	1	2	1	–	3
Total	8	8	10	12

Men's tournament

The qualifying tournament, like that for the World Cup, is organised along continental lines. Most continental confederations organise a special Under-23 qualifying tournament, although the European qualifiers are drawn from the finalists of the UEFA Under-21 Championship. For the 2008 Beijing Games, the number of places allocated to each continent was:

• Europe - 4
• Asia - 4 (including hosts China)
• Africa - 3
• South America - 2
• North America - 2
• Oceania - 1

Women's tournament

The women's tournament is contested between full national sides, with no age restrictions. The teams are chosen from the best of the previous year's World Cup, with one spot reserved for the host country.

The first women's tournament was at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The US won the gold medal, and picked up silver in 2000 after an extra time defeat by Norway. The US team was involved in another extra-time final in 2004, this time defeating Brazil.

Qualifying for the 2004 tournament was much less organised, due to the lack of countries playing at a high enough standard. Allocation of places for each continent in the 2004 Games was:

• Europe - 3 (including hosts Greece)
• Africa - 1
• Asia - 2
• South America - 1
• North America - 2
• Oceania - 1

The 2008 tournament is expected to be a much tougher competition, because the level of women's international play has improved.

Medalists

Medal Table

1	Hungary (HUN)	3	1	1	5
2	Great Britain (GBR)	3	0	0	3
3	Soviet Union (URS)	2	0	3	5
4	Uruguay (URU)	2	0	0	2
5	Yugoslavia (YUG)	1	3	1	5
6	Argentina (ARG)	1	2	0	3
	Poland (POL)	1	2	0	3
	Spain (ESP)	1	2	0	3
9	East Germany (GDR)	1	1	2	4
10	Czechoslovakia (TCH)	1	1	0	2
	France (FRA)	1	1	0	2
12	Italy (ITA)	1	0	2	3
	Norway (NOR)	1	0	2	3
	Sweden (SWE)	1	0	2	3
15	Belgium (BEL)	1	0	1	2
16	Cameroon (CMR)	1	0	0	1
	Canada (CAN)	1	0	0	1
	Nigeria (NGR)	1	0	0	1
19	Brazil (BRA)	0	3	1	4
	Denmark (DEN)	0	3	1	4
21	United States (USA)	0	1	1	2
	Bulgaria (BUL)	0	1	1	2
23	Austria (AUT)	0	1	0	1
	China (CHN)	0	1	0	1
	Paraguay (PAR)	0	1	0	1
	Switzerland (SUI)	0	1	0	1
27	Netherlands (NED)	0	0	3	3
28	Germany (GER)	0	0	2	2
29	Chile (CHI)	0	0	1	1
	Ghana (GHA)	0	0	1	1
	Japan (JPN)	0	0	1	1
	West Germany (FRG)	0	0	1	1

Men

Year	Host		Final				Third Place Match
			Gold Medal	Score	Silver Medal		Bronze Medal	Score	Fourth Place
1900 Details	Paris		Great Britain		France		Belgium
1904 Details	St. Louis		Canada		United States		United States
1908 Details	London		Great Britain	2 - 0	Denmark		Netherlands	2 - 0	Sweden
1912 Details	Stockholm		Great Britain	4 - 2	Denmark		Netherlands	9 - 0	Finland
1920 Details	Antwerp		Belgium		Spain		Netherlands		Italy
1924 Details	Paris		Uruguay	3 - 0	Switzerland		Sweden	1 - 1 aet	Netherlands
							Match replay: 3 - 1
1928 Details	Amsterdam		Uruguay	1 - 1 aet	Argentina		Italy	11 - 3	Egypt
			Match replay: 2 - 1
1932	Los Angeles		No football tournament				No football tournament
1936 Details	Berlin		Italy	2 - 1 aet	Austria		Norway	3 - 2	Poland
1948 Details	London		Sweden	3 - 1	Yugoslavia		Denmark	5 - 3	Great Britain
1952 Details	Helsinki		Hungary	2 - 0	Yugoslavia		Sweden	2 - 0	West Germany
1956 Details	Melbourne		Soviet Union	1 - 0	Yugoslavia		Bulgaria	3 - 0	India
1960 Details	Rome		Yugoslavia	3 - 1	Denmark		Hungary	2 - 1	Italy
1964 Details	Tokyo		Hungary	2 - 1	Czechoslovakia		East Germany	3 - 1	United Arab Republic
1968 Details	Mexico City		Hungary	4 - 1	Bulgaria		Japan	2 - 0	Mexico
1972 Details	Munich		Poland	2 - 1	Hungary		Soviet Union East Germany	2 - 2 aet
1976 Details	Montreal		East Germany	3 - 1	Poland		Soviet Union	2 - 0	Brazil
1980 Details	Moscow		Czechoslovakia	1 - 0	East Germany		Soviet Union	2 - 0	Yugoslavia
1984 Details	Los Angeles		France	2 - 0	Brazil		Yugoslavia	2 - 1	Italy
1988 Details	Seoul		Soviet Union	2 - 1 aet	Brazil		West Germany	3 - 0	Italy
1992 Details	Barcelona		Spain	3 - 2	Poland		Ghana	1 - 0	Australia
1996 Details	Atlanta		Nigeria	3 - 2	Argentina		Brazil	5 - 0	Portugal
2000 Details	Sydney		Cameroon	2 - 2 asdet	Spain		Chile	2 - 0	United States
			5 - 3 on penalty shootout
2004 Details	Athens		Argentina	1 - 0	Paraguay		Italy	1 - 0	Iraq
2008 Details	Beijing

• Key:
  • aet - after extra time
  • asdet - after sudden death extra time

Women

Year	Host		Final				Third Place Match
			Gold Medal	Score	Silver Medal		Bronze Medal	Score	Fourth Place
1996 Details	Atlanta		United States	2 - 1	China		Norway	2 - 0	Brazil
2000 Details	Sydney		Norway	3 - 2 asdet	United States		Germany	2 - 0	Brazil
2004 Details	Athens		United States	2 - 1 aet	Brazil		Germany	1 - 0	Sweden
2008 Details	Beijing

• Key:
  • aet - after extra time
  • asdet - after sudden death extra time