How Many Games in Olympic 2021? Sports, Events and the Full Breakdown

how many games in Olympic 2021?

The Tokyo Olympics had 33 sports, 50 disciplines and 339 medal events. The Games ran from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

New to the Games? Start with what the Olympic Games are and how they work.

Quick Facts About the Tokyo Olympics

Here are the key numbers, based on official Olympic records:

• Sports: 33
• Disciplines: 50
• Medal events: 339
• Dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021 (17 days)
• Host city: Tokyo, Japan
• Athletes: About 11,400
• Teams: 205 National Olympic Committees plus the Refugee Olympic Team

Why Is It Called Tokyo 2020 If It Happened in 2021?

The Games were planned for summer 2020. COVID-19 forced a one-year delay. Organizers kept the name “Tokyo 2020” for marketing and records.

That is why you see both years online. The event itself took place in 2021.

Sports vs. Disciplines vs. Events: What Is the Difference?

Many people mix up these three terms. Here is an easy way to remember them:

• Sport: The main category, such as aquatics.
• Discipline: A branch of a sport, such as swimming or diving.
• Event: One contest that gives out medals, such as the men’s 100m freestyle.

So, how many games in Olympic 2021 is the right question? It depends on what you mean. If you mean sports, the answer is 33. If you mean medal contests, the answer is 339.

All 33 Sports and Their Medal Events

Here is the full list. The number in brackets shows the medal events in each sport:

• Aquatics (49): swimming, diving, artistic swimming, marathon swimming and water polo
• Archery (5)
• Athletics (48)
• Badminton (5)
• Baseball/Softball (2)
• Basketball (4): includes 3×3 basketball
• Boxing (13)
• Canoeing (16)
• Cycling (22)
• Equestrian (6)
• Fencing (12)
• Football (2)
• Golf (2)
• Gymnastics (18)
• Handball (2)
• Hockey (2)
• Judo (15)
• Karate (8)
• Modern pentathlon (2)
• Rowing (14)
• Rugby sevens (2)
• Sailing (10)
• Shooting (15)
• Skateboarding (4)
• Sport climbing (2)
• Surfing (2)
• Table tennis (5)
• Taekwondo (8)
• Tennis (5)
• Triathlon (3)
• Volleyball (4): includes beach volleyball
• Weightlifting (14)
• Wrestling (18)

Add them up and you get 339 medal events.

New Sports Added in Tokyo

Tokyo added fresh sports to attract younger fans. The new additions were:

• Karate
• Skateboarding
• Sport climbing
• Surfing
• Baseball and softball (they returned to the program)

Tokyo also added new events inside existing sports. Examples include 3×3 basketball and BMX freestyle. Several sports also added mixed-gender events.

How Does Tokyo Compare With Rio 2016?

Tokyo had five more sports than the Rio 2016 Games. Rio had 28 sports, while Tokyo had 33. Tokyo’s 339 events also made it the biggest Olympic program in history at that time.
Want to see the numbers for other years too? Read our guide on how many games are in the Olympics.

Top Medal Winners in Olympic 2021

Many readers also want to know who won the most. These were the top five countries by gold medals:

• United States: 39 gold (113 medals in total)
• China: 38 gold (88 medals in total)
• Japan: 27 gold (58 medals in total)
• Great Britain: 22 gold (65 medals in total)
• ROC (Russian Olympic Committee): 20 gold (71 medals in total)

India won seven medals: one gold, two silver and four bronze. Neeraj Chopra took the gold in the men’s javelin throw.

What About the Paralympics?

The Tokyo Paralympic Games followed the Olympics. They featured 22 sports and 539 medal events. Keep this separate from the Olympic count, since people often mix the two.

New to this event? Learn more about what the Paralympic Games are and how they work.

Why the Numbers Can Look Different Online

You may see small differences between websites. This happens for three reasons:

• Some sites count aquatics as one sport, while others count each discipline separately.
• Some sources list 50 disciplines, while others list 51.
• Athlete totals vary slightly by source. Most sources report between 11,300 and 11,700 athletes.

For the most reliable figures, check the official Tokyo 2020 page on Olympics or the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reports.

The Final Answer: 33 Sports and 339 Medal Events

To sum up, how many games in Olympic 2021? The answer is 33 sports and 339 medal events. Tokyo mixed classic sports with new, youth-focused ones. That made it one of the most varied Games ever.

Now you can share the right numbers with confidence. Use “33 sports” for a simple answer. Use “339 events” when you need the exact count.