Summer road trip stories: The Olympic trivia games

January 13, 2011, 9:33 PM · Winter weather getting you down? Warm up with thoughts of summer as we recount a family summer road trip.

On our road trip this summer, we visited the latest two cities in North America to host the Olympic Games - Salt Lake City and Vancouver.

And there am I (with my back to the camera) next to Vancouver's Olympic Torch, with my kids - several months too late to see any action.

Vancouver Olympic torch

I don't know if your family does this, but one of my tricks to pass time in the car between cities is to challenge everyone to trivia questions about our various destinations. After noting that we'd just visited two Winter Olympic cities, I told them that over the past two summer we'd also driven through the three U.S. cities which had hosted a Summer Olympics.

But what were they?

My wife answered Atlanta almost immediately.

After a couple moments and a forehead slap or two, they figured out Los Angeles (where we live, duh).

But no one guessed the third city.

Can you? (The answer is in the comments.)

Replies (4)

January 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM · The third summer games of the modern Olympics were held in St. Louis in 1904, as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, otherwise known as the St. Louis World's Fair.

Please share your favorite trivia stumpers, in the comments.

January 14, 2011 at 7:57 AM · Does anyone even remember the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics? That counts!!!
January 14, 2011 at 6:10 PM · Nick, my wife and I went to Salt Lake 2002. She was chosen to carry the torch in the torch relay leading up to the Games (she carried it in Columbus, Ohio)and we were in Salt Lake City for the Opening Ceremonies and the first week of events. We saw men's speed skating, women's downhill, men's figure skating finals, and lots of stuff around Salt Lake City. We stayed with a host family who took to lots of places we wouldn't have known to see. It's a great city and it put on a great Winter Olympics!!
January 16, 2011 at 12:41 AM · The 1904 St. Louis "Olympic Games" are a fascinating part of Olympic history. From what I have read and heard, most athletes present at the 1904 games were not even aware they were participating in an Olympics! Another tidbit: the ice cream cone was a culinary creation which made its debut at the 1904 Expo.

I know Time-Life produced a book on the history of the modern Olympics and there's a treasure trove of info and history on the IOC website.

BTW Salt Lake City hosted the Olympic WINTER Games, as did Lake Placid NY (twice) and Squaw Valley, CA.

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