The Games of the XVIII Olympiad were held in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Detroit, Vienna and Brussels also made a bid for these Games. Tokyo had already been awarded with the organisation of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honour had been passed to Helsinki because of Japan's involvement in China. The 1940 Olympics were eventually cancelled because of the outbreak of World War II.
Judo and volleyball, both popular sports in Japan, were introduced to the Olympics. Japan won three of the titles in judo, but DutchmanAnton Geesink won the Open category. The Japanese women's volleyball team won the gold medal, with the final being broadcasted live.
Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser won the 100 m freestyle event for the third time in a row, a feat matched by Vyacheslav Ivanov in rowing's skiff event.
Don Schollander (USA) won four gold medals in swimming.
