Can you name the world's northernmost, and southernmost, cities ever to host Olympic Games (summer or winter)?

The world of Olympic Games has seen cities across the globe welcome athletes, but two stand out for their extreme geographical locations. The northernmost city ever to host an Olympic event is Lillehammer, Norway, which proudly staged the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994. Located at approximately 61 degrees North latitude, this picturesque Norwegian town offered a stunning backdrop for the winter sports. The Lillehammer Games were notable not only for their high quality but also for their pioneering focus on environmental conservation, earning them the nickname "the first green Games." Uniquely, these Winter Olympics occurred just two years after the previous edition, marking a shift in the Olympic calendar to alternate between Summer and Winter Games every two years.

Venturing to the opposite end of the globe, the southernmost city to host the Olympic Games is Melbourne, Australia. The vibrant capital of Victoria welcomed the world for the Games of the XVI Olympiad in 1956, making history as the first Olympic Games ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. Situated around 37 degrees South latitude, Melbourne's position necessitated a departure from the traditional summer scheduling, with the Games taking place from late November to early December to coincide with the Australian summer. A fascinating quirk of these Games was that the equestrian events had to be held separately in Stockholm, Sweden, several months earlier due to Australia's strict quarantine regulations for horses. The Melbourne Games also introduced a beloved tradition to the closing ceremony: all athletes marching together as one, a gesture of unity suggested by an Australian schoolboy.

These two cities, Lillehammer and Melbourne, represent the remarkable global reach of the Olympic movement, demonstrating the diverse environments and unique challenges overcome to bring the spirit of competition and international camaraderie to vastly different corners of the Earth. From the snowy peaks of Norway to the sun-drenched stadiums of Australia, the Olympics have truly spanned the latitudes.