The 1988 Summer Olympics were held in Seoul, South Korea from September 17 to October 2, 1988. This was the first time that the Summer Olympics were held in South Korea, and the first time they were held in Asia since the 1964 games in Tokyo, Japan. The games featured 237 events in 27 sports and were attended by around 8,391 athletes from 159 nations, making it the largest number of countries participating in any Olympics at that time. The games were considered a major success for South Korea, as they showcased the country's rapid economic and social development in the years leading up to the Olympics.