This paper examined the findings of previous research about criteria used by the IOC in its selection of host cities for the Olympic Games. The history of the modern Olympic Games is briefly reviewed to explain host city selection for the main international sporting event of the four years. It was found that most of the evaluated criteria are material (Olympic village, transportation system, sport facilities, financial resources, telecommunications, information technologies, and media center location and resources) and they are more likely to influence the decisions of the IOC than the non-material criteria (experience of sports events organization, political situation, diplomatic relations, public support for Olympic bid, opinions about holding Olympics, etc.). The results obtained on the basis of the case studies of Olympic host city selections for Olympic Games are consistent with research claiming the importance of material culture in host city selection for Olympics.