The 2016 Summer Olympic Games were hosted in which of the following cities?

Introduction / Context:
The modern Olympic Games are major international sporting events held every four years, with the Summer Olympics rotating among different host cities worldwide. Knowing which city hosted a given edition is a standard part of sports general knowledge. This question specifically asks about the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The year in question is 2016.
- The event is the Summer Olympic Games, not the Winter Olympics.
- The options are London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.
- We assume familiarity with recent Olympic host cities and years.

Concept / Approach:
The 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London, and the 2020 Games were awarded to Tokyo. The 2016 Summer Games were given to a South American city for the first time in Olympic history. That city was Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Recognising this timeline and the historic nature of a South American host allows us to pick Rio de Janeiro from the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sequence of recent Summer Olympic host cities. Step 2: London hosted in 2012, and Tokyo hosted the 2020 edition. Step 3: Remember that 2016 marked the first time the Olympics were held in South America. Step 4: Identify Rio de Janeiro in Brazil as the 2016 host city. Step 5: Choose Rio de Janeiro from the given options as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Sports news, opening and closing ceremony coverage, and medal tables for 2016 all refer to Rio 2016. The official logo and branding carried the name Rio. London and Mexico City are historic Olympic hosts, but for different years. Paris has hosted in the past and is scheduled to host again in 2024, not 2016. These cross checks confirm that Rio de Janeiro is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
London: Hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, not the 2016 Games.
Paris: Is associated with earlier Games and the 2024 edition, but did not host in 2016.
Mexico City: Hosted the 1968 Olympics and is not the host city for 2016.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes memorise Olympic host cities but confuse the years, especially between London 2012 and Rio 2016. Another mistake is to pick Paris because it is frequently mentioned as a host but for a different year. Keeping a small mental list of recent host cities with their specific years helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games were hosted in Rio de Janeiro.