Olympic History

Helsinki 1952 (Fifteenth Olympiad)

"Cold War of Sports" First Russian team since 1912 Russia and U.S.: battle to prove superiority through medals China teams did not compete because of civil conflict

Amsterdam 1928 (Ninth Olympiad)

2,724 athletes from 46 nations competed; 219 women athletes U.S. won 55 medals and Germany won 37 Johnny Weissmuller - swimming

Paris 1924 (Eighth Olympiad)

2,956 athletes from 44 nations; 136 women athletes Paavo Nurmi won five gold medals Fights in the stands Booing during national anthems Friction between British and American teams caused distractions

Lake Placid 1932

252 athletes competed from 17 nations First Winter Olympics held in U.S. 3rd Winter Olympics

Paris 1900 (Second Olympiad)

Governing body of French sport did not cooperate with IOC Official and unofficial Olympic events caused controversy 1319 athletes from 22 NOCs participated Female athletes made their first Olympic appearance (tennis, croquet) Paris threw the world fair at the same time as the olympics making the olympics like a sideshow event

Tokyo 1964 (Eighteenth Olympiad)

$2 billion spent on the Games USA topped USSR in medal count Bob Hayes, Joe Frazier, Billy Mills "Running Brave" Bob Hayes won the 100 meters in the fastest time ever at that point. Only person to have ever won an Olympic gold and also have a super bowl ring. Billy Mills is the only American to have ever won the Gold at the 10,000 meters at the Olympics.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin

Dedicated his life to educational reform: Focused on improving French pedagogy and revitalize the youth of France Games were a means to this end International travels influenced his plan Athletic competition would be the catalyst Visited Dr. William Slone at Princeton Was IOC President between 1896 and 1924 "The important thing in the games is not to win, but to take part"

Rome 1960 (Seventeenth Olympiad)

Distractions Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War East vs. West - USSR topped USA Disputes over judging Wilma Rudolf, Abebe Bikila, Cassius Clay Wilma Rudolf had polio when she was growing up Abebe Bikila won the marathon his first time, while running barefoot on cobblestone streets. Elementary school PE Calisthenics much more widely spread and required. Curriculum changed due to Cold War Athletics.

Chamonix 1924

Featured speed, figure skating, cross-country skiing, bobsledding, ice hockey 258 athletes from 16 nations competed; 13 women athletes 1st Winter Olympics Winter and Summer Olympics were in the same year, hosted by the same country, for most of the 20th century...

Antwerp 1920 (Seventh Olympiad)

Games initiated tradition of Olympic oath and five-ring Olympic flag Paavo Nurmi, distance runner from Finland, made Olympic history One of greatest distance runners of all time 1920 Olympiad - 27 women from 13 nations competed Olympic rings bringing together the 5 regions of the world. Each color in the rings is representative of at least 1 color from every country in the worlds flag...

London 1908 (Fourth Olympiad)

Games were held in conjunction with the Franco-British Exhibition 1,999 athletes from 22 NOCs participated 36 women from 4 countries competed Games became involved with political turmoil and nationalism British advocacy of the creed of fair play versus American attempts to devise their own, more favorable scoring systems United states did not include women in the games... They fought the inclusion of them in the games.

Stockholm 1912 (Fifth Olympiad)

Last Olympiad that Russia would compete in until 1952 Olympic trials to ensure the best American athletes compete Hosted 2,490 athletes from 28 nations 57 women athletes represented 11 nations Competitors included Jim Thorpe, Douglas McArthur, George Patton, Avery Brundage In 1913, Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 pentathlon and decathlon gold medals for playing one summer of semipro baseball

Mexico City 1968

Most controversial ever Severe clashes between students and police - 6 days of rioting by 150,000 students - 20 killed Threatened staging of the Olympics Harry Edwards encouraged black boycott Black Glove Salute Altitude affected performances Assassinations of Robert Kennedy, and MLK Jr. Bob Beamon sets the world record in the long jump at 29 feet 2 and ½ inches

World War II

No Olympics took place between 1937 and 1947

Feminine Sportive Internationalle (FSFI)

Organized First Women's Olympic Games 1922 Mme. Millait established Federation

Berlin 1936 (Eleventh Olympiad)

Politicians used Games for blatant political purposes Hitler tried to undermine ideal of Olympism Used games to send message of Nazi superiority America threatened boycott; wanted Nazis to allow other races to compete Torch run was initiated in the opening ceremonies 3,738 athletes competed from 49 nations; 328 women athletes American Jesse Owens was a superstar Next Olympic Games not until 1948 Coubertin died (1936)

London 1948 (Fourteenth Olympiad)

Press coverage minimal People preoccupied with events in Europe Americans dominated track and field, swimming, and diving Israel excluded because of threatened Arab boycott Bob mathias - 17 year old california school boy 3rd place in olympic trials in decathlon never done it before. Wins the olympics in decathlon at olympics. Wins again 4 years later. Graduates from college and becomes a politician.

Oslo 1952

Produced the best-run and best-attended Winter Olympics in history Athletes from 30 nations competed Norwegians dominated Dick Button - 2nd Gold Figure Skating 6th Winter Olympics

Melbourne 1956 (Sixteenth Olympiad)

Six nations boycotted World's wars and social problems Athletes from Eastern Bloc countries defected Soviets attacked Hungary Hungary defeated them in Water Polo as "the pool turned red" First Gold for Al Orter Al orter - one of the greatest olympians ever. Wins the olympics in discus as underrated. 4 years later gets injured right before the olympics and wins again... 4 years later goes in again not favored to win, wins. 4 years later he barely makes the olympic team, throws out of his mind, and wins his 4th straight Gold.

St. Louis 1904 (Third Olympiad)

St. Louis wanted the Games along with Louisiana Purchase Exposition Games were originally awarded to Chicago James Sullivan and Pres. Roosevelt moved them Coubertin refused to attend Games were primarily American event 681 athletes from 12 NOCs participated, including the first Africans to compete in the Games 6 American women competed in archery and won all events Europeans were not as willing to travel to the United States as they were from Spain to France... Made it a much smaller venue.

Los Angeles 1932 (Tenth Olympiad)

The most grandiose athletic festival in modern history 1281 athletes from 37 nations Olympic Village Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Didrikson - One of the greatest female US Olympians of all time Wins 3 golds during this Olympics One of the greatest female golfers of all time.

Athens 1896 (First Olympiad)

Track and field, gymnastics, target shooting, and fencing matches 311 male athletes from 13 National Olympic Committees (NOC's) William Sloane of Princeton University assembled and trained the American team American James Connolly won the first Olympic medal in triple jump Marathon win by a Greek significant because of historic run by Phidippides Original marathon was 22 miles Official marathon distance is 26 miles and 384 yards (distance from windsor castle to olympic stadium...)

Squaw Valley 1960

Walt Disney staged the ceremonial activities American ice hockey team defeated Soviets and Canadians 7th Winter Olympics