Games of '36: 1936 Olympics in Germany by Stan Cohen

Table of Contents

The 1936 German Olympics took place at a very critical time in the 20th century and were unusual in many respects.

It was the first time that television was used to broadcast a sporting event.

The first torch run to light the Olympic flame was originated.

Perhaps the most important Olympic film ever produced covered the summer games.

It was the first real political Olympics threatened by several potential boycotts.

The first fully self-contained Olympic village was constructed.

It was the most elaborate Olympics staged up to that time and for several more afterwards.

The largest crowd to ever watch a baseball game (100,000) saw an exhibition match between two American teams.

Basketball was introduced to the Olympics.

Three American competitors were removed from the team for breaking training or for criminal activities.

Downhill skiing was introduced to the winter games.

A Polish female sprinter was later found out to be a male.

Two American sprinters were replaced on the relay team supposedly because they were Jewish.

The youngest American participant was a 13-year-old diver.

Germany, the host country, won the most medals, the last time a country other than the United States or the Soviet Union would do so.

Several athletes such as Jesse Owens and Sonja Henie would become household names throughout the world.

Many myths have grown up around the 1936 Olympics, including one that had Hitler snubbing Jesse Owens after his victory in the I00-meter dash.