The Summer Olympics of 1936 (Indented) The Summer Olympics of 1936

Berlin Hosts the Olympics of 1936

In April of 1931, the International Olympic Committee, or the IOC, voted to award the 1936 summer games to Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler did not become Reich Chancellor of Germany until 1933. Once the Nazi party rose to power, Hitler saw this decision as a chance to show the world that Germany was a successful country. He also saw it as a chance to prove his government right.

Hitler ordered the construction of an enormous sports complex. He also built a new stadium and an Olympic village in which the athletes would stay while in Berlin. Posters that displayed negative images of Jews were removed. The city was decorated with flags displaying the German Swastika. Germany prepared to greet the athletes from the 49 participating nations.

There were several advances made during the eleventh modern Olympics. The Olympic Torch Relay was introduced during the 1936 Games. At the 1928 games, the Olympic flame had been reintroduced to the competition. Hitler, however, had the idea of creating a relay to bring the flame from Greece to Germany. One lone runner entered the stadium during the opening ceremony. He lit the flame in the cauldron that would burn throughout the games and become the symbol of the event. This practice continues today. Another innovation introduced during the games was live television broadcasting. 70 hours of images of the competition were sent to “viewing rooms” throughout the city. Filming practices used during the 1936 Games are still used today.

Germany did well during the games. They received 89 medals. The United States came in second with 56 medals. Italy came in third with 22. Many countries left the games believing that Germany was in good hands.

The Politics of the 1936 Summer Olympics

The International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Olympics to Germany in 1931. Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to control the country in 1933. Once rumors of anti-Semitic practices, practices that targeted the Jewish population of the country, and a focus on German superiority began, the IOC became concerned about holding the Games in Berlin. The members of the committee held private discussions about moving the Games from Berlin. In 1934, however, many countries accepted Germany’s invitation to attend the Olympics. The IOC withdrew their concerns.

There was debate, however, in several countries about boycotting the Games. Despite the acceptance of the invitation by the United States, many in the US believed that the Berlin Olympics should be boycotted. Other countries that discussed a boycott included Great Britain, France, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands. Finally, the decision was made for the U. S. to participate, and the African American athlete Jesse Owens was sent to represent the country in the track and field competitions.

During the Games, Jesse Owens earned international fame with his success. He won four gold medals during the competition. He won the 100-meter race, the 200-meter race, the long jump, and the 4 by 100-meter relay. Despite Hitler’s belief that the German race was superior, Owens proved to the world that African Americans were equal to any challenge.

Imagine that you are an athlete in the crowd viewing the arrival of the Olympic flame. What do you witness?

Write a narrative explaining your experience viewing the arrival of the Olympic flame.

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