The Cold War Olympics, 1948- 1988

Chapter 15

Mechikoff & Estes, A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education, Fourth Edition © 2006, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

International Olympic Committee

During World War II (1937–1947) the Olympics did not take place.IOC presidents continued goal of promoting peace and friendship through international athleticsGlobal politics at issue after WWII

People criticized holding the Games

The 14th Olympiad: London, 1948

Press coverage minimal People preoccupied with events in Europe

3,738 athletes competed385 women

Americans dominated track and field, swimming, and diving

The 5th Winter Olympics: St. Moritz, 1948

669 athletes competed from 28 nations77 women athletes competed from 28 nationsScandinavian countries dominated

The 15th Olympiad, Helsinki, 1952

“Cold War of Sports” Russia and U.S.: battle to prove superiority through medals

China teams did not compete because of civil conflict4,407 athletes competed from 69 countries, 109 women

The 6th Winter Olympics: Oslo, 1952

Produced the best-run and best-attended Winter Olympics in historyAthletes from 30 nations competedNorwegians dominated

The 16th Olympiad: Melbourne, 1956

World’s wars and social problems Athletes from Eastern Bloc countries defected

Brundage was IOC Presidentallowed nations at war to compete

2,813 athletes from 67 nations 132 women

36 Olympic records, 11 world records

147 sporting events

The 17th Olympiad: Rome, 1960

DistractionsVietnam, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, Southeast Asia

The 9-mile “Olympic Road” constructed Festive atmosphere brought many athletes together

4,738 athletes from 83 nations competed

143 women

The 7th Winter Olympics: Squaw Valley, 1960

Walt Disney staged the ceremonial activities

8.9 million spent on preparations

665 athletes competed Spirit of Olympism rejuvenated

American ice hockey team defeated Soviets and Canadians

The 18th Olympiad: Tokyo, 1964

$2 billion spent on the Games4,000 athletes competed from 35 countriesAsian Games created by President Sukarno of Indonesia

caused controversy IOC declared Asian Games “null and void”

The 9th Winter Olympics: Innsbruck, 1964

Major problem: lack of snow!1,091 athletes competed, 200 womenSoviets dominated with 11 gold medals

The 19th Olympiad: Mexico City, 1968

Most controversial everSevere clashes between students and policeThreatened staging of the Olympics

6 days of rioting 150,000 students seeking “autonomy”

Athletes participated in political demonstrations during the Games

The 19th Olympiad: Mexico City, 1968

Games marked a radical departure from past Olympic politicsU.S. Olympians John Carlos and Tommie Smith staged a Black Power demonstration on the victory stand Black Power Conference: Olympic Project for Human Rights emerged

The 19th Olympiad: Mexico City, 1968

4,750 athletes from 112 nations competedAmerican Olympic contingent was the largest in attendanceU.S. fared well in swimming and divingAmericans continued to dominate men’s basketball

The 10th Winter Olympics: Grenoble, 1968

1,158 athletes competed from 37 countries211 women athletes from 37 countries competedGames were a disappointment for the AmericansRussians took home 13 medals

The 10th Olympiad: Munich, 1972

Cold War between East and West

Student activism declinedPolitical terrorism increased

Many countries in political turmoilEleven nations boycotted the Games

The 10th Olympiad: Munich, 1972

The Munich MassacreSep. 5: Arab terrorists kill 11 Israelis Israel & New York Times call end to Games

Memorial for slain Israelis Games resumed

Egypt, Kuwait, Syria: left Munich After Games: Israeli war planes attacked Arab guerrilla bases

The 10th Olympiad: Munich, 1972

7,123 athletes competed from 122 nations, 1,058 womenFrank Shorter of U.S. won the marathonAmerican swimmers dominatedFinn, Lasse Viren, won gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races

The 11th Winter Olympics: Sapporo, 1972Focus

Press and public focused on the question of amateurismAustrian skier Karl Schranz was disqualified for endorsing a ski manufacturer

Sapporo, 1972: Participation

35 nations competed with a total of 1,006 athletes206 women athletes competed7 new Olympic records were setAmericans performed poorly in Nordic eventsAmerican women took the gold in slalom and silver in downhillU.S. women collected a total of 7 medalsU.S. men won one medal, a silver in ice hockey

The XXIst Olympiad: Montreal, 1976Focus

Political character of the Games continued to manifest selfLord Killanin of Ireland replaced Brundage as president of the IOCGames in political turmoil because of international relationsEconomic considerations, social issues, and political defections

Montreal, 1976: Political Defections and Propaganda

Political Defections and PropagandaContinued tensions between the East and WestCanadians were accused of kidnapping defected Russian diverSoviets were the target of anti-Soviet literature and of demonstrations by Ukrainians Soviets captured the unofficial title, East Germany came second, U.S. third

Montreal, 1976: NotablesOver $1 billion spent on the Games6,026 athletes from 88 nations competed

1,247 women athletes competed

Nadia Comaneci, Romania: 7 perfect 10s, 5 medalsAmerican men swimmers dominated the eventU.S. boxing team won 5 gold medals with the help of Sugar Ray Leonard American men dominated in basketball

The XXIInd Olympiad: Moscow, 1980

Political ImpactGreat animosity between the U.S. and the Soviet UnionU.S. led boycott of Olympics for the first time in historyClash between Olympic teams and political agenda of their respective governmentsU.S. and 31 other nations boycotted the Moscow Games

Moscow, 1980: Notables

5,217 athletes from 81 nations competed

1,123 women athletes competed

Entire Olympic team was honored by Congress in Washington

political reasons

The XIIIth Winter Olympics: Lake Placid, 1980

Russians competed East Germans: twenty-three medals Soviets: twenty-two medalsUnited States: twelve medals“Miracle on Ice”—stunning upset of the Soviet ice hockey team

The XXIIIrd Olympiad: Los Angeles, 1984LAOOC: first corporate Olympiad in historyFirst time Games generated “surplus,” $200 MLAOOC was allowed to sell corporate sponsorships and to negotiate television contractsHistorically IOC had all money rightsIOC agreed to the demands of the LAOOC

Commercialization of the Games

Los Angeles, 1984Political atmosphere

Russians angry because of American boycott of 1980LAOOC officials: numerous trips to Moscow Propaganda war between U.S. and U.S.S.R. 8 weeks before the Games, the Soviet Union cited “security concerns” as a reason to withdraw its team from the Games

Payback for the U.S. boycott in 1980

Los Angeles, 1984: Notables

6,797 athletes competed from 140 nations1,568 women athletes competedU.S. athletes dominated the gamesU.S. men’s volleyball won its first gold medalU.S. basketball teams won goldCarl Lewis: star of the games

4 gold medals in track and field

U.S. team won the unofficial team title

The XVth Winter Olympics: Calagary, 1988

Cost was staggeringGovernment allocated funds for several projectsAtmosphere

hospitality was extraordinary

ABC paid $309 million for television rightsAmerican team did not perform well

Calagary, 1988: Notables

First time athletes entered “atypical events” Jamaican bobsled team was talk of Games U.S. won 6 medalsSoviets and the East Germans dominated the Games