THE OLIMPICS AND POLITICS

KEY WORDS Withdraw: se retiran Sue: demandar a. Revenge: vengarse Allies: aliados “Tit-for-Tat”: toma y daca

THE OLIMPICS IN 1936 Olympics officials cancelles the berlin olympics of 1916, because the world war I, but they choose Berlin again to host the game in As the Nazi regime gained power in Germany, the nationalsocialist party tried to convince the world that it was not racist and fascist.

At an Olimpic committee meeting in 1933, the nazis promised not to discriminate Jewish or Black athletes, Jeremiah Titus Mahoney ( the president of amateur athletics union) Believed that the USA in Berlin would support a racist regime. In 1935, he tried to get the USA to boycott the berlin olympics and there was a vote : 58 wanted to compete and 55 wanted to boycott.

The National Socialist Party in Germany tried to make the Olympics very special. But Adolf Hitler made it clear that, in his opinion, German athletes were going to dominate the Game with victories. On the first day, Hitler shook hands only with the German winners and then left the stadium, officials insisted Hitler shook handswith everymedallist, or none at all. The German chancellor chose the second option. Jesse Ownens outstanding triumphs embarrassed the regime and humiliated Hitler personally.

THE BOYCOTT IN 1980, MOSCOW The largest boycott in Olympics took place at the Moscow Games in More than 60 nations decided not to compete in Moscow because the soviet invasion.

American president announced: “If Soviet troops do not withdraw from Afghanistan by midnight on 19 th February 1980, the American team will boycott the Olympic. “Japan, West Germany, China and Canada joined the boycott, while Great Britain, France and many other countries sent fewer athletes than usual. Only 81 countries participated in the Moscow Games and this affected a number of events. There were more world records in Moscow than in the Olympic Games of 1976 in Montreal.

“TIT-FOR-TAT” BOYCOTT (1984) Four years later, it was America's turn to host the Olympics in Los Angeles. It was the Soviets' turn for revenge and they boycotted these Games, along with 14 of their Eastern Block allies. They said they were worried about the safety of their athletes in an anti-communist environment. Most people saw it as a reaction to the Moscow Olympic boycott. Iran and Libya also didn't participate due to tension with the United States. 140 countries participated. China returned to the Games after of 32 years. The US star was athlete Carl Lewis. He won four gold medals (in the same four events as Jesse Owens in 1936).

CONCLUSION The theme have a relationship with the politics On some olympics games (as you have seen In the others diapositives)

BIBLIOGRAPHY “Going for gold” Burlington Activity reader. Wikipedia