Memories From The Modern Olympic Games

A look back at some of the most memorable events in the modern olympic games

1936 Berlin: Jesse Owens Triumphs Against Adversity

1972 Munich

1988 Seoul: Greg Louganis

1936 Berlin Olympics Jesse Owens Triumphs Against Adversity

The 1936 summer Olympic games were hosted in the German capital, Berlin which was at the time a country fraught with racial hatred and ignorance thanks to the chancellor of that time, Adolf Hitler. Hitler was promoting racist Propaganda and was attempting to brainwash the German public with his preaching of ‘Nazi’ ideals that there was ”Ayran racial superiority’ and that ethnic races such as black people were inferior.

In Germany though a young black athlete on the verge of greatness, Jesse Owens was treated more equally than he was in the United States as the segregation laws did not apply in Germany and Owens was allowed to ride public transport with white people and frequent the bars as well as other public facilities. James Cleveland Owens was a 22 year old African American who had been born and raised in Alabama in the Southern United States and he turned up at the Olympics that summer ready to dash Hitler’s hopes of German athletes dominating the competition in Berlin.

Owens went on to win four gold medals at the games including the 100 metre sprint, the 200 metre sprint, the Long Jump and the 100 metre relay. These medals were historic moments in black people’s ongoing fight for equality showing the power that Sport can have in the political battlefield. Hitler refused to acknowledge Owens triumphs which has been well documented for years, but ironically Owens himself said that he did not hold Hitler responsible for the lack of recognition his achievements received, but instead chose to blast his own president, United states leader Franklin Roosevelt for not even receiving a telegram of congratulations.

Owens would later thank the 110,000 fans in Berlin’s Olympic stadium who rallied behind the young athlete and cheered him on to victory winning medal after medal. It is believed that Hitler had said privately to his confidants that it was not fair that his white German athletes should compete against ‘Primitive’ African American athletes such as Owens because their stronger physiques which he said originated from the jungle gave them a distinct advantage. Hitler was also said to be disgusted that his own people in Berlin would cheer on this African American and felt betrayed by his own race.

The 1936 Summer Olympics is considered to be the most infamous of all Olympic games by many commentators due to the landmark moments produced by Jesse Owens, his athletic prowess brought the world together and triumphed over the evils of racism and we may never witness such a powerful sporting moment ever again. Chris Howe

Munich 1972

1972 saw arguably the most controversial Olympic games in history, the competition was held in Munich Germany and the games itself was overshadowed by what has now become known as the ‘Munich Massacre’ on September 5 a group of 8 palestinian Terrorists took 11 Israeli athletes hostage and all 11 were killed by the terrorists.

After this tragic event the Olympics has installed heightened security as the games have become a target for Terrorist groups ever since.

The Modern day Olympic games are held every four years and modern games have been held in all corners of the globe from Barcelona to Beijing, from Atlanta to Sydney and the next Summer games will take place in London, England in the summer of 2012

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1988 Seoul: Greg Louganis

Greg Louganis went into the summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea as the defending Diving champion, the American was regarded as the best diver in the world at that time as he was an Olympic gold medallist and World champion. Louganis got onto the diving board and attempted a 2 1/2 somersault reverse pike, but it went horribly wrong and he cracked his head off the diving board and splashed into the water. Louganis went for treatment on his head injury, but remarkably returned just 35 minutes later to complete his qualifying dives and immediately after the 27 year-old athlete went into hospital to get five stitches. Just days after the infamous incident, Louganis went on to defend his Olympic Springboard title successfully.

This Memorable Olympic moment was brought back into the public eye in the mid 1990′s when it was revealed that Louganis had been diagnosed as HIV positive at the time of his head injury in the 1988 games. The American said he was paralyzed by fear and concern for his doctor at the time Dr,Puffer who treated Louganis without wearing protective gloves. A blood test later revealed that Dr. Puffer had not contracted HIV much to the relief of the Olympian. Louganis is openly gay and is still going strong despite having lived with the HIV virus for 22 years, but despite all the controversy,Louganis should be remembered for being one of the greatest Olympic champions in the history of the games with four gold medals to his name.