Olympics - political ideologies

Question 1

Berlin

Answer 1

• 1936
• Third Reich ideology
• Hitler used the Games to showcase the ideals of the Nazi Party
• show the power of Germany
• political propaganda for Third Reich
• show that Aryan race is superior
• Lutz Lang was superstar athlete = stereotype for Aryan race superiority
  = expected to win
• Jesse Owens (African-American athlete) won 100m gold medal
  = Hitler wouldn’t place medals on his neck or shake his hand

Question 2

Mexico City

Answer 2

• 1968
• opportunity for black athletes to protest the civil rights violations that were occurring in the USA at the time
• Tommie Smith + John Carlos raised ‘black power’ salute on the podium after winning gold + bronze in men’s 200m
• simple act symbolised their disenfranchisement within their own country
• sparked widespread support + highlighted their issues to the rest of the world
• glove/ raised hand = symbolise black power
• wore black socks = black povery
• black scarfs = lynching
• Peter Norman (Australian 2nd place) wore a human rights badge

Question 3

Munich

Answer 3

• 1972
• provided an opportunity for Palestinian terrorist group - ‘Black September’
  = wanted to put pressure on the Israeli government to release 234 Palestinian nationals who were imprisoned
• took 11 members of Israel’s Olympic team hostage
• failed rescue operation = resulted in the death of all 11 athletes

Question 4

Moscow

Answer 4

• 1980
• following the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan
• USA led boycott of Olympic Games in Moscow
• Jimmy Carter suggested boycott of the games if the Soviet troupes didn’t withdraw
• 66 countries declined to attend, protesting this

Question 5

Los Angeles

Answer 5

• 1984
• in response to the US-led boycott of the Moscow Games in 1980
• USSR led a boycott
• 14 countries joined USSR
• opposed the over-commercialisation of the OG
• believed that they would use the commercialisation to promote ‘anti-Soviet propoganda’
• ‘tit for tat’