Spain ’92 / A Medal Year : The Political Games

It’s no news that the Olympic Games, revived in a burst of 19th-Century idealism, have spent much of the 20th Century dogged by politics and national self-interest. But it may come as a surprise that none other than U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the city of St. Louis are credited with injecting politics into the modern games for the first time, in 1904.

Since then, some Olympiads have been most notable for their athletic achievements; others for their political manipulation. But virtually all have featured some combination of the two.

The highlights:

1896, Athens

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, an idealistic French educator caught up in the Olympic myth, sees his dream of reviving the games after 1,500 years fulfilled.

1904, St. Louis

Although Chicago was originally selected by the International Olympic Committee for the games, St. Louis manages to get the decision changed with the backing of President Theodore Roosevelt. St Louis was already planning to host its Louisiana Purchase Exhibition world’s fair the same year.

1916, Berlin

The games are canceled for the first time in the modern era, because of World War I.

1936, Berlin

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler tries to turn the games into a propaganda vehicle for his Third Reich, but his racist regime is embarrassed when Afro-American Jesse Owens wins four gold medals. America becomes the headquarters of an unsuccessful, Jewish-led campaign to boycott the Olympiad--which will be the last for 12 years due to World War II.

1952, Helsinki

The Soviet Union enters the Olympics for the first time. Moscow and Washington immediately turn the occasion into a propaganda arena of the Cold War. Both teams claim victory, using different scoring methods.

1956, Melbourne

In the first Olympic boycott, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon stay home to protest Israeli-led takeover of the Suez Canal. Separately, Holland, Spain and Switzerland boycott the games to protest the Soviet invasion of Hungary. The Hungarian water-polo team gets a measure of revenge by beating the Russians 4-0 in one of the bloodiest Olympic contests ever.

1968, Mexico City

Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos give black-power salutes during the medal ceremonies of the 200-meter race. They are banned for life from all Olympic competition and ordered to leave the country.

1972, Munich

Palestinian terrorists break into the Olympic Village and take Israeli athletes hostage, massacring 11 team members before the tragedy ends.

1976, Montreal Twenty-eight African countries boycott the games over a violation of the sports ban against South Africa’s apartheid regime. Montreal chalks up a record Olympic deficit.

1980, Moscow

In the largest Olympic boycott ever, 61 countries respond to a call by U.S. President Jimmy Carter to stay home to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

1984, Los Angeles

This time, the Soviets lead a boycott of 14 nations. But the Games nevertheless earn a record $222.7 million profit.