history

XXXI 2016 Unknown. The Unknown Games. The Short List of cities will be announced in June 2008. The final selection will be made in Copenhagen on October 2, 2009. Stay tuned.

XXX 2012 London. The Challenge Games. London is neither Kansas nor Beijing. Technology will improve and be more accessible. While Beijing focused on control, London will focus on openness. The haughtiness of the IOC will be challenged as never before. Whether the IOC can handle fresh air is a matter of conjecture at this point. It will be interesting.

XXIX 2008 Beijing. The Managed Games. How much Openness? How much Control? Freedom of the Press? The outside world wonders. The Authoritarian rulers could care less. The obedient and fiercely loyal vassals of the Middle Kingdom have learned repetitiously since childhood, “It is US against them”. The IOC has known for years that unchecked, dictatorial and absolute rulers are exceedingly effective in insuring well run Games. And after all, the IOC believes, “Nothing else really matters.”

XXVIII 2004 Athens. The Media Censorship Games. For 7 years the IOC had sleepless nights worrying would Athens be ready. The Greeks kept their cool & in a flurry of last minute rush, the Show went on as Planned. NBC gave 24/7 coverage. Well, almost! European openness concerning frontal nudeness in art and antiquity was deemed too upsetting for conservative, puritanical, middle America. So pixelating replaced possible titillating and NBC was saved from FCC fines. Next it was Big Brother IOC’s turn at censorship. The IOC feared this new fangled technology would expose too much Olympic reality with its dirty laundry, corrupt judges, bribery and payoffs. So, no athletes, coaches or participants could make weblogs, videos or Internet photos. No personal perspectives, period. Big Brother is watching and only Big Brother knows what is best for the world. Disagree and Big Brother bans you for life. Alas, the true spirit of the Modern Olympics shines through.
Well, that was four years go. Now, in 2008, the infantile technology of 2004 is much more mature.
The 2008 Beijing Games may be very interesting and challenging for the IOC. Stay tuned. The real competition in the Beijing Summer Games may be over technology.

XXVII 2000 Sydney. The Smooth Sailing Games. Beautiful Sydney Harbor and the inherent Aussie ability of laughing at oneself set the tone for these large, relaxed, well-organized and colorful Games. Alas, the uptight Beijing Communist Party can never attempt to match or emulate the self depreciating humor and easy going manner of the Aussies.

XXVI 1996 Atlanta. The Incident Games. Georgia? Atlanta? “Where’s that?” the world asked. “We will show you Big Town, USA,” said the Atlanta Poobahs. Did they fail to mention this included Traffic Jams & Overt Commercialism? Oh, and as an extra, this being the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Ku Klux Klan and this being the South, one Southern, Right Wing Christian Fundamentalist Extremist decided to throw in a killer bomb. Of course, this was done in the name of Jesus. Alleluia! By the end of the Games, Atlanta had its wish and its reputation throughout the world was assured.

XXV 1992 Barcelona. The Come Together Games. The East Block had disintegrated and no one had anything important to boycott. South Africa was back in the world of nations. Finally, the world had come together as a team. Some say it was a Dream Team Olympics in more ways than one. And it all took place back home in Europe, just a few miles across the border (and 100 years) from where de Coubertin first began to formulate his plans for a worldwide sports event. Finally, he could rest in peace.

XXIV 1988 Seoul. The Coming Out Party Games. Korea following Japan’s lead 24 years earlier, took these Games as their coming out party as it pushed its products into the world market. The Games were now a commercial success. These Games saw another IOC Icon fall: the faux claim that all athletes are amateurs. Forty years of Communist Shamateurism had removed any vestige of dignity to the pompous, arrogant and boring claims of the IOC that the Games were pure. The doors were opened to all athletes no matter who paid for their lunch, dinner or whatever.

1984 East Block Friendship Games. The We Don’t Need Your Party Anyway Games. The Russkies said screw you IOC, we’ll do our own thing. They and their boycott running dogs had alternative Games concurrent to the LA Games. These Games bounced the events between nine dour locales (fun places: North Korea, Bulgaria, Mongolia, et al.). Some claim these Games, more than anything, caused the collapse of the East Block. Those who traveled about and visited the staid and stark capitals of their counterpart Red Is Beautiful countries asked themselves, “Is this what communism is all about?”, and silently thought maybe, its time for Red is Dead. Needless to say, this was the first and last Harrah of these Communist Games as the Walls were beginning to tumble down.

XXIII 1984 Los Angeles The Happy Face Games. As Olympic custom dictates, the host countries athletes march last in the opening ceremony’s Parade of Nations. Following custom, the athletes of the other countries marched solemnly around the stadium. Then a pause, and the Americans walked in – not somber and not serious. They came in smiling, waving their arms, blowing kisses and saying “Hi, mom!” The LA crowd broke into a roar and TV viewers across the nation cheered and laughed. It was an Instant Replay for days after, with everyone telephoning each other saying, “Did ya see that? Wasn't it Great?” In a brief moment the Summer Games had a new, Let’s Smile Happy Face tradition and 100 million TV viewers were eager to tune in for the next two weeks.
Also, the IOC, smarting from the financial drubbing of Montreal, had developed a new Let’s Make a Deal approach to profit making. Uncle Ronald and Coca-Cola led the charge of sponsors. Instantly, the cash poured in and the Olympic Games became a Cash Cow. The IOC officials hurried to the bank with their own Happy Face Smiles and the Russian led Revenge Boycott became an instant nonevent.

XXII 1980 Moscow The Big Boycott Games. Boycotts were by now de rigueur This was to be the biggest yet, with the US leading 60 plus nations to protest the USSR invasion of Afghanistan.

XXI 1976 Montreal The No Gold No Cash Games Even with more than two-dozen, mainly African countries boycotting the Games, the host country, for the first time in history, did not win a single Gold Medal. In addition, the Games were a total financial debacle to the host city. The White Elephant Olympic Stadium was not really finished until long after the Games ended. Would you believe the early 1990’s? (No jokes about French efficiency, please.)

XX 1972 Munich The Terrorist Games. Prior to the Games, the Russians threatened a massive East Block boycott, if the Americans did not remove their 50,000 post World War II troops from Hitler’s former stronghold. The German government wanted Munich to have its worked out a massive swap with the Americans that included returning the Palace of Justice in Nurnberg, which the yanks had been using as the US military PX troop store headquarters. This swap freed up many old military kasernes that were converted into athlete housing dormitories including the dorms attacked by militants who kidnapped and murdered Israeli athletes in their endeavors to prove to the world Palestine is ready to join the nations of the world. So much for Munich’s ill named “Happy Games”

XIX 1968 Mexico City The Revolutionarily High Games. The late 1960s were a time of student unrest throughout the world. Mexico chose to take care of its problem ten days before the Games in a way that would make any South American despot proud. Rat-a-tat-tat. The Tlatelco Massacre was born and several hundred young idealists were dead. With its standard assertion of being apolitical the IOC responded, “Let the Games begin.” When the Games did start, the high altitude of Mexico City benefited some athletes and impaired others.

XVIII 1964 Tokyo The First Asian Games (Sort of). Japan was eager to show the world it was a good guy, a good neighbor and a good friend; and that its World War II antics were history. Part of this was being a Good Host, which it was. The IOC would not allow any GANEFO athletes to take part so most socialist Asian nations were no shows.

1963 Jakarta The China Revenge Games New Emerging Forces Games (GANEFO). China had bullyboyed Indonesia into politicizing its 1962 Asian Games. This upset and offended the IOC. In exchange for Indonesia’s cooperation, China loan sharked this GANEFO Games as part of Mao’s dreams to create a new socialist world order with him as the Asian kingmaker. As it happened, this was the first and last Emerging Forces Games. North Korea and Cambodia had trials for the planned 1966 GANEFO Games but that was about the end of it. By 1966 Mao was enmeshed in his own Culture Revolution debacle. China was in a suicidal spin with no money or energy left for Mao’s delusions of Asian and world domination.

XVII 1960 Rome The Back to the Past Games. The Mt. Vesuvius eruption caused Rome to lose the 1908 Games. Finally, 52 years later, the Games would come. The populace was enthused and happy. Several of its ancient sports facilities were incorporated into the Games giving them the charm of antiquity that de Coubertin had dreamed of 52 years earlier.

XVI 1956 Melbourne The Boycotts Rising Game. Television was coming into its own bringing a new media to carry one’s message. With this, nations realized they had a new international stage to bring their point of view to the world. Two separate events (The Suez Canal War and the Russian invasion of Hungary) that occurred shortly before the opening of the Games, led to two separate groups of countries boycotting the Olympics. These would be the first of numerous future Olympic boycotts as countries realized their voices could be better heard.

XV 1952 Helsinki The Shamateurism Games. The Cold War was in full heat, when the IOC announced, “The Russians are coming!!!” The IOC failed to announce the Russians were bringing along an elitist athletic system that totally mocked the IOC’s hallucinations concerning amateurism in sports. Four years earlier, the Hungarians had blazed this trail. Now, the Russians turned Shamateurism into a Super Highway. The noble IOC leaders responded in true IOC fashion. They looked the other way and mumbled something to the effect,”This is their way.” With this, Shamateurism became a staple and integral ingredient of the current and future Olympic recipe. In case you are wondering, it will be healthy and strong in Beijing this summer.

XIV 1948 London The Tight Money Games. The War was over. Hurrah! Alas. Europe was in ruins. London had suffered many bombs. No one had the necessary cash. Should the Games be held? Yes. But, they could only succeed with a low-key approach. The male athletes could sleep at an army base and the women at a college. One more thing, the athletes had to bring their own lunch.

XIII 1944 London The No Go Games III. Again, the Games were cancelled due to the War.

XII 1940 Tokyo, Helsinki The No Go Games II Originally planned for Tokyo and then for Helsinki. World War II got in the way twice. Finally, the Games were cancelled.

XI 1936 Berlin The Nazi Black & White Games. Hitler pushed his Aryan Race Theory but it met resistance thanks to a couple of black Yanks. In these Games, the IOC floated its NPP theory and saw that it had wings. NPP = Non-Political Political.

X 1932 Los Angeles The Brother Can you Spare a Dime Games. The Good Times were over. A world wide depression had set in. There was fear no one would come to distant L. A. The official invites met a total Sound of Silence. No RSVP's. Finally, some began to say “Yes” with smaller teams. Next, ticket sales were going poorly. Then Hollywood stars stepped in to add pizzazz and things changed. Alas, despite economic woes and scaled down Games, the organizers claimed to have made a cool $1,000,000 profit.

IX 1928 Amsterdam The Flame Games. All was peaceful and prosperous. The world was a happy, beautiful place. As de Coubertin had stepped down fresh blood and fresh perspectives stepped up and opened doors. Many more women were allowed to compete; Coca Cola became the first sponsor; the term Summer Games was coined and, the Olympic Flame was lit for the first time. (See Symbols.)

VIII 1924 Paris The Chariots of Fire Games (See Marathon.) By now, the Games were 28 years old and rotating from city to city. Many glitches had been fixed; the Games were well recognized throughout the World; and, thanks to a Catholic priest, there was a permanent motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” This was to be de Coubertin’s Last Hurrah, so he returned the Games to his beloved Paris, with himself firmly in charge, and bid his final adieu as President of the IOC. (See Symbols)

VII 1920 Antwerp The You No Go Games. The War was over and the world at peace. Because Belgium had suffered so much during World War I, the IOC gave the Games to tiny Antwerp and in addition, the IOC also said: “We only want Good Guys. We’re not inviting you Bad Guys to come and play with us”. Thus, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria were not invited. (See Purity.) The Flag and Oath were also introduced. (See Symbols.)

VI 1916 Berlin. The No Go Games. Games cancelled on account of War. No Berlin. No Games. Just the Olympiad VI.

V 1912 Stockholm. The Dead Man Running Games. The 1912 marathon had the distinction of being the first to have one competitor die (in the Stockholm heat?) and another disappeared. (See Marathon). While the Games were the Best Yet, the IOC realized it needed to take greater control, due to the idiosyncrasies of each country. In this case Sweden refused to allow Boxing.
Also, in 1912, de Coubertin introduced the Modern Pentathlon; then the IOC bosses took away the Gold Medals from the two Americans who won the event.

IV 1908 London. The Eruption Games. Plans for the 1908 Rome Games came to a sizzling halt when Mt. Vesuvius did its thing on April 7, 1906, just weeks before the 1906 Greek Games started.
Hastily, London stepped forward and took the banner. They hosted one more elongated, six month Olympic Games. Several additional volcano eruptions occurred on the field. Most related to the opening day flag ceremony and the track events. The Brits had always had always had difficulty teaching proper behavior and manners to their upstart colonies in America and Ireland and letting them know who’s rules apply. These Games were no exception.

1906 Athens. The Let's Cut a Deal Games. Poor de Coubertin. He was dejected and on the ropes. His attempts to cooperate with others had turned his dream into a nightmare. The 1908 Games were scheduled for Rome. But, once again, they were to be a sideshow event to the Rome World Exhibition. In Addition, the Greeks were highly pissed. The Greeks believed they, and they alone, owned the Olympics and that Athens should be their permanent home of the Games. Greece had built (and tested in 1896) new stadiums and facilities and were planning an Olympics that was the Main Event show not a sideshow. The rest of the Olympic Committee went along with this. De Coubertin acquiesced, but again did not attend. This Olympic Games was a compact (10 day), well-run affair that garnered favorable international publicity that strengthened the Olympic image and helped carry the Games forward. Unfortunately, Athens won the battle, but lost the war. Due to economic woes and challenges related to planning Games in between the four year IOC cycle, the Greeks threw in the towel and did not see another Olympic Games on their home turf for 98 years. De Coubertin had his revenge by later having the IOC to reverse itself and have these Games stricken from and not recognized by the IOC Olympic record book. Also, as they were not part of the four-year IOC cycle they do not carry an Olympiad Roman Numeral title.

III 1904 St Louis The Kidnapped Games. The 1904 St Louis World’s Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition). De Coubertin had awarded the Olympic Games to Chicago, just 300 miles (480 km) away. Unlike Paris, the St. Louis Fair wanted the Games. Probably, to ensure their gala had no competition, the St. Louis Bosses let de Coubertin and Chicago know, “We get the Games or we upstage and humiliate you”. De Coubertin blinked first. He knew if the St Louis Bosses were not afraid to give the Chicago Mob an offer they couldn't refuse, he didn't have a chance in hell to save the Games. He agreed and everyone sang in chorus, "Meet me in St. Louis, Louis. Meet me at the Fair". Naturally, once St. Louis highjacked the Games, the Games again became a long running sideshow to the World's Fair. The opening ceremony was a nonevent. No Bigwigs, such as President Roosevelt, were invited. De Coubertin was not invited and didn't feel like coming anyway. Very few international athletes attended. To the Europeans, St. Louis was a far away and dangerous frontier town in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t worth the time or money to see. So the Games became a virtual all USA event. The Yanks claimed 85% of the medals.

II 1900 Paris. The Long, Long Side Show Games. The 1900 Paris World’s Fair. De Coubertin thought: “This is a Godsend. United my Olympic Games and this Fair will create the Greatest Show on Earth.” The Fair’s Big Cheese, Alfred Picard, though otherwise. He detested de Coubertin’s as silly games labeling them “useless and absurd”. He believed they would only sully his Super Show that introduced mankind to a new century. Alas, de Coubertin had some political clout, so Picard gave in, a little. He relegated the Games to being Back Lot nonevents. The Games ran 168 days, almost the length of he Fair. Even de Coubertin feared this degrading of his Games would bury them forever.

I 1896; Athens. The Revival, Prince Charming Games. It had been 1500 years, Greece was strapped for cash and was unsure it could handle the Games. Prince Constantine stepped in to woo and cajole potential donors and find creative ways to dig up enough Drachmas. He found backers and the Games went forward.

1870 & 1875 Athens The Greek Games. Greece attempted several times to turn their Athens Games into ongoing activities. Unfortunately, Zappas had died. With no strong individual to spearhead the events and Greece facing economic woes, these Games did not continue.

1866 London The All British Games William Penny Brookes, a British magistrate and doctor believed sports could play a contributory role in society. With the aid of others, by 1866, the small town games Brookes had started years earlier evolved into National Games that would be held regularly in London.

1856 Athens The Zappas Games. A Greek businessman, Evangelis Zappas who was dedicated to the cause of reviving the Ancient Olympic Games puts together a Greek Ottoman Games. Regrettably, difficult national economic circumstances retarded efforts to turn these Games into an ongoing event.