Should The Purpose Of The 1936 Olympics
It’s 1931, and Germany is in a massive post World War I depression. The unemployment rate is at 70% and millions of Germans are jobless. People have lost hope and faith in their country, and Germany in itself is starting to lose respect worldwide. A glimmer of hope came when Berlin was chosen as the host city for the 1936 summer Olympics. This was two years prior to the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor, and Germany was still under the rule of President Hindenburg. In an attempt to rejuvenate Germany, Hitler vowed that he would give every German citizen what they wanted. As Chancellor, Hitler promises the unsatisfied Germans an improved life and a marvelous Germany. Infuriation among Germans about WWI as well as the huge reparations
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To document the event, the German Olympic committee hired Leni Riefenstahl for $7 Million to create a film about the games, later titled Olympia. They hoped to use the Olympics to show off Aryan athletes and didn’t believe in promoting racial equality. The 1936 Olympics would come to be a significant event, not only in the history of athletics, but in political role that it would play in world history. On August 1st, 1936, the Berlin Olympics of 1936 had begun. With a total of 3,963 athletes competing from all over the world, Forty-nine athletic teams participated in the games, more teams than in any previous Olympics. These Olympics were the first to host the torch relay as well as the first to have it broadcasted on television. Some new sports, such as canoeing and field handball, as well as Basketball, now a popular olympic sport, had made its first olympic appearance in Berlin during the 1936 olympics. Team U.S.A. had a total of 312 athletes (none of which would accomplish nearly as much as Jesse Owens). …show more content…
This decision would turn out to be one of Hitler’s greatest mistakes during the games, as they both led team U.S.A. to winning gold in the 400 meter relay, setting a world record time of 39.8 seconds. During this time, Jesse Owens became friends with Luz Long, a German athlete, who attempted to help Jesse Owens by giving him tips, and was happy for him after his victory. Hitler showed a lack of sportsmanship in the games, as he (on the first day of competition), shook hands only with the German victors. As the Games proceeded, Jesse Owens set world records in four events: 200-yard low hurdles, the long jump, and the 100 and 220-yard dashes, all in a span of 45 minutes. Although many expected the people of Germany to be rooting for the German athletes, German fans supported Owens after he won gold. Adolf Hitler purposely had avoided acknowledging Owens' accomplishments. Partially due to the fact that Owens proved Hitler wrong, that the Aryan race was not superior, and got payback for the his Jewish teammates being revoked from team U.S.A. The Germans had defeated the U.S. (in terms of the overall medal count) with an 89-56 margin, keeping the Aryan Superiority complex still alive. Although Berlin won the most medals at the games, Jesse Owens proved to be the best athlete in the 1936 Olympics. The Germans intended the 1936 Olympic Games to be memorable for its athletes and
To document the event, the German Olympic committee hired Leni Riefenstahl for $7 Million to create a film about the games, later titled Olympia. They hoped to use the Olympics to show off Aryan athletes and didn’t believe in promoting racial equality. The 1936 Olympics would come to be a significant event, not only in the history of athletics, but in political role that it would play in world history. On August 1st, 1936, the Berlin Olympics of 1936 had begun. With a total of 3,963 athletes competing from all over the world, Forty-nine athletic teams participated in the games, more teams than in any previous Olympics. These Olympics were the first to host the torch relay as well as the first to have it broadcasted on television. Some new sports, such as canoeing and field handball, as well as Basketball, now a popular olympic sport, had made its first olympic appearance in Berlin during the 1936 olympics. Team U.S.A. had a total of 312 athletes (none of which would accomplish nearly as much as Jesse Owens). …show more content…
This decision would turn out to be one of Hitler’s greatest mistakes during the games, as they both led team U.S.A. to winning gold in the 400 meter relay, setting a world record time of 39.8 seconds. During this time, Jesse Owens became friends with Luz Long, a German athlete, who attempted to help Jesse Owens by giving him tips, and was happy for him after his victory. Hitler showed a lack of sportsmanship in the games, as he (on the first day of competition), shook hands only with the German victors. As the Games proceeded, Jesse Owens set world records in four events: 200-yard low hurdles, the long jump, and the 100 and 220-yard dashes, all in a span of 45 minutes. Although many expected the people of Germany to be rooting for the German athletes, German fans supported Owens after he won gold. Adolf Hitler purposely had avoided acknowledging Owens' accomplishments. Partially due to the fact that Owens proved Hitler wrong, that the Aryan race was not superior, and got payback for the his Jewish teammates being revoked from team U.S.A. The Germans had defeated the U.S. (in terms of the overall medal count) with an 89-56 margin, keeping the Aryan Superiority complex still alive. Although Berlin won the most medals at the games, Jesse Owens proved to be the best athlete in the 1936 Olympics. The Germans intended the 1936 Olympic Games to be memorable for its athletes and