And because 14 nations boycotted the games, USA won the second most number of medals, 174. Only in 1904 did USA win more (231) and only 12 nations participated in the St. Louis games.
And McDonald’s lost MILLIONS of dollars on a promotion due to America winning way more gold medals than expected…as immortalized and parodied by The Simpsons…true story
I have been a huge fan of the Summer Games, but my enthusiasm waned some after the use of professional athletes. However, one of my favorite memories is the trip I made to the ‘84 Olympics. I was in my 30’s and could handle all the walking back then! I was a jogger and loved the track events. I began my hobby of pin collecting from that time on.
The velodrome was constructed at California State University Dominguez Hills, so after the Olympics were over, CSUDH continued to use it. The swimming pool was constructed at USC, so USC continued to use it.
Because the municples were mostly hands off on major decisions, especially construction, and acted as an assistance and referee to private sources. It's amazing how people forget that government is seldom efficient and competent. Government sucks at doing most things. Your grandparent's generation new this.
You also didn't have a City Council of easily-offended progressives who worry too much about offending others. We had a more balanced government back then, welcoming BOTH political ideologies at the table, and making the most logical decisions.
This is one of the great examples of how capitalism and a free market economy work. Nothing motivates people better than the opportunity to make a bit of money. We see it everywhere. One of the things I remember most about all of my myriad trips to our nation's capital, is the ubiquitous carts on the street selling souvenirs of DC and the USA. Small entrepreneurs using capitalism , it works.
L.A. was the perfect choice because very little had to be built, and the organizers viewed it as an entertainment spectacle, not just a series of athletic events. It also helped that the opening and closing ceremoney could be held in the stadium built for t6he 1932 Olympics. Businesses altered their hours to ease traffic issues, and L.A. knew how to put on a spectacle. Some events (equestrian) were held at Fairbanks Ranch in San Diego County, because the folks that lived there were really into equestrian stuff, so again minimal work needed.
If I remember, Equestrian was split between Fairbanks Ranch and Santa Anita. Never quite understood why equestrian went to San Diego County. Los Angeles county has all sorts of venues supportive of equestrian and it has a huge equestrian community.
@@jamestavella1398 Fairbanks Ranch is an enclave for the super rich horsie set, so no facilities had to be built. I would not be surprised if someone living there did not use connections to get some events there.
@@carlfromtheoc1788 I've been to the Ranch. There is nothing there that could not have been done in venues and Ranches in LA county, with the same modest expenditures. Its not like they built a permanent seating structure. A lot of spectators sat on the grass. So setup would be a very questionable excuse. I can see why they may not have choses the Equestrian Center. The neighborhood would not like the traffic. But there are places outside the city that would work.
I attended a couple events of these Olympics. I remember Peter Ueberroth got a lot of criticism for his “money grubbing” but frankly it all went well, and thanks to his innovation the city was not bankrupted, and instead did well off the games. While it may have slightly detracted having so much obvious corporate money, it was well worth it to keep the city out of the massive debt that had hit previous host cities.
That was because there was a Republican Mayor and fought against the state government when they tried to interfere. The last year was the smoothest as a Republican became governor. I was there, back then, and have since had to return, and am not looking forward to the 2028 games, also in LA. Already, there are cost overruns and delays, four years out, and moving around LA is worse than ever. Why, you may ask (sorry, had to steal the line, lol), what is different from 1984? Leadership. LA City, County and the state are all run, with a super-majority, by Democrats. My opinion, LA is going to make Montreal look like they knew what they were doing and make this the most expensive, poorly run Olympics in the history of Olympics. Me, if I am still here, am taking the entire summer off and going to Idaho, or somewhere, so I don't have to deal with everything it brings.
The mayor of Los Angeles was Tom Bradley in 1984 and he was never a Republican. But you do make a good point. California worked best when it has a Democrat majority legislature and a Republican Governor. Outside of that, the 1984 Olympics worked because governments remained mostly hands off on all the major projects and acted in an assistant manner to the private parties organizing the events.
Peter Ueberroth was the local business leader that spearheaded the whole event! The 1984 Olympics had so much money left over, they started the LA84 foundation which still exists to this day and has funded hundreds of millions of dollars for youth sports in Southern California since then. I learned to play tennis in a public park in 1989 thanks to the LA84 Foundation. I have no faith the local government in 2028 will have anywhere near the same success. I just pray they don't bankrupt every government entity involved.
A few years ago it hit me. Why have a host City? Have the summer games in the same place every 4 years. Perhaps the winter games could move around or not. A Scandinavian country would be the best permanent location. Countries could contribute money for upkeep of the sites.
That said, one issue with the LA Olympics in 1984 was transportation--namely, you had to get in a car to go anyplace. That said, they're working in this for 2028...
It was great, but there's no way this could ever continue. As soon as the LA games succeeded, Samaranch and other IOC bottom feeders stuck their mitts back into the cookie jar for more for bribes. The LA games could work because they already had venues for swimming, cycling. Rowing and boating could be held on nearby bodies of water. Since then more sports have been added to the rotation that require spacious facilities and costly maintenance. Few cities, if any, have any interest in maintaining kayaking and BMX courses year round, so they fall into disrepair as soon as the games are over.
Actually, LA2028 is using the same model as LA1984. They are not building anything new, athletes will be housed in UCLA, and all renovations will be privately funded.
Just give the Olympic games to Athens every four years. Edit: Everyone likes the country and its people, the Greeks love the Olympics and the Stadiums are already there, so all is resolved.
Greece has proven itself unable to hold a profitable Olympics. Not only they bankrupt Athens, they bankrupted the entire country. Who would trust them? And Turks would love to disagree with your assessment of the Greek people.
I remember when people gave a shit about the Olympics. Everyone was talking about it at school the next day. The fragmentation of entertainment should have killed it by now but I guess it's still going on. I haven't watched any of it in decades.
You did say in 1972 "Palestinians" (They called themselves "Black September") killed 11 athletes from Israel right? And a German police officer too. That changed everything except the hatred.
Aren’t all decades consisted of years? He uses some strange words to hype this. It’s also interesting that a boycott of the games was held for Russia ‘invading Afghanistan ‘ then the US took their place
