Games of the X Olympiad
Emblem of the 1932 Summer Olympics
Host cityLos Angeles, United States
Nations37
Athletes1,332 (1,206 men, 126 women)
Events117 in 14 sports (20 disciplines)
OpeningJuly 30, 1932
ClosingAugust 14, 1932
Opened by
Vice President Charles Curtis[1]
StadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Summer
Winter

The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held during the worldwide Great Depression, with some nations not traveling to Los Angeles; 37 nations competed, compared to the 46 in the 1928 Games in Amsterdam,[lower-alpha 1] and even then-U.S. President Herbert Hoover did not attend the Games.[lower-alpha 2] The organizing committee did not report the financial details of the Games, although contemporary newspapers claimed that the Games had made a profit of US$1,000,000.[lower-alpha 2]

Host city selection

The selection of the host city for the 1932 Summer Olympics was made at the 23rd IOC Session in Rome, Italy, on 9 April 1923. Remarkably, the selection process consisted of a single bid, from Los Angeles’ Olympic Committee lead by Billy Garland, and as there were no bids from any other city, Los Angeles was selected by default to host the 1932 Games.

Highlights

The Australian Olympic Team at the Olympic Stadium, Los Angeles, 1932
Lauri Lehtinen (left) and Ralph Hill finishing the 5000 m race at the 1932 Olympics
  • Charles Curtis became the first and only U.S. Vice President to inaugurate the Olympic Games.
  • An Olympic Village was built for the first time and became a model for future games, in Baldwin Hills, occupied by male athletes.[3] Female athletes were housed at the Chapman Park Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard.
  • The victory podium was used for the first time at the summer games (a podium was also used earlier in the year at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid).[4][5][lower-alpha 3]
  • An Olympic mascot, Scottish Terrier Smoky, was featured for the first time in history, albeit unofficially.
  • The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was known in 1932 as Olympic Stadium.
  • Tenth Street, a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, was renamed Olympic Boulevard in honor of the Games of the Tenth Olympiad.
  • Babe Didrikson won two gold medals in the javelin and the hurdles event. She also competed in a jump-off for a gold in the high jump. Her technique in the jump-off was ruled illegal, leaving Didrikson with second place.
  • Paavo Nurmi was suspended from competition by the IAAF for alleged violation of amateur rules. Finns charged that the Swedish officials had used devious tricks in their campaign against Nurmi's amateur status,[6] and ceased all athletic relations with Sweden.[7] A year earlier, controversies on the track and in the press had led Finland to withdraw from the Finland-Sweden athletics international.[8] After Nurmi's suspension, Finland did not agree to return to the event until 1939.[6]
  • In field hockey, only three nations took part. The host nation lost both matches, 1–24 to India and 2–9 to Japan, but still won a bronze medal.
  • Poland's Stanisława Walasiewicz won the gold medal in the women's 100 m; she also won the silver medal in the event four years later. After her death in 1980, it was discovered that she was intersex and would have been ineligible to participate under modern rules.
  • Eddie Tolan won both the 100 m and 200 m sprint events.
  • Romeo Neri won three gold medals in gymnastics.
  • Helene Madison won three gold medals in swimming, while the Japanese upset the men's events and took all but one title.
  • Takeichi Nishi (Baron Nishi) was the gold medalist with his horse Uranus in the equestrian show jumping individual event. Nishi's gold medal is Japan's only gold medal in the equestrian event to this day. Nishi died in 1945 as an officer stationed in the defense of the island of Iwo Jima, and as such is an important character in Clint Eastwood's film, Letters from Iwo Jima.
  • Kusuo Kitamura won the gold medal in the men's 1500 meter freestyle swimming race. He was and continues to be the youngest ever male swimmer to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
  • Dunc Gray won Australia's first cycling gold medal; he set a world record of 1m 13s in the 1000 time trial. The Dunc Gray Velodrome, built for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, was named after him.
  • Due to an official's error, the 3,000 m steeplechase went for 3,460 m, or one extra lap.[9]
  • Although women's team gymnastics debuted in the previous Olympics, the event was not held in these games; however, there were women gymnasts who traveled to Los Angeles and participated in exhibition events at the 1932 games.[10]
  • Several women's events debuted at these games, among them the 80 meters hurdles and javelin throw.[11][12] Babe Didrikson won both events and also competed in the high jump where she was controversially denied gold, leaving her with silver.[13] As women, unlike men, were only allowed to enter a maximum of three events, Didrikson could not compete in the discus throw, long jump, and relay where she would have likely medaled based on her prior results. Had the 200 meters and pentathlon been contested at these games (they debuted in 1964), Didrikson would have won them easily based on her performances prior to the Olympics.[14]

Medals awarded

Takeichi Nishi with Olympic steed, Uranus

117 events in 20 disciplines, comprising 14 sports, were part of the Olympic program in 1932. In one of two Equestrian jumping events (team competitions) no medals were awarded. The number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses.

Demonstration sports

Art

The Art competitions at the 1932 Summer Olympics awarded medals for works inspired by sport-related themes in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.

Venues

The Rose Bowl hosted the track cycling events for the 1932 Summer Olympics

Fifteen sports venues were used for the 1932 Summer Olympics. In order to control costs in the wake of the Great Depression, existing venues were used. They included two golf courses, two city parks, three public highways, and a city road. The Swimming Stadium was the only new venue constructed for these games. The Rose Bowl, constructed in 1921, was made into a temporary velodrome for track cycling events under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).[15][16] The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, constructed in 1923, was used as the Olympic Stadium.[17][18] The Olympic Auditorium was constructed in 1924 in preparation for Los Angeles being awarded the Games; it was modified to meet the specifications of the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling federations.[19] Long Beach Marine Stadium was created in 1925 when Alamitos Bay was dredged, then further dredged seven years later in time for the 1932 Games.[20] Elysian Park, the oldest city park in Los Angeles, was founded in 1886, and has been part of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) training academy since 1925.[21][22] The Riviera Country Club opened in 1926 as the Los Angeles Athletic Club Golf Course and was renamed Riviera by the time of the 1932 Games.[23] The Swimming Stadium, constructed adjacent to the Coliseum in 1932, was intended to be a temporary structure.[24] Riverside Drive, Los Angeles Avenue, Vineyard Avenue, and the Pacific Coast Highway were common driving routes in California at the time of the 1932 Games.[25][26]

The Coliseum was the first home for the Dodgers Major League Baseball (MLB) team when it moved from Brooklyn, New York in the 1958 season.[27] The following year, it hosted the MLB All-Star Game and the World Series.[28][29] Once Dodger Stadium was completed in 1962, the Dodgers moved there where they have been since.[30] The Los Angeles Rams National Football League (NFL) team used the Coliseum as its host stadium from 1946 to 1980 when it moved to Anaheim, located southeast of Los Angeles.[31][32] It also hosted what became known as Super Bowl I in 1967.[33] Even the American Football League's Chargers used the Coliseum as a venue in 1960 until their move to San Diego the following year.[34] The Coliseum continues to host USC Trojans football games to this day, and also hosted UCLA Bruins football for a number of years. The Rams returned to the Coliseum for a span of four years from 2016 to 2019.

The track constructed in the Rose Bowl was given to the Tournament of Roses Association upon completion of the 1932 Games.[15] The Bowl was expanded between 1932 and the 1984 Summer Olympics three times, increasing its capacity from 83,000 in 1931 to 104,594 in 1972.[35] It hosted Super Bowl XI in 1977, where the Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32–14.[35] It is the current home of UCLA Bruins football and the Rose Bowl Game, and was the home of the L.A. Galaxy soccer team for a number of years.

Elysian Park's shooting range was left intact for the LAPD to use.[15] Sunset Fields Golf Club was renamed Brentwood Country Club in 1941 and is still in use as of 2010.[36] All of the road courses were returned to public usage after the Olympics.[25][26] The Olympic Auditorium continued to be of use for boxing and roller derby events[37] until June 2005 when it was bought to be used as a megachurch. Los Angeles Harbor continues to be a major sea port in the Western United States, employing 919,000 people and generating US$39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues as of 2007.[38] The Riveria Country Club continues to host golf events, hosting the 1948 U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1983 and 1995.[39][40][41] The Swim Stadium was renovated in 2003 and continues to be in use as of 2010.[42]

For the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl were used as venues.[43]

Venue Sports Capacity Ref.
160th Regiment State ArmoryFencing, Modern pentathlon (fencing)1,800 [44]
Los Angeles HarborSailingNot listed [45]
Los Angeles Police Pistol RangeModern pentathlon (shooting), ShootingNot listed [15]
Long Beach Marine StadiumRowing17,000 [46]
Los Angeles AvenueCycling (road)Not listed [25]
Olympic AuditoriumBoxing, Weightlifting, Wrestling10,000. [19]
Olympic StadiumAthletics, Equestrian (eventing, jumping), Field hockey, Gymnastics105,000 [17]
Pacific Coast HighwayCycling (road)Not listed [25]
Riverside Drive at Griffith ParkAthletics (50 km walk)Not listed [26]
Riviera Country ClubEquestrian (dressage, eventing), Modern pentathlon (riding)9,500 [47]
Rose Bowl in PasadenaCycling (track)85,000 [15]
Sunset Fields Golf ClubModern pentathlon (running)Not listed [48]
Swimming StadiumDiving, Modern pentathlon (swimming), Swimming, Water polo10,000 [24]
Vineyard AvenueCycling (road)Not listed [25]
WestchesterEquestrian (cross-country riding)Not listed [49]

Participating nations

Participants (blue = first-time)
Number of athletes

A total of 37 nations were represented at the 1932 Games. Colombia made its first appearance at the Olympic Games, and the Republic of China competed for the first time after its failed appearance at the 1924 Games.

Participating National Olympic Committees

Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees


Medal count

These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1932 Games.

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States (host nation)413230103
2 Italy12121236
3 France105419
4 Sweden95923
5 Japan77418
6 Hungary64515
7 Finland581225
8 Great Britain47516
9 Germany312520
10 Australia3115

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Nations competing at the Amsterdam Olympics but not the 1932 Los Angeles Games were Bulgaria, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Panama, Rhodesia, Romania and Turkey.
  2. 1 2 Hoover, who also skipped the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, was the second U.S. president to miss a Games in the United States held during his term. The first was President Theodore Roosevelt, who decided not to attend the 1904 Summer Olympics, held in St. Louis, Missouri, because St. Louis mayor David R. Francis declined to let Roosevelt help officiate.[2]
  3. ↑ In a letter dated May 1931, the IOC president, Count Henri de Baillet-Latour, advised the organizing committees of both Summer and Winter games that athletes should "stand on three pedestals, with the centre one higher than the two others." See Martin (2000) and Olympic.org article "1932: THE PODIUM MAKES ITS OLYMPIC DEBUT".

References

  1. ↑ "Factsheet - Opening Ceremony of the Games f the Olympiad" (PDF) (Press release). International Olympic Committee. September 13, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ Zarnowski, C. Frank (Summer 1992). "A Look at Olympic Costs" (PDF). Citius, Altius, Fortius. 1 (1): 16–32. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2007.
  3. ↑ "1932 Los Angeles Olympic Athlete's Village - Baldwin Hills- Baldwin Hills Information".
  4. ↑ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Archived November 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, National Landmarks Program, National Park Service, Accessed November 12, 2007.
  5. ↑ Martin, D. E., Martin, D. A., & Gynn, R. W. (2000). The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics. p. 146.
  6. 1 2 "Finland and Sweden renew old rivalry on the athletics track this weekend". Helsingin Sanomat. August 29, 2008. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ Jalava, Juhani (March 15, 2005). "1925–1935: Yleisurheilu sai Suomen liikkeelle" [1925–1935: Athletics got the Finnish launch]. Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ Raevuori 1997, p. 289.
  9. ↑ Lynch, Steven. "What was unusual about the 3000-metre steeplechase final at the 1932 Olympics?". www.espn.co.uk. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  10. ↑ The Games of the Xth Olympiad Los Angeles 1932 Official Report (PDF). Xth Olympiade Committee of the Games of Los Angeles, U.S.A. 1932, Ltd. pp. 653–670. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  11. ↑ "80 metres Hurdles, Women". Olympedia.
  12. ↑ "Javelin Throw, Women". Olympedia.
  13. ↑ "High Jump, Women". Olympedia.
  14. ↑ "1932 Summer Olympics". Olympedia.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine p. 74.
  16. ↑ History of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Archived October 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 October 2010.
  17. 1 2 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 61-8.
  18. ↑ History of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Archived October 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 October 2010.
  19. 1 2 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine p. 70.
  20. ↑ Long Beach Marine Stadium information. Archived October 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 October 2010.
  21. ↑ History of Elysian Park. Archived December 18, 2005, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 October 2010.
  22. ↑ History of the Los Angeles Department Police Academy. Archived August 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 13 October 2010.
  23. ↑ History of the Riveria Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA: 1931-8. Archived March 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 14 October 2010.
  24. 1 2 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 68, 79, 83.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine p. 87.
  26. 1 2 3 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine p. 86.
  27. ↑ 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball-Reference season page. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  28. ↑ 1959 All-Star Game Baseball Almanac. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  29. ↑ Baseball-reference.com profile of the 1959 World Series. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  30. ↑ MLB.com profile of Dodger Stadium. Archived July 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 17 October 2010.
  31. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 280.
  32. ↑ Pro-Football Reference.com of the 1980 Los Angeles Rams. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  33. ↑ NFL.com history of Super Bowl I. Archived September 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 15 October 2010.
  34. ↑ Chronology of the San Diego Chargers: 1959-69. Archived October 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 15 October 2010.
  35. 1 2 Facts about the Rose Bowl Stadium. Archived June 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 15 October 2010.
  36. ↑ Golfcalifornia.com profile of the Brentwood Country Club. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  37. ↑ LASports.org profile of the Grand Olympic Auditorium. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  38. ↑ Electronic Press Kit of the Port of Los Angeles. Archived September 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 15 October 2010.
  39. ↑ United States Golf Association US Open past champions: 1895-2009. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  40. ↑ PGA Media Guide of the 1983 PGA Championship. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  41. ↑ PGA Media Guide of the 1995 PGA Championship. Archived July 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Accessed 15 October 2010.
  42. ↑ LaParks.org profile of the LA84 Foundation/ John C. Argue Swim Stadium. Archived September 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  43. ↑ 1984 Summer Olympics official report. Archived November 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 72-9, 129-131. Accessed 15 October 2010.
  44. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 67-8, 70, 78, 84.
  45. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 76, 78, 585.
  46. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 70-73.
  47. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 73-4, 572.
  48. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine p. 574.
  49. ↑ 1932 Summer Olympics official report. Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 77, 86-7.
Bibliography
  • Raevuori, Antero (1997). Paavo Nurmi, juoksijoiden kuningas (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). WSOY. ISBN 978-9510218501.
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