Los Angeles, 1984 Olympic Games
The 1984 Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles, USA. This was the second time that Los Angeles had hosted the Olympic Games, the first time was in 1932.
14 countries, including the USSR, boycotted the Games in what was widely seen as revenge for the Moscow Games four years earlier, though the official line was that they had security concerns. An alternative event, the Friendship Games, was held in the soviet union around the same time.
These were the first privately-financed Olympics are a commercial success. In addition to a lucrative broadcasting deal, there were 34 official sponsors, 64 companies with supplier rights, and 65 licensees. These were the second Games ever to turn a profit - $215 million - the first being the 1932 Los Angeles Games.
Greco-Roman wrestling competition at the 1984 Olympic GamesTrivia
- Communist China entered its first Games in 1984.
- Two new sports for women only were added to the Olympic Program: rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming (though now men are eligible for the team synchronized swimming event).
- Women's shooting events were first included in the Olympics in 1984. There were three events, three position rifle, air rifle and sport pistol.
- The right to be part of the torch relay was sold for $3,000 a kilometer, over Greek protests, although the $11 million raised went to local youth groups.
- A record 140 nations showed up, but, without the Soviets and East Germans, the Americans won almost three times as many medals as their closest competitors.
- In a compromise with FIFA, professional soccer players were allowed to compete, but only if they hadn't been part of a World Cup event.
- US Swimmers Nancy Hogshead and Carie Steinseifer registered the first tie in Olympic history in the 100-meter freestyle. Both swimmers touched the wall at 55.92.
Athletes
- American Carl Lewis repeated Jesse Owens' 1936 feat, winning gold medals in the same four events.
- 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton earned her place on Wheaties boxes by winning four gymnastics medals - including a gold in all-around gymnastics - just six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
- Joan Benoit of the USA won the first women's Olympic marathon in Los Angeles in 1984.
Related Pages
- List of sports at the 1984 Olympic Games
- Complete list of Olympic host cities
- USA have also hosted the Games in St Lois 1904, Los Angles 1932, Atlanta 1996
- New York and Stoke Mandveille 1984 Paralympic Games
- Friendship Games 84 — an international multi-sport event in the Soviet Union and other socialist states as an alternative to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
- Videos from the 1984 Olympics
- 1984: The Year in Sport
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Current Events