1932 Summer Olympics

The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially called the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932, were a big international sports event. It happened from July 30 to August 14, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, United States.

These Games took place during a tough time called the Great Depression, when many people around the world had very little money. Because of this, some countries could not send their athletes to Los Angeles. Fewer countries competed in these Games compared to the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. Even the U.S. President Herbert Hoover did not attend.

The event was organized by a local sports fan and real estate developer named William May Garland. Despite the difficult economic times, the 1932 Summer Olympics brought together athletes from many nations to compete in many exciting sports.

Host city selection

Main article: Los Angeles bid for the 1932 Summer Olympics

The host city for the 1932 Summer Olympics was chosen during a meeting in Rome, Italy, on April 9, 1923. Only one city, Los Angeles, submitted a bid to host the Games. Because no other cities wanted to host, Los Angeles was chosen to be the host of the 1932 Olympics.

Development and preparations

The 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles were supported by local businesses and a special vote by people in the area. The games were paid for partly by a special vote called "Proposition 2" in 1928.

Many cars were used to help people get around during the Olympics. Buses carried athletes from their housing to the places where they competed, and police helped manage traffic. The games used places that already existed to save money, like parks and roads. Only one new place, the Swimming Stadium, was built just for these Olympics.

Artists showed their work inspired by sports during the games, and a special song was made for the event. Tickets for the opening ceremony cost $3, and tickets for other events cost between $1 and $3. A special pass for all events cost $22, and children could get tickets for 50 cents.

Marketing

The emblem for the 1932 Summer Olympics was designed by Henry E. Huntington and the art team at the organizing committee. It showed the coat of arms of the United States holding the Olympic rings, with the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" meaning "Faster, Higher, Stronger" and a laurel branch.

An Olympic mascot, a Scottish Terrier named Smoky, appeared for the first time, though it was not an official mascot. The games also brought consumer culture to the Olympics, with local companies and the Hollywood film industry helping out. Brands like Coca-Cola became more involved, giving out thousands of small athlete figures and serving as the official soft drink for the Games.

Participating nations

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.

Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees

Calendar

For the first time, the Games lasted 16 days and spanned 3 weekends, a pattern that has been kept ever since. No previous Summer Olympics had lasted less than 79 days.

All dates are in Pacific Standard Time (UTC-7)

The Games

Ceremonies

The opening ceremony had over 100,000 people. It included a big orchestra and a choir of singers. The head of the organizing committee spoke before the Vice President officially opened the games.

The ceremony lasted two hours. About 2,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 37 nations took part. There were also 800 journalists there.

Sports

The 1932 Olympics had 117 events in 20 different areas, covering 14 sports. In one of the equestrian jumping events, no medals were given. Here are the sports that were part of the games:

• Aquatics
  • Diving
  • Swimming
  • Water polo
• Athletics
• Boxing
• Cycling
  • Road
  • Track
• Equestrian
  • Dressage
  • Eventing
  • Show jumping
• Fencing
• Field hockey
• Gymnastics
• Modern pentathlon
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
  • Freestyle
  • Greco-Roman

Demonstration sports

• American football
• Lacrosse

Athletic Achievements

• In athletics, Babe Didrikson won two gold medals in the javelin and the hurdles event. She also tried for a gold in the high jump but was not allowed to win due to a rule.
• Eddie Tolan won both the 100 m and 200 m sprint events. Poland's Stanisława Walasiewicz won the gold medal in the women's 100 m.
• Several women's events were added to these games, such as the 80 meters hurdles and javelin throw. Babe Didrikson won both events.
• In field hockey, only three nations competed.
• Romeo Neri won three gold medals in gymnastics.
• Helene Madison won three gold medals in swimming.
• Kusuo Kitamura won the gold medal in the men's 1500 meter freestyle swimming race. He was the youngest ever male swimmer to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
• Dunc Gray won Australia's first cycling gold medal and set a world record.

Medal count

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

Legacy

The 1932 Summer Olympics left a lasting mark on Los Angeles and the world of sports. The Coliseum and the Rose Bowl were used again for the 1984 Summer Olympics and will host events in the 2028 Summer Olympics as well. These venues will be the first stadiums to host three different Olympic Games.

The 1932 Games introduced several new ideas that changed Olympics forever. For the first time, an Olympic Village was built to house athletes, and the famous victory podium was used. Stopwatches and photo finish cameras made timing competitions much more accurate. Tenth Street in Los Angeles was renamed Olympic Boulevard to honor these Games.