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Top Ten Olympic Scandals and Tragedies

In the long history of the Olympic games, there have been many dramatic moments, and not all of them were sports-related. Sometimes, they came as a result of political change and protest. As well, athletes have taken risks that cost them their medals. Even Olympic administrators are not immune from their moments of scandal. Here is our look at the Top Ten Olympic Scandals and Tragedies, from the present day, back through history:

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9
1996: Atlanta Summer Games Bombing

The tragic bombing of Centennial Olympic Park, a popular hub for athletes and spectators, took place during an open-air concert, and claimed the lives of two people.



On July 27, 1996, three pipe bombs were discovered in a black sports bag. Richard Jewell, a security guard who was later considered a prime suspect for the attack, found and reported the bag, and helped security personnel clear the immediate area, so that explosives experts could attempt to defuse it. It exploded at around 1:30 that morning, and one woman died as a nail was drilled into her head by the force of the explosion: another person died of cardiac arrest at the site.


Richard Jewell, innocent
more at http://www.businessinsider.com/lessons-from-richard-jewell-2013-4

Richard Jewell was found to be innocent of any wrongdoing, but was the subject of much scrutiny and negative attention from media and the general public. He was also forced to undergo intense interrogations by the FBI.

In the end, the culprit of the 1996 Olympic bombing was found to be Eric Robert Rudolph, a twisted individual who also bombed an abortion clinic and a lesbian bar in the Georgia area. Rudolph is currently serving life without the possibility of parole at one of America’s harshest Supermax prisons, ADX Florence.


Eric Robert Rudolph

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7
1980: Boycott of the Soviet Union at the Moscow Summer Games

The escalating Cold War conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union became more prominent after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Many other countries also felt that the invasion was wrong, and all this tension resulted in a huge boycott of the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. Athletes, who are so briefly at their peak, were forced to sacrifice their dreams as the heads of state of 80 nations decided to pull their athletes out of the competition, to protest the Soviet Unions military tactics.

Only 67 countries competed in the Moscow Games, and the Soviet Union swept the competitions, gathering 80 gold medals and 115 silver and bronze medals. Many people feel that the boycott of the Olympics in Moscow rang the death knell for the Soviet Union, and signaled the beginning of a new era.



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5
1976 – African Nations Boycott Olympics Due To New Zealand’s Rugby Tour of South Africa

Political tensions reared their head again in 1976, when New Zealand was the center of controversy. 25 African countries decided to boycott the Montreal Summer Games because New Zealand permitted their Rugby team to tour South Africa.



From 1964 onward, South Africa had been banned from participating in the Olympics due to their racist program of Apartheid, and African nations felt that New Zealand were showing their approval of South Africa by sending the Rugby team to that country.

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3
1968: Black Power Salutes by Olympic Athletes

In 1968’s Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City, two black athletes showed their political leanings by using the black power salute while on the Olympic podium. One athlete, a talented track and field competitor named Tommie Smith, won the gold medal for his performance in the 200m dash in Mexico City. The other athlete, John Carlos, won the bronze medal in the same event.



While sharing the podium with another white athlete, both runners gave the infamous black power salute. Silver medalist, Australian runner Peter Norman stood beside them and donned a badge supporting human rights to show his solidarity with them.



The IOC were dismayed at the political display, and attempted to punish the athletes by stripping them of their team member status. Many people thought the actions of the athletes involved were noble and heroic, and the actions of the IOC were not acceptable to a lot of people.

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1
1912: John Thorpe Stripped Of Medals after Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden

John Thorpe was a gifted athlete who excelled in track and field endeavors, such as the demanding pentathlon and decathlon events. During the Olympics, he won two gold medals, and participated in many events. The King of Sweden presented him with his prizes, and deemed him to be “the greatest athlete in the world.”



Scandal followed the Oklahoma-born superstar as it was discovered that he was not an amateur athlete: he had played baseball for pay in the past. Thorpe was stripped of his medals and disgraced in front of the entire world. He went on to play pro football in the States.



Thorpe’s achievements were so great, however, that, in 1982, the IO restored his medals to his family, and reinstated his athletic records. Unfortunately, Thorpe had already passed on when this happened. In 1999, Thorpe was posthumously named America’s Greatest Athlete of The Century.



http://historyoftheolympics.com/

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