1936 Olympics
Olympic Scandal and Controversy
Backround
The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. They won the offer to host the games over Barcelona, Spain. However that was two years earlier, before the Nazi's came into power.
Scandal
Leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler, used the games to advertise his government and principles of racial supremacy. He did so by banning Jews and Blacks from participating in the Games. However the ban was receded when other countries threatened to boycott. Hitler even added a "token," a German woman with a Jewish father. In addition, the Nazi's took down signs with the phrase "Jews not wanted," to make their country seem more welcoming.
Contreversy
Jesse Owens was a long-jump medal winner from the United States during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. However at the games, Hitler refused to shake Owens' hand because he was black. Hitler also refused to to shake the hands of any non-German victors.