Berlin, 1936
Jesse Owens wins the Gold Medal and salutes amidst an army of Nazi salutes.
Hitler saw the Games as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy, and did not want Jews or Blacks to be allowed to participate in the Games. However, when threatened a boycott of the Games by other nations, he relented and allowed Blacks and Jews to participate, and added one token participant to the German team—a German woman, Helene Mayer, who had a Jewish father.
Both Spain and Russia chose not to appear at the 1936 games and America very nearly boycotted it. It is often remembered as the Nazi games and for Jesse Owens winning 4 gold medals.
(via karnythia)
