The IV Winter Olympic Games were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) on February 6-16, 1936. The history of these Games began in Barcelona in 1931. At the IOC session, it was then decided to hold the Summer Olympics in Berlin. The OC of Germany expressed a desire to host the Winter Olympics in this country as well. So, two fair towns - Garmisch and Partenkirchen - became the winter Olympic capital.
Shortly before the start of the 1936 Winter Olympics, the sports community demanded to move them from a country with a fascist regime to a more peaceful place, but the IOC was adamant. As a result, some of the athletes, among whom were the Olympic champions of Lake Placid, the French Pierre Brunet and André Joly-Brunet, as well as the American John Shi, refused to participate.
Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler personally supervised the preparations for the Olympics. It is worth noting that in the cities where the IV OWG was held, near the toilets one could see signs with the words "Dogs and Jews are not allowed". Henri de Bayeux-Latour demanded that the plaques be removed, arguing that this was contrary to Olympic traditions. Hitler asked: "Mr. President, when you are invited to visit, you do not teach the owners how to look after the house, do you?" However, Latour said: “I'm sorry, Chancellor, but when the flag with five rings is displayed in the stadium, it is no longer Germany. This is Olympia, and we are the masters in it. " The tablets were soon removed.
Sportsmen from 28 countries of the world gathered in Germany. For the first time, Australians, Greeks, Spaniards, Bulgarians, Turks and athletes from Liechtenstein took part in the Olympic Games.
In addition to the usual ski jumping, individual cross-country skiing and biathlon, figure skating, speed skating, hockey and bobsleigh, the Games program included a bad relay race and competitions in the ski combination "downhill + slalom", where not only men took part, but also women.
The IOC decided not to allow instructors to participate in cross-country skiing because they were professionals. In this regard, the representatives of Switzerland and Austria decided to boycott the OI. However, some of the Austrians still took part in them, but as part of the German national team.
Also, 2 demonstration sports were announced: the prototype of modern biathlon - the competition of military patrols, as well as an ice stock.
Politics aside, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics can be said to have had a powerful impact on the development of the Winter Olympic Games, as well as the Olympic movement in general, in purely sporting terms. So, at the opening ceremony of OI-1936, the Olympic flame was solemnly lit for the first time, and extinguished at the closing ceremony. This tradition is observed today. The idea of the Olympic torch relay was also born in Germany.
Traditionally, the opening ceremony of the Games began with a parade of the participating countries. Music played in the background, including the anthems of the countries whose athletes took part in the Games. Then Adolf Hitler officially announced the opening of the Olympics, after which fireworks thundered, the Olympic flame was lit and the Olympic flag was raised. The Olympic oath was pronounced by the German skier Wilhelm Bogner.
On February 16, at 5 pm, at the closing ceremony of the Games, Henri de Baye-Latour began awarding medals and diplomas to the prize-winners. The orchestra played the anthems of the countries whose representatives were awarded by the President of the IOC, on the flagpole at the awarding of each champion, the corresponding national flag was raised on the flagpole, fireworks were thundered.
The anthem of Norway was played 7 times - it was the best achievement at the Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The anthem of Germany was played 3 times, Sweden - 2. It is also worth noting the performance of athletes from Finland and Austria.
