Amsterdam received the right to host the 1928 Summer Olympics without any struggle, since only the capital of the Netherlands submitted an application to the IOC. For the first time, the President and founder of the IOC Pierre de Coubertin was not present at the Games due to a serious illness. They passed without loud scandals, except for the scuffle between the French athletes and the watchman of the Olympic stadium.
The ninth Summer Olympics in Amsterdam took place from May 17 to August 12, 1928. 3014 athletes from 46 countries of the world took part in it. Although the number of participating countries has increased, the number of athletes has decreased. In addition, the Games program was cut. Medals were awarded in 14 sports.
In Amsterdam, after a 16-year break, athletes from Germany began to compete again. The debutants of the Olympics were countries such as Panama, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and Malta. By that time, the Soviet Union could not reach agreement with the IOC, so it did not let its athletes go to Amsterdam.
At the 28 Summer Games, one of the key Olympic traditions was born, which has survived to this day. It was in the capital of the Netherlands that a fire first burned, which was lit in the Greek Olympia from the sun using a mirror. The runners took him to the Games, passing each other, like a baton.
For the first time, the program included women's track and field competitions - 4x100 meters relay, 100 and 800 meters running, discus throwing and high jumping, as well as gymnastics competitions. Each type of athletics program among women was marked by a world record. The favorites were athletes from Germany and the USA.
It is noteworthy that the inclusion of 800 meters in the program among women has caused considerable controversy. This is because women during the races for this distance at the finish line fell exhausted directly onto the track. In 1932, the 800-meter run was removed from the Olympic program. This distance only reappeared at the 1960 Games.
At the Amsterdam Olympics, the leader of the weightlifting competition was first determined by the sum of the triathlon: clean and jerk, bench press and snatch. Weightlifters competed in five weight categories.
The favorites in the unofficial team event were the Americans. In second place were athletes from Germany. Finns closed the top three.
