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Controversial Games

August 4, 2008

The Olympic Games has a history of controversy arising from political events of the time.

https://p.dw.com/p/EmXA
Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin
Image: AP

Despite its best efforts, the International Olympic Committee has not always been successful in keeping politics out of the Games. Events beyond the IOC's control have at times influenced and even defined certain Games, eclipsing the sporting aspects and creating history away from the results on the track and field.

Here, DW-WORLD.DE looks at some of the most controversial Olympic Summer Games of the modern era.

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Reports & Analysis

Outstanding track and field athlete Jesse Owens poses in his Ohio State University jersey, April 26, 1935.

A Question of Race

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Podium Protests

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The Olympic flag, and many others, fly at half mast at the memorial ceremony for the dead Israeli athletes

Terror in Munich

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Lenin Stadium, main stadium for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olypic Games and Lenin statue, July 1980.

Afghanistan Boycott

The 1980 Games in Moscow were marred by boycotts in protest to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
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