The IOC is in such hot-water after sharing video from the 1936 Olympics, that we get a rare apology from them.
The 1936 Summer Olympic Games is something Olympic fans seen to have mixed feelings about. Obviously there are people who want to act like they never happened; there are those who want to acknowledge the Games happened, but only in the context of proper history; there are those who want to largely forget the Games, other than the athletic achievements made at them; there are some who want to remember the Games like any other Olympics; and others still that hold various other positions about.
The problem lies with the IOC here. There’s never really been clear messaging from anyone at the IOC, as to what they want the legacy of the 1936 Summer Olympics to be. The larger Olympic Movement (IOC, IFs, athletes, historians, fans) have never really had a serious conversation about the Games either. They just seem to exist in this weird limbo that people wish to ignore.
Personally, I’m conflicted about how to best recognize the 1936 Summer Olympics. On the one hand, the NAZI’s only hosted it to be the greatest propaganda for their ideology. Plus, Hitler has a large in hand in organizing the Games. It’s also important to remember that Jewish and Black spectators, athletes, and officials were persecuted around the time of the Games. Plus, Roma in Berlin were sent to concentration camps, so that the city wouldn’t look bad to tourists. On the other hand, the Games featured amazing performances and acts of sportsmanship/solidarity. The pursuits of Jesse Owens at the Games are the stuff of legend. He even forged a friendship with a German athlete that showed the true Olympic spirit. The first female Muslim athletes also participated at the 1936 Summer Olympics. And that goes without mentioning the lesser known great moments from the Games.
As a journalist, whenever I write/talk about the 1936 Summer Olympics; it always feels like drinking dirty water. It’s not pleasant; you can’t possibly explain the complexity of the situation, and you know much of your audience has negative feelings about the Games (and rightfully so honestly).
Bottom line, the 1936 Summer Olympics are a tough subject to deal with.