1976 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event
celebrated in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and Los Angeles, which later hosted the 1980
and 1984
Summer Olympic Games respectively. These were the first Olympic Games held in Canada, preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
and 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
.
. One blank vote was cast in the second and final round. One factor favoring Montreal was that the IOC did not want the Summer games hosted in a superpower for fears of political backlash, which would be proven later on in the Olympic boycotts of 1980 and 1984.
, then the Premier of Quebec
, first pushed Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
to advise Canada's monarch, Elizabeth II, to attend the opening of the games. However, Bourassa later became unsettled about how unpopular the move might be with sovereigntists in the province
, annoying Trudeau, who had already made arrangements. The leader of the Parti Québécois
at the time, René Lévesque
, sent his own letter to Buckingham Palace
, asking the Queen to refuse her prime minister's request, though she did not oblige the premier as he was out of his jurisdiction in offering advice to the sovereign.
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
Three nations made their first Summer Olympic appearance in Montreal: Andorra (which had had his overall Olympic debut a few months before in Innsbruck Winter Olympics
), Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands
.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of athletes from each nation that competed at the Games.
Zaire
did not compete, but claimed financial causes rather than political.
Both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China boycotted the games over issues concerning the legitimacy of each other. In November 1976, the International Olympic Committee recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal representative. In 1979, the IOC began referring to the Republic of China as Chinese Taipei
as a result of the Nagoya Resolution; this led to the Republic of China boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics
outside of the US-led boycott that year.
had confidently predicted in 1970 that "the Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby", but the debt racked up to a billion dollars that the Quebec government mandated the city pay in full. This would prompt cartoonist Aislin
to draw a pregnant Drapeau on the telephone saying, "Allo, Morgentaler
?" in reference to a Montreal abortionist.
The Olympic Stadium
was designed by French architect Roger Taillibert
. It is often nicknamed The Big O as a reference to both its name and to the doughnut-shape of the permanent component of the stadium's roof, though The Big Owe has been used to reference the astronomical cost of the stadium and the 1976 Olympics as a whole. It has never had an effective retractable roof, and the tower was completed only after the Olympics. In December 2006 the stadium's costs were finally paid in full. The total expenditure (including repairs, renovations, construction, interest
, and inflation) amounted to C$1.61 billion. Today, despite its huge cost, the stadium is devoid of a major tenant, after the Montreal Expos
moved in 2005.
The boycott by African nations over the inclusion of New Zealand, whose rugby team had played in South Africa that year, was a contributing factor in the massive protests and civil disobedience that occurred during the 1981 Springbok Tour
of New Zealand. Official sporting contacts between South Africa and New Zealand did not occur again until after the fall of apartheid.
Australia's failure to win a gold medal led the country to create the Australian Institute of Sport
.
With Montreal's own Canadiens
winning the Stanley Cup the following year
, Canada hosting an Olympics has been seen as a good omen to the NHL
team in the host city the following year. A year after Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics
, their Flames
won the Stanley Cup
. The Vancouver Canucks
hoped to continue this in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals
, a year after Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics
. However, they ended up losing to the Boston Bruins
.
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
celebrated in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and Los Angeles, which later hosted the 1980
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
and 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
Summer Olympic Games respectively. These were the first Olympic Games held in Canada, preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Host city selection
The vote occurred on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. One blank vote was cast in the second and final round. One factor favoring Montreal was that the IOC did not want the Summer games hosted in a superpower for fears of political backlash, which would be proven later on in the Olympic boycotts of 1980 and 1984.
| 1976 Summer Olympics bidding results | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Country | Round 1 | Round 2 | |||
| Montreal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... |
 Canada |
25 | 41 | |||
| Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... |
 Soviet Union |
28 | 28 | |||
| Los Angeles Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... |
 United States |
17 | — | |||
Organization
Robert BourassaRobert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
, then the Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
, first pushed Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
to advise Canada's monarch, Elizabeth II, to attend the opening of the games. However, Bourassa later became unsettled about how unpopular the move might be with sovereigntists in the province
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
, annoying Trudeau, who had already made arrangements. The leader of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
at the time, René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
, sent his own letter to Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, asking the Queen to refuse her prime minister's request, though she did not oblige the premier as he was out of his jurisdiction in offering advice to the sovereign.
Highlights
- At age 14, gymnast Nadia ComăneciNadia ComaneciNadia Elena Comăneci is a Romanian gymnast, winner of three Olympic gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the first female gymnast ever to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. She is also the winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer...
of Romania scored seven perfect 10.0 and won three gold medals, including the prestigious All-AroundGymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-aroundThese are the results of the women's individual all-around competition, one of six events for female competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 18, 19 and 21st at the Montreal Forum.-Qualification:Eighty-six...
. The score board could hold only 3 digits and the score was shown as 1.00. In women's gymnastics three gold medals were also won by Nellie KimNellie KimNellie Vladimirovna Kim is a retired Soviet gymnast who won three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics...
of the Soviet UnionUSSR at the Summer OlympicsThe Soviet Union first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952, and competed at the Games on 18 occasions since then. At seven of its nine appearances at the Summer Olympic Games, the team ranked first in the total number of medals won, it was second by this count on the other two...
. Nikolai AndrianovNikolai AndrianovNikolai Yefimovich Andrianov was a Soviet/Russian gymnast. He held the record for men for the most Olympic medals at 15 until Michael Phelps surpassed him at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics...
of the USSR won four gold medals, including All Around, in men's gymnastics. - Taro AsoTaro Asowas the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
was a member of the Japanese shooting team. 32 years later, he would be elected as the prime minister of Japan. - The Games were opened by Elizabeth II, as head of state of Canada, and several members of the Royal FamilyHouse of WindsorThe House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
attended the opening ceremonies. The Queen's daughter, Princess AnneAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, competed in the games as part of the British riding team. - The Olympic FlameOlympic FlameThe Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
was "electronically" transmitted via satellite from AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
to OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, by means of an electronic pulse derived from the actual burning flame. From OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, it was carried by hand to Montreal. After a rainstorm doused the Olympic flame a few days after the games had opened, an official relit the flame using his cigarette lighterLighterA lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
. Organizers quickly doused it again and relit it using a backup of the original flame. - When the Israeli team walked into the stadium at the Opening Ceremonies, their national flag was adorned with a black ribbon in commemoration of the 1972 Munich massacreMunich massacreThe Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
. - Women's events were introduced in basketball, handballTeam handballHandball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
and rowingSport rowingRowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. - Canada, the host country, finished with five silver and six bronze medals. This was the first time that the host country of the Summer Games won no gold medals. This feat had occurred previously only in the Winter Games – 19241924 Winter OlympicsThe 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
in ChamonixChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
, France and 19281928 Winter OlympicsThe 1928 Winter Olympics, officially known as the II Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 11–19, 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The 1928 Games were the first true Winter Olympics held on its own as they were not in conjunction with a Summer Olympics...
in St. MoritzSt. MoritzSt. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
, Switzerland. This later occurred at the 1984 Winter Games1984 Winter OlympicsThe 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
in SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, and again at the 1988 Winter Olympics1988 Winter OlympicsThe 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Canada. Alexandre BilodeauAlexandre BilodeauAlexandre Bilodeau is a Canadian freestyle skier from Montreal, Quebec. Bilodeau currently resides in Rosemère, Quebec. Bilodeau won a gold medal in the men's moguls at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, becoming the first Canadian to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games held in Canada after...
won Canada's first gold medal on home soil in the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
as he won the men's mogulsFreestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter OlympicsThe freestyle skiing competition of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Cypress Mountain. The events took place between the 13 and 25 February 2010, and included a new event for these Olympics, ski cross.- Medal table :-Men's Events:- Women's Events :...
event. - The Republic of China (Taiwan) team withdrew after Canada's LiberalLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
government, under Pierre Elliott Trudeau, informed it that it could not compete under the name "Republic of China". This was done because Canada officially recognized the People's Republic of China. Canada did try to compromise by saying that the people of the Republic of China could retain their national flagNational flagA national flag is a flag that symbolizes a country. The flag is flown by the government, but usually can also be flown by citizens of the country.Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses may fly the national flag...
and anthemAnthemThe term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
, but they refused. This would lead to 1979's Nagoya Resolution, where the People's Republic and Taiwan agreed that Taiwan would compete in the Olympics and other international sporting events as Chinese TaipeiChinese TaipeiChinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
with a custom flag. - In protest at a tour of South Africa by the New Zealand All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team early in the year, Congo's official Jean Claude Ganga led a boycottBoycottA boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
of 28 African nations as the IOCInternational Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
refused to bar the New Zealand team. Some of the nations (including Morocco, Cameroon and Egypt) had already participated, however, as the teams withdrew only after the first day. From Southern and Central Africa, only Senegal and Ivory Coast took part. Both Iraq and Guyana also opted to join the Congolese-led boycott. - Because of the Munich massacreMunich massacreThe Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
, security at these games was visible, as it had been earlier in the year at the Winter games1976 Winter OlympicsThe 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
in Innsbruck, Austria. - Viktor SaneyevViktor SaneyevViktor Saneyev is a retired triple jumper, who competed internationally for the USSR and won four Olympic medals; three golds and one silver . He was born in Sukhumi, Georgian SSR. He dominated the event during the late 1960s and 1970s...
of the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
won his third consecutive triple jumpTriple jumpThe triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
gold medal, while Klaus DibiasiKlaus DibiasiKlaus Dibiasi is a former diver from Italy, who competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1964...
of Italy did the same in the platform divingDivingDiving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
event. - Alberto JuantorenaAlberto JuantorenaAlberto Juantorena Danger is a Cuban former track athlete. At the 1976 Summer Olympics, he became the first and so far only athlete to win both the 400 and 800 m Olympic titles....
of Cuba became the first man to win both the 400 m and 800 m at the same Olympics. Finland's Lasse VirénLasse VirénLasse Artturi Virén is a former Finnish long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics...
also achieved a double in the 5000 and 10,000 m and finished 5th in the marathon, thereby failing to equal Emil ZátopekEmil ZátopekEmil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
's 1952 achievements. - Boris OnishchenkoBoris OnishchenkoBoris Onishchenko is a former Ukrainian/Soviet modern pentathlete who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics, in the 1972 Summer Olympics, and in the 1976 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Soviet Union's modern pentathlon team in the 1976 Summer Olympics, infamous...
, a member of the Soviet Union's modern pentathlonModern pentathlonThe modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
team, was disqualified after it was discovered that he had rigged his épée to register a hit when there wasn't one. Because of this, the USSR modern pentathlon team was disqualified. Onischenko earned the enmity of other Soviet Olympic team members: for example, USSR volleyball team members threatened to throw him out of the hotel's window if they met him. Due to his disqualification, it was suggested that he earned the nickname of "Boris DISonish-chenko". - Five American boxersBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
– Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, Leon SpinksLeon SpinksLeon Spinks is a former American boxer. He had an overall record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 3 draws as a professional, with 14 knockout wins, and was the former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world...
, Michael SpinksMichael SpinksMichael Spinks is a retired American boxer who was a world champion in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions...
, Leo RandolphLeo RandolphLeo Randolph is a former American boxer, who won the Flyweight Gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.-Amateur career:Randolph had an outstanding amateur career...
and Howard Davis Jr.Howard Davis Jr.Howard Edward Davis, Jr. is a retired world-class American amateur and professional boxer. Growing up on Long Island as the eldest of 10 children, Davis first learned boxing from his father. After being inspired by a movie about Muhammad Ali, Davis embarked on his amateur career. He won the 1976...
won gold medals in boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. This has been often called the greatest Olympic boxing team the United States ever had, and, out of the five American gold medalists in boxing, all but Davis went on to become professional world champions. - Princess AnneAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
of the United Kingdom was the only female competitor not to have to submit to a sex testSex determination in sportsGender verification in sports is the issue of verifying the eligibility of an athlete to compete in a sporting event that is limited to a single sex...
. She was a member of her country's equestrianEquestrianismEquestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
team. - Japanese gymnast Shun FujimotoShun Fujimotois a retired Japanese gymnast.He represented Japan at the 1976 Summer Olympics, where he won gold in the team competition.Fujimoto achieved fame by continuing to compete in the team event right after breaking his knee during the floor exercise...
performed on a broken right knee, and helped the Japanese team win the gold medal for the team championshipChampionshipChampionship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
. Fujimoto broke his leg on the floor exercise, and due to the closeness in the overall standings with the USSR, he hid the extent of the injury. With a broken knee, Fujimoto was able to complete his event on the rings, performing a perfect triple somersault dismount, maintaining perfect posture. He scored a 9.7 thus securing gold for Japan. Years later, when asked if he would do it again, he stated bluntly "No, I would not." - The East German women's swimming team won all but two gold medals.
- The U.S. men's swimming team won all but one gold medal.
- Luann RyonLuann RyonLuann Marie Ryon is a female American archer and Olympic champion. She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where she won an individual gold medal.-References:*...
won the women's ArcheryArcheryArchery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
gold for the USA; Ryon had never before competed at the international level. - U.S. track and field athlete Bruce JennerBruce JennerWilliam Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
won the gold medal for decathlonDecathlonThe decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, setting a world record of 8,634 points. - Alex OakleyAlex OakleyAlexander "Alex" Oakley was a race walker from Canada, who represented his native country at five Summer Olympics, starting in 1956. His best finish was the sixth place in the men's 50 km walk at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. He won the 20 km event at the 1963 Pan American...
, the Canadian race walker, became the oldest track and field athlete to compete at the Olympic Games. He was aged 50, and taking part in his fifth Olympics. - The New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Black Sticks Men HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
team beat Australia to win gold, becoming the first non-Asian/European win the gold medal in Hockey.
Venues
Montreal Olympic Park
- Olympic StadiumOlympic Stadium (Montreal)The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
– Opening/Closing ceremonies, Athletics, Football (final), Equestrian (jumping team final) - Olympic PoolOlympic Pool (Montreal)The Montreal Olympic Pool was constructed for the 1976 Summer Olympics as part of the Montreal Olympic Park. The olympic pool is part of the larger swimming centre, located in the base of the inclined tower. The centre has a spectator capacity of 3,012 seats....
– Diving, Modern pentathlon (swimming), Swimming, Water polo (final) - Olympic VelodromeMontreal BiodomeThe Montreal Biodome is a facility located in Montreal that allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. The building was originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome. It hosted both track cycling and judo events...
– Cycling (track), Judo - Montreal Botanical Garden – Athletics (20 km walk), Modern pentathlon (running)
- Maurice Richard Arena – Boxing, Wrestling
- Centre Pierre CharbonneauCentre Pierre CharbonneauCentre Pierre Charbonneau is a sports arena located in Montreal, Quebec. It was built in 1957 and holds 2,700 people. It was formerly host to the Montreal Royal of the American Basketball Association's current incarnation, and the Montreal Sasquatch of the Premier Basketball League.It was...
– Wrestling - Olympic Village (Montreal)Olympic Village (Montreal)The Olympic Village is a twin-tower structure in Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the athletes' residence for the 1976 Summer Olympics. It was built by Rene Lepine, CEO of the real estate company, Groupe Lepine, and his associates through the company ZAROLEGA Inc...
– Athletic residence
Venues in Greater Montreal
- Olympic Basin, Île Notre-DameÎle Notre-DameÎle Notre-Dame is an artificial island built in 10 months from 15 million tons of rock excavated for the Montreal Metro in 1965. It was created for Expo 67 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The island is part of the city of Montreal and forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
– Canoeing, Rowing - Claude Robillard CentreComplexe sportif Claude-RobillardThe Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard is a multi-purpose sport facility, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.-Overview:...
– Handball, Water polo - Centre Étienne DesmarteauCentre Étienne DesmarteauThe Centre Étienne Desmarteau is multi-purpose complex center with 2 arenas in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The first Arena in the complex have 2,200 seat which took Caroline Ouellette's name . The second Arena, more small, have a space for 600 persons. We find also two Olympic gymnasiums, some...
– Basketball - St. Michel ArenaSt. Michel ArenaSt. Michel Arena is a 2000-seat indoor arena that was built in 1968. It served as the weightlifting venue of the 1976 Summer Olympics. Capacity was temporarily raised to 2700.-Reference:* Volume 2. pp. 130-3....
– Weightlifting - Paul Sauvé Centre – Volleyball
- Montreal ForumMontreal ForumThe Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
– Basketball (final), Boxing, Gymnastics, Handball, Volleyball - Mount Royal ParkMount RoyalMount Royal is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name.The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentians and the Appalachians...
– Cycling (individual road race) - Quebec Autoroute 40Quebec Autoroute 40Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
– Cycling (road team time trial) - Streets of Montreal – Athletics (marathon)
- Winter Stadium, Université de MontréalWinter Stadium (Montreal)Winter Stadium is an indoor arena located on the campus of the Université de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It hosted the fencing and fencing part of the modern pentathlon events in the 1976 Summer Olympics. It has a capacity of 2,461.-Reference:...
– Fencing, Modern pentathlon (fencing) - Molson Stadium, McGill University – Field hockey
Venues outside Montreal
- Olympic Shooting Range, L'AcadieOlympic Shooting Range, L'AcadieThe Olympic Shooting Range, L'Acadie was a temporary firing range located in L'Acadie, Quebec. For the 1976 Summer Olympics held in neighboring Montreal, it hosted the shooting and the shooting part of the modern pentathlon events.-References:...
– Modern pentathlon (shooting), Shooting - Olympic Archery Field, JolietteOlympic Archery Field, JolietteThe Olympic Archery Field, Joliette was a field located in Joliette, Quebec. Approved in 1974 by the International Archery Federation for use, it hosted the archery competitions for the 1976 Summer Olympics.-References:* Volume 2. pp. 190–3....
– Archery - Olympic Equestrian Centre, BromontOlympic Equestrian Centre, BromontThe Olympic Equestrian Centre, Bromont is a horse sports venue located in Bromont, Quebec. Built in 1975, it hosted the equestrian and the riding portion of the modern pentathlon competitions for the 1976 Summer Olympics.Since the 1976 Games, the venue has hosted numerous equestrian...
– Equestrian (all but jumping team), Modern pentathlon (riding) - Pavilion de l'éducation physique et des sports de l'Université LavalPEPSThe ' , usually called PEPS for short, is a sports complex located in Quebec City, Quebec, on the campus of the Université Laval...
, Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec – Handball preliminaries - Sherbrooke StadiumMunicipal Stadium (Sherbrooke)Municipal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It is used mostly for football and hosted three football games during the 1976 Summer Olympics. It holds 4,000 people.-References:* Volume 2. pp. 208–11....
, Sherbrooke, Quebec – Football preliminaries - Sherbrooke Sports PalacePalais des Sports (Sherbrooke)The Palais des Sports is a 5,328-seat multi-purpose arena in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It was built in 1965. Starting in 2012, this arena will be home to the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL....
, Sherbrooke, Quebec – Handball preliminaries - Portsmouth Olympic HarbourPortsmouth Olympic HarbourPortsmouth Olympic Harbour is a harbour located in Kingston, Ontario. For the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, it hosted the sailing events.Constructed in 1969, it has played host to the Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston , an annual event. The harbour was reconstructed in 1974 in time...
, Kingston, OntarioKingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
– Sailing - Varsity StadiumVarsity StadiumVarsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario – Football preliminaries - Lansdowne ParkFrank Clair StadiumFrank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
, OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario – Football preliminaries
Medals awarded
|
Judo at the 1976 Summer Olympics At the Judo competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics medals were awarded in 5 weight classes and in the open competition, and was restricted to male judoka only.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*... Modern pentathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics The modern pentathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics was represented by two events : Individual competition and Team competition... Rowing at the 1976 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal featured races in 14 events, all held at the rowing basin on Île Notre-Dame. Women's events held at 1000 m debuted .... Sailing at the 1976 Summer Olympics Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program.... Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics Shooting at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal comprised seven events, all open to both men and women. For the first time ever, a woman won an Olympic medal in shooting: Margaret Murdock caught the silver in the Three positions event.-Medal count:... Swimming at the 1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montréal, Canada, 26 events in swimming were contested. There was a total of 471 participants from 51 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:... Volleyball at the 1976 Summer Olympics Volleyball at the 1976 Summer Olympics was represented by two events: men's team and women's team.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-External links:*... Water polo at the 1976 Summer Olympics The water polo tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics was held from July 18 to July 27, 1976 in Montreal, Canada.-Medalists:-Participating teams:Group AGroup BGroup C-Group A:*July 18, 1976*July 19, 1976*July 20, 1976-Group B:... Weightlifting at the 1976 Summer Olympics The weightlifting competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal consisted of nine weight classes, all for men only. The Clean and press was dropped from the included lifts due to disagreement over proper form.-Medal summary:... Wrestling at the 1976 Summer Olympics At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, 20 wrestling events were contested, all for men only. There were 10 weight classes in each of the freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling disciplines.-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:... |
Medal count
These are the top ten nations that won medals at these Games. Host country of Canada placed 27th with 11 medals total. To date, this is the only edition of the Summer Games where the host nation failed to win any gold medal.| 1 | 49 | 41 | 35 | 125 | |
| 2 | 40 | 25 | 25 | 90 | |
| 3 | 34 | 35 | 25 | 94 | |
| 4 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 39 | |
| 5 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 25 | |
| 6 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 26 | |
| 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 22 | |
| 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 13 | |
| 9 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 27 | |
| 10 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 22 | |
| 27 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Participating nations
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
), Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of athletes from each nation that competed at the Games.
Boycotting countries
The following 28 countries boycotted the Games. The boycott was due to the refusal of the IOC to ban New Zealand, after the New Zealand national rugby union team had toured South Africa earlier in 1976. South Africa had been banned from the Olympics since 1964 due to its apartheid policies.| People's Republic of the Congo People's Republic of the Congo The People's Republic of the Congo was a self-declared Marxist-Leninist socialist state that was established in 1970 in the Republic of the Congo... |
Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
did not compete, but claimed financial causes rather than political.
Both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China boycotted the games over issues concerning the legitimacy of each other. In November 1976, the International Olympic Committee recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal representative. In 1979, the IOC began referring to the Republic of China as Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
as a result of the Nagoya Resolution; this led to the Republic of China boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
outside of the US-led boycott that year.
Legacy
The Olympics were a financial disaster for Montreal, as the city faced debts for 30 years after the Games had finished. The Quebec provincial government took over construction when it became evident in 1975 that work had fallen far behind schedule; work was still under way just weeks before the opening date, and the tower was not built. Mayor Jean DrapeauJean Drapeau
Jean Drapeau, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as mayor of Montreal from 1954 to 1957 and 1960 to 1986...
had confidently predicted in 1970 that "the Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby", but the debt racked up to a billion dollars that the Quebec government mandated the city pay in full. This would prompt cartoonist Aislin
Terry Mosher
Christopher Terry Mosher, OC is a Canadian political cartoonist for the Montreal Gazette. He draws under the name "Aislin", a rendition of the name of his eldest daughter Aislinn ....
to draw a pregnant Drapeau on the telephone saying, "Allo, Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler, CM is a Canadian physician and prominent pro-choice advocate who has fought numerous legal battles for that cause.-Early life:...
?" in reference to a Montreal abortionist.
The Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
was designed by French architect Roger Taillibert
Roger Taillibert
Roger Taillibert is a French architect, notable for designing the Parc des Princes in Paris and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada....
. It is often nicknamed The Big O as a reference to both its name and to the doughnut-shape of the permanent component of the stadium's roof, though The Big Owe has been used to reference the astronomical cost of the stadium and the 1976 Olympics as a whole. It has never had an effective retractable roof, and the tower was completed only after the Olympics. In December 2006 the stadium's costs were finally paid in full. The total expenditure (including repairs, renovations, construction, interest
Interest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
, and inflation) amounted to C$1.61 billion. Today, despite its huge cost, the stadium is devoid of a major tenant, after the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
moved in 2005.
The boycott by African nations over the inclusion of New Zealand, whose rugby team had played in South Africa that year, was a contributing factor in the massive protests and civil disobedience that occurred during the 1981 Springbok Tour
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
of New Zealand. Official sporting contacts between South Africa and New Zealand did not occur again until after the fall of apartheid.
Australia's failure to win a gold medal led the country to create the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
.
With Montreal's own Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
winning the Stanley Cup the following year
1977 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1977 Stanley Cup Final championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins were making their first appearance in the Final series since their loss in the 1974 Final. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to none,...
, Canada hosting an Olympics has been seen as a good omen to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
team in the host city the following year. A year after Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
, their Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
won the Stanley Cup
1989 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1989 Stanley Cup Final was between the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens, the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. , this is the most recent time that the first two seeds met in the Stanley Cup Final, as the New Jersey Devils had one win less than the Detroit Red Wings...
. The Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
hoped to continue this in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals
2011 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League , and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was the 118th year of the Stanley Cup's presentation. The Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference Champion Vancouver...
, a year after Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. However, they ended up losing to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.