1976 Montreal, Canada
It is the beginning of these turning point era. The society of abundance
is reaching its end and the world is unwantingly welcoming the years of
economic crisis. The Montreal Games were economically destructive and
it was time for the IOC to change divertion. The new leader of the IOC
who is present to this day, Juan Antonio Samaranc was the initiator of
the "Golden Era" of the Olympic Games. He will be the reason
for the direction of the Movement that will lead the Games to commercialization,
gigantic economic and diplomatic benefits where the awarded city becomes
a national event for every ambitious state.
The organizing officials had estimated a total cost of USD 310 million. An amount that was five times less than the final amount. Bad management, scandals and speculation were the reasons for the sky-rocketed amount. The security tragedy in Munich caused the budget of the Montreal Games to increase by USD 100 million. The Town-hall of Montreal was forced to issue a lottery and a series of post stamps that will aid in the financing of the projects.
Matters will get worse. 32 nations, in the majority African decided not to attend the Games because the IOC disagreed to penalize New Zealand for sending its national team to play rugby in South Africa. In Montreal 6,189 athletes will participate from 88 countries, even less nations than the Tokyo Olympics in ’64.
In the commencement ceremony the USSR had their weightlifting champion Vasili Alexayev as the standard - bearer, holding the flag with one hand during the entire ceremony, demonstrating in that way the power of the USSR.
Nadia Comaneci was the new star of the Games since she was the first ever athlete to receive a perfect "10" in a gymnastic event. Alexeyev was the "absolute ruler" of the weightlifting competition by lifting 35 kilos more than the runner up and 52.5 more than the third athlete!
Theophile Stevenson, the Cuban boxer and gold medallist won a political victory for Cuba since he turned his back to the invitations of the Americans to desert to the USA.