1984 Los Angeles, U.S.A.
The Los Angeles bid committee did not have any opponent for the Olympic
Games of 1984. The terrorist Games of Munich and the economic disaster
of Montreal left the Games to anyone who was willing to take the risk.
It was the first time that the Olympic Games were organized by businessmen and not by a government. They were commercialized to their maximum extent. Even the Olympic torch was sold for USD 3,000/KM.
The L.A. Olympics were profitable by USD 221 million. Even though the Soviets boycotted the Games along with 14 other countries, the staging was considered a success. A living proof that politics once again were not able to minimize the Olympic Movement.
The American athletes ruled in the Games with Carl Lewis becoming a legendary figure. He went to the Games having one thing on his mind. To repeat the impossible task that of Jesse Owens. He did just that. Lewis equaled the performances of Paavo Nurmi, Larissa Latynina and Mark Smitz by winning 9 gold medals in his Olympic career.
Michael Jordan as a college student led the US team to victory, winning Spain in the final.