Los Angeles, California, U.S., 1984

Olympic posters from the Archives, Olympic Museum Lausanne, from the book The Olympic Spirit, published by Tehabi Books

Many communist nations, including the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Cuba, retaliated for the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Games by staying away from the 1984 Games, citing concerns over the safety of their athletes in what they considered a hostile and fiercely anticommunist environment. China, however, participated in the Summer Games for the first time since 1952. In all, nearly 6,800 athletes representing 140 nations came to Los Angeles. The number of events for women grew to include cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and several new track-and-field events, most notably the marathon. Under the direction of the U.S. entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth, the 1984 Olympics witnessed the ascension of commercialism as an integral element in the staging of the Games. Corporate sponsors, principally U.S.-based multinationals, were allowed to put Olympic symbols on their products, which were then marketed as the "official" such product of the Olympics. A spot on the torch relay team sold for $3,000 per kilometre. The Olympics turned a profit ($225,000,000) for the first time since 1932. Despite concerns about growing corporate involvement and the reduced competition caused by the communist boycott, the financial success and high worldwide television ratings raised optimism about the Olympic movement for the first time in a generation.

As in 1980, a boycott resulted in an unbalanced distribution of medals. At the 1984 Games the U.S. team benefited most, capturing 83 gold medals and 174 medals altogether. The track-and-field competition returned to the Memorial Coliseum, which had been renovated for the Games. American Carl Lewis, competing in the same events as Jesse Owens in 1936, won four gold medals. Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson of the United Kingdom each repeated their gold medal performances of 1980, winning in the 1,500-metre run and the decathlon, respectively.

Opening ceremonies, Los Angeles, 1984

Steve Powell--Allsport

The U.S. women's team won 11 of the 14 swimming events. Mary T. Meagher and Tracy Caulkins each earned three gold medals. American Greg Louganis swept the diving events. With the powerful Eastern European teams absent, the U.S. men's and women's gymnastic teams had their best Olympic showing ever. Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman to capture the individual gold medal in the combined exercises. Without the challenge of the Cuban boxing team, the U.S. team dominated the competition, earning nine gold medals.