Olympic Series

Olympics – 1976 Montreal

The dramatic events of the Munich Games had left their mark, and 16,000 men were drafted in to look after security at the Games. The real political threat, however, was the African boycott.

First there was the Canadian government’s decision to gratify Communist China by revoking the visa of the Taiwanese, already resident in the Olympic Village. The IOC protested, then backed down, and the Taiwanese left. The Chinese stayed at home anyway, since the IOC had admitted Taiwan. Then there was New Zealand, whose rugby team had recently toured South Africa, banned from the Games because of apartheid. The shooting of several hundred black Africans by the South African police at a student protest in Soweto in June 1976 provoked the African nations to demand New Zealand’s exclusion. When the IOC stood its ground, twenty seven African nations withdrew, depriving the Games of John Akii – Bua of Uganda (400 meters hurdles), Mike Boit of Kenya (800 and 1500 meters), Mohamed Gammoudi of Tunisia (5,000 and 10,000 meters) and Filbert Bayi of Tanzania, the world 1500 record holder, whose duel with New Zealander John Walker, the world mile record holder, was eagerly awaited.

The facilities at Montreal were big, beautiful and expensive (the projected budget had doubled from 1972 to 1976). Strikes during the construction caused concern but the facilities were ready on schedule. The Montreal Games are mostly remembered for the performances of Nadia Comaneci, Alberto Juantorena and Lassie Viren.

Nadia : the Child of Tranquility

Perfection exists: at Montreal, the tiny Romanian gained a perfect ten no less than seven times. You thought you had seen everything and what had been done could never be outdone. Then Nadia Comaneci arrived and perfection was redefined. Never before had the human body been more exquisitely manipulated both aesthetically and physically, to the limits of the possible. Beautiful was an under-statement. The stunning 15 year old was inexorably bewitching. Comaneci’s rise had been prodigious, when one thinks that two years ago no-one in the world of gymnastics even knew that she existed. But one can’t help reflecting that, four years ago when Olga Korbut was wowing viewers throughout the world, Nadia an eleven year old was spending four hours everyday training at the state sporting academy. At the age of six, she was spotted by a national scout and placed under the care of Bella Karoly, who brought the Romanian team from a bronze in Melbourne and Rome to a Gold here, pushing the dominant Russians and the emerging East Germans to second and third place, respectively.

Nadia Comaneci’s arrival on the scene was leading into a mesmerizing era in this sport. Women’s artistic gymnastics was tending more and more towards gymnastic dance, a tendency parallel to that of figure skating, influenced by the demands of television coverage.

The End of The Journey

Undisputed star of the tournament, American Sugar Ray Leonard, announced he would never box again. The 21 year old, who had an enviable record of 137 wins in 142 bouts,   faced the press after the protocol ceremony with rare maturity, for a young man of his age and said “I’m ending my career today because I made a promise to my mother, my fiancée and myself. I set myself a goal and achieved it. I want to be an example to young people. Being a champion is great but it’s not everything. I want to be fulfilled, perfect my knowledge and be somebody.” In response to comments about the millions he could have made from boxing, he said, I’ve decided to study administration and public relations. Later on I’d like to get involved with training young people. My path is there, nowhere else. “I want to use the intelligence I’ve been told I show in the ring in other areas. That will be my next fight.”

Sugar Ray Leonard became the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion on 30 November 1979, and undisputed world champion in 1981.

Alberto Juantorena – The Cool Cuban

The new champion considered his unprecedented 400 and 800 meters double, simply a stage in his life. Juantorena was simply astonishing – prodigious. His incredible calmness took everyone aback. Lucidly analyzing the two races that won him that many titles, Alberto Juantorena said “Of course I am very happy to have won both competitions as that’s never been done in the history of the Olympics. He won the 800 meters with a new world record.

Viren Laps it Up

After four anonymous years, this Finn reappeared to perform the same 5,000 and 10,000 meters double as he did in Munich. He responded to the doping rumors by praising the benefits of reindeer milk from Lapland and that’s what worked for him. After winning the double in Munich, during the interregnum, he had a serious injury on his thigh and was operated upon. Thereafter, he was training, running 50 kms every day. After winning the 10,000 meters, Viren ran his lap of honor with his running shoes in hand and for which, he was summoned by the IOC to explain the transgression. Lassie, truthfully came out that it was not for publicity but because he had blisters on his feet. Viren also ran the marathon, but could not manage a podium finish and came fifth.

Kornelia’s Coronation

With four titles, four world records and a unique double! Cornelia Ender of (GDR) takes it all. Ender had won the 100 meters butterfly in a record breaking time and within 26 minutes of that victory, followed it up with another record in the 200 meters freestyle. The stadium erupted into applause, recognizing this unique milestone in women’s swimming.

Men’s Swimming

America’s Jim Montgomery won the 100 meters freestyle and broke the fifty second barrier by clocking 49.99 secs. As also, his teams mate John Naber, who won Gold in the 100 meters backstroke and Silver in the 100 meters freestyle, within sixty minutes of each other. An incredible feat. John Naber overcame the fatigue of a gruelling week of competitions to win his second Gold medal in the 200 meters backstroke. A historic race not only because the distance was covered in less than two minutes, but also because the time was faster than the 200 meters butterfly record, the butterfly having been considered a faster stroke until now.

The Games in Brief

Opening Date                                          17 July 1976

Closing Date                                            01 Aug 1976

Host Nation                                             Canada

Nations Represented                               92

Athletes                                                    6,028

Sports                                                       21(11 open to women)

Events                                                      198 (49 open to women)

Games Opened By                                   HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Olympic Flame Lit By                             Sandra Henderson (athletics) and Stephane

                                                                  Prefontaine (athletics)

Olympic Oath Read By                           Pierre Saint – Jean (weightlifting)

IOC President                                         Lord Mickael Killanin (Ireland)

The Olympic Flame was sent by air. It was sent – in the form of an electronic signal- to a transmitter pointed at an Intelsat satellite, and then to a receiver where the stored energy set off a laser beam that restored it to a physical Flame. Clarence Hill of Bermuda by winning the bronze medal in boxing, became the first to do so in Olympics, from the least populated nation (53,500)  

PS -: Matter researched from the archives of the Olympics Museum in Lausanne.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal  

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