The Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games

by Barry A. Sanders

Overview

The Games of the XXIII Olympiad, Los Angeles 1984, reimagined the Olympic Games and reinvigorated a troubled Olympic movement. Its innovations included the following: a nationwide torch relay that yielded millions for children's charities; an arts festival that surpassed any prior efforts; the first Opening Ceremony featuring a professional theatrical extravaganza; new sports disciplines, such as distance races for women, windsurfing, synchronized swimming, heptathlon, and rhythmic gymnastics; an army of volunteers; vast increases in sponsorship and television revenue while avoiding commercialization and keeping expenses low using existing facilities; and a financial surplus of over $232 million, which has endowed sports for youngsters in the Los Angeles area to this day—all through a privately financed organizing committee without government contributions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467130370
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	10/14/2013
Series:	Images of Sports
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	424,139
Product dimensions:	9.24(w) x 6.56(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Barry A. Sanders is the author of American Avatar: The United States in the Global Imagination. He is an adjunct professor of communication studies at UCLA and chairs the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. As a partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins, he served as outside counsel to the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 Los Angeles Bids for the Games 11

2 The Organizing Committee Prepares 19

3 The Olympic Arts Festival and the Torch Relay Set the Stage 39

4 The Ceremony Opens the Games 55

5 The Athletes Compete 73

6 The Games Establish a Legacy 121