History
Fast Facts
Host City: Amsterdam, HollandOpening date: May 17, 1928
Closing date: Aug. 12, 1928
Nations: 46
Athletes: 3,014 athletes (290 women, 2,724 men)
109 events in 14 sports
Although Coubertin and the Vatican were outspoken in their opposition, women's track and field events were added to the Olympic program in 1928. As a result, the number of women competing more than doubled, from 136 to 290, even though the number of total athletes declined slightly.
Germany and its World War I allies were re-admitted, and the tradition of the Olympic torch being carried from Athens to the site of the games was initiated.
The list of medal winners became truly international at Amsterdam, as athletes from 28 nations won gold medals, a record that stood until 1968. Argentina won two gold medals in boxing and one in swimming, Uruguay won the soccer championship, India won the field hockey title, Japanese athletes clamed golds in the triple jump and the men's 200-meter breast stroke, an Egyptian won a gold medal in wrestling, South Africa took two in track and field, and a long jumper from Haiti won the silver medal in his event.
The growing international importance of Olympic sports was illustrated by the results in equestrian and rowing competition. Sweden had previously dominated equestrian events, but in 1928 Holland and Germany both won two gold medals, while Czechoslovakia and Spain had one champion each. Swedish equestrians were limited to just two bronze medals.
The five rowing events produced gold medals for five different countries: Australia, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S.
The United States had its poorest showing ever in track events. Both men's relay teams won gold medals, but Ray Barbuti was the only individual track gold medalist, in the 400-meter dash. Percy Williams of Canada won the 100- and 200-meter events and the Finns again dominated in the distances, with four different runners taking gold medals.
However, U. S. athletes did win five of the nine field events and Betty Robinson became the first gold medalist in the women's 100-meter. American divers were supreme, winning all four gold medals, and Johnny Weissmuller again won the 100-meter freestyle and anchored the U. S. freestyle relay team to a world record time.
With the success of the Amsterdam Games, it became obvious even to long-time skeptics that the modern Olympics had not only become permanently established, but were affecting the growth and development of competitive sports world-wide.
