17 replies to this topic

[paul92]

So this quote from Sir Rols got me thinking...

Rome 1960 has drifted well back into the un-remembered games of history

Now, as some may have realised, I'm fairly young.
There are also some older people on this forum.

So where is the cut-off point for a 'Distant Games' - Olympics which have faded into distant history.

1952 - Helsinki, Finland
1956 - Melbourne, Australia
1960 - Rome, Italy
1964 - Tokyo, Japan
1968 - Mexico City, Mexico
1972 - Munich, West Germany
1976 - Montreal, Canada
1980 - Moscow, U.S.S.R
paul92
1984 - Los Angeles, United States
1988 - Seoul, South Korea
1992 - Barcelona, Spain
1996 - Atlanta, United States
2000 - Sydney, Australia
2004 - Athens, Greece
2008 - Beijing, China
2012 - London, United Kingdom


Does the cut-off point vary between people's ages or do we all agree there is a set number of years in which Olympic Games are still recognised as fairly modern/recent.

For myself, it is Moscow which have the 'long forgotten fee' to them.

So copy and paste the latest list below (or above if you're first) and add your name below the Olympics which you consider to be in forgotten history.

[Sir Rols]

LOL - it's all age. The oldest games I've seen any personal reflections posted about here are Mexico's. Personally, it's the games from Munich on that I can talk about with some personal impressions. In my own mind, I probably classify games from Barcelona on as "recent". It's a shock, though, when I realise we've many posters here who weren't even born for Barcelona! Sheesh, I've started seeing posts here recently from new members who already consider Sydney in the "old history" stakes!

[intoronto]

For me I think Nagano and not Sydney were my first games. In 2002 SLC was my actual I knew I was watching the games.

[micheal_warren]

For me the first games that I can remember is Atlanta 1996.

[Kenadian]

For me the first Games were LA 84, but I'd say that the 'distant' Games are LA 32 and earlier. There's so much documented about the Berlin Games because of the historic association with Nazi Era and the Games after WW2 benefit from the increased size and importance of the Games plus more film footage. The Games of Munich and Montreal were sort of an 'end of an era' Games as we moved from the Games of simple ceremonies/traditions toward bigger things like technology, sport science, grander architecture and more political intrigue and impact. And then from Moscow 1980 onward they just seem to get bigger, grander with more pomp and broadcast. There are certainly moments and athletes from the pre-Berlin era that stand out - the first Games in Athens, Jim Thorpe in Stockholm and the Chariots of Fire inspiring Paris Games of 1924 - but they do have less influence on today's Games.

[baron-pierreIV]

See book below...

[Fox334]

The first Olympics was Sydney 2000. Everything before that is just stuff written in the history books.

[Gangwon]

I'd also classify the Barcelona 1992 Games onwards as recent. The first Games after the Cold War lending to a more festive atmosphere, the disappearance of East Germany, the inclusion of South Africa, the start of the decline of other former Eastern powerhouses like Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary while it's the start of China's rise to the top, the first of nighttime ceremonies, a more professional presence with NBAers in basketball.

Looking back further into history, I'd classify the pre WW2 Games (1896-1936) as one era, the 1948-1988 Games as another era, and 1992-onwards as a third era.

[zekekelso]

For me, I have strong direct memories back to Montreal, and I've seen enough coverage back to Toyko that I have a very good feel for them. Rome and prior are all anciet history.

But to answer the question literally, Nagano is an Olympics that have *faded* into history for me. I watched. But I struggle to remember anything about this. I can't visualize a single venue, image of Nagano itself, ceremony, event etc.

[plusbrilliantsexploits]

In terms of "caring" about the Olympic Games, I have two distinct cut-off points (winter and summer)

• Winter: Lillehammer 1994
• Summer: Barcelona 1992

I have to add, though, that I wasn't particularly interested in the Winter Olympics in Nagano. Ah well...