Since its inception in 1896 with the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the format of the Olympic Games has been hailed as one of the most prestigious and influential in the world of athletics.
Although commemorated by millions as the most esteemed and prestigious multi-sports tournament on a global level, the history of the Olympic Games has also witnessed its share of menacing controversies and scandals. From doping scandals to being boycotted by countries for racial discrimination, the Olympic Games have been the mecca of fuming controversies over the years.
In this article we will take a look at the top four most infamous controversies that have left a mark on the history of the Olympic Games
Top 4 Ugly Controversies of the Olympic Games You Probably Don’t Know About
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The 1996 Olympic Bombing
The 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia is still considered as one of the most brutal attacks in the history of the Olympic Games and is therefore first on our list of top five most infamous controversies that have left a mark on the history of the Olympic Games.
The tragic bombing attack at the Centennial Olympic Park injured over a hundred people and killed two. Although the Olympic security team made all the efforts possible to evacuate those who were present at the Centennial Olympic Park on time, the bombs exploded before they could evacuate everyone present on the ground.
After a detailed investigation into the bombing attack was conducted, it was revealed that a bag which consisted of three pipe bombs packed with screws and nails was placed under one of the ground’s benches.
As mentioned earlier, before the Olympic security team could evacuate the visitors, the bombs exploded, causing an explosion that injured hundreds of people and tarnished the image of the Olympic Games on a global level.
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Nancy Kerrigan Assaulted at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Well, second on our list of top five most infamous controversies that have left a mark on the history of the Olympic Games is the Kerrigan-Harding scandal, which came out as one of the most tragic and fuming controversies that shocked the entire world.
Nancy Ann Kerrigan, a professional American former figure skater, was brutally attacked by the ex-husband of her rival American skater, Tonya Harding. The attack was so brutal that Nancy Ann Kerrigan was left in tears and excruciating pain.
As per the reports and investigations that were carried out after the unfortunate incident, it was revealed that Tonya Harding’s ex-husband hired a gangster named “Shane Stant” to attack Nancy Ann Kerrigan with a motive to eliminate her from the 1994 Winter Olympics and improve the chances of his ex-wife, Tonya Harding to clinch an Olympic medal.
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Massacre at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, anti-Asian racism was at its peak in China and its brutal consequences were faced by the Chinese athletes. According to reports, the Chinese government left no stone unturned to beat the United States at the Olympic Games and made it “mandatory” for its athletes to clinch more gold medals than the US athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A few female Chinese athletes reported that the Chinese government forced them to hit the training grounds right after delivering their babies. Shockingly, the Chinese government also made things worse for their athletes to a point where it felt like a “do or die” situation for them. The pressure faced by the Chinese athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was undoubtedly gruesome and unimaginable.
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The Russian Doping Scandal at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Although there’s no denial of the fact that doping violations have been committed repeatedly by numerous Olympians since the inception of the Olympic Games in 1896, the 2016 Rio Olympics witnessed a whole new controversy related to the doping violations that brutally shook the credo of the Olympic Games.
After numerous Russian athletes were tested positive for consuming banned drugs and performance enhancing drugs at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, a detailed investigation was carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that revealed the gruesome reality of state-sponsored doping in Russia. A total of 68 Russian athletes were disqualified and banned from the Olympic Games, which was an extremely humiliating move for Russia.
In case you’re still wondering if Russia really deserved that harsh penalty at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, you must know that, according to the reports, over the years, Russia has had over 150 athletes who were charged with doping violations at the Olympic Games.
