---
title: "1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics"
year: 1932
country: "United States"
canonical: "https://recap.at/1932/los-angeles-olympics-1932"
slug: "los-angeles-olympics-1932"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1932-01-01"
---

# 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

> Held during the Great Depression, these Games marked the first Olympic Village and introduced streamlined organization for global athletics.

The 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles were held during the Great Depression, when the U.S. economy was in free fall and most nations couldn't afford to send large delegations. Despite the economic crisis, Los Angeles built a new Olympic Village and hosted the Games from July 30 to August 14, 1932, establishing itself as a viable Olympic host and demonstrating that the Olympics could happen anywhere with sufficient infrastructure.

## Summary

The 1984 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was the second time that Los Angeles had hosted the Games, with the first in 1932. California was the home state of the incumbent U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who officially opened the Games. These were the first Summer Olympic Games under the IOC presidency of Juan Antonio Samaranch.

## Key facts

- **Dates**: July 30 – August 14, 1932
- **Athletes**: 1,332 from 117 nations
- **Venues built**: Olympic Stadium (then called Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum); Olympic Pool; Olympic Village
- **First-time innovation**: Dedicated Olympic Village for athlete housing
- **Economic context**: Held during Great Depression; U.S. unemployment at 23.6%
- **Women competitors**: 127 of 1,332 athletes (9.5%)
- **Host nation medal count**: United States won 103 medals (24 gold, 18 silver, 14 bronze)
- **Cost to host**: Approximately $1.5 million (adjusted: ~$32 million in 2024 dollars)

## Timeline

- **1923-07-15** - Los Angeles selected as 1932 host
  The International Olympic Committee awards the 1932 Summer Games to Los Angeles, chosen over other bidders including Rome and Berlin.
- **1929-10-29** - Stock Market Crash
  Wall Street's Black Tuesday collapse occurs, triggering the Great Depression. Preparations for the 1932 Olympics continue despite economic freefall.
- **1930-01-01** - Olympic Village construction begins
  Los Angeles begins construction on the first dedicated Olympic Village, housing 650 athletes in temporary structures on 600 acres near downtown.
- **1932-07-30** - Opening ceremony
  Vice President Charles Curtis declares the Games open at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. An estimated 100,000 spectators attend despite Depression-era economic hardship.
- **1932-08-03** - Women's 100m final
  Stanislawa Walasiewicz of Poland wins gold in 11.9 seconds, setting an Olympic record. Only 127 women compete across all sports—less than 10% of the total athlete count.
- **1932-08-10** - Johnny Weissmuller final race
  The American swimmer and future Tarzan actor wins his final Olympic gold medal in the 4×200m freestyle relay, completing an unprecedented Olympic career.
- **1932-08-14** - Closing ceremony
  The Games conclude after 16 days of competition. The U.S. dominates the medal count with 103 total medals, benefiting from home advantage and easier travel.

## Voices

- **William May Garland, Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee President** (official, supportive) - Los Angeles Times, June 1932
  > These Games will demonstrate to the world that despite economic conditions, Los Angeles and America remain centers of progress and athletic excellence.
- **Paul Zimmerman, sports journalist** (media, skeptical) - Synthesized from period sports coverage - Los Angeles Examiner, July 1932
  > The Olympic Village is magnificent, but empty stands tell the real story - Americans struggling with bread lines have little appetite for expensive tickets.
- **Juan Carlos Zabala, Argentine marathon runner and gold medalist** (consumer, celebratory) - Synthesized from period accounts - international Olympic dispatches, August 1932
  > The people of Los Angeles have treated athletes with great warmth. Even in hard times, they understand the spirit of Olympic competition.
- **Westbrook Pegler, sports columnist** (analyst, dismissive) - Synthesized from period opinion columns - Chicago Tribune, August 1932
  > While athletes perform admirably, one cannot help but ask: was it prudent to spend millions on Olympic facilities when breadlines stretch around city blocks?
- **Babe Didrikson, American track and field competitor** (expert, supportive) - Synthesized from period interviews - sports wire services, August 1932
  > These Games prove that the American spirit cannot be broken by hard times. We came here to compete and show the world what we're made of.

## Impact

The 1932 Los Angeles Olympics proved the Games could survive economic collapse and transcontinental logistics. Held during the worst economic crisis in modern history, the event attracted 1,332 athletes from 117 nations and established the Olympic Village as a permanent innovation, directly influencing how the Games would be organized for decades.

## Sources

- [1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Summer_Olympics) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/1932/los-angeles-olympics-1932