Background People's Olympiad

the estadi olímpic de montjuïc in barcelona intended main stadium people s olympiad.

in 1931, international olympic committee had selected berlin, capital of weimar republic, host 1936 summer olympics @ 29th ioc session in barcelona. berlin had defeated barcelona, vying host games, 43 votes 16. during same year, spain had adopted republican constitution, king alfonso xiii going exile, , catalonia declared autonomous region inside new spanish republic.

following 1936 general election in spain, newly elected popular front government (which included communist party of spain) decided spain boycott berlin olympics in germany, under adolf hitler s nsdap government , host own games. invitations made many different countries, , planned use hotels built 1929 barcelona international exposition olympic-style village. games scheduled held july 19 26 , have therefore ended 6 days prior start of berlin games. in addition usual sporting events, barcelona games have featured chess, folkdancing, music , theatre.

a total of 6,000 athletes 22 nations registered games. largest contingents of athletes came united states, united kingdom, netherlands, belgium, czechoslovakia, denmark, norway, sweden , french algeria. there teams germany , italy made of political exiles countries. teams representing jewish exiles, alsace, galicia, catalonia , basque country registered. soviet union, under rule of joseph stalin, had been holding own version of olympics known spartakiad organised red sport international. soviets, boycotted official olympics 1928-1937 agreed attend barcelona competition.

many of athletes sent trade unions, workers clubs , associations, socialist , communist parties , left-wing groups rather state-sponsored committees.

with outbreak of spanish civil war games begin, alternate games hastily cancelled. athletes never made barcelona borders had been closed, while many in city beginning of games made hasty exit. however, @ least 200 of athletes, such clara thalmann, remained in spain , joined workers militias organized defend second spanish republic against nationalists.