Opening of the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympic Games, July 28- August 12 and Changes in the Eastern World

Los Angeles celebrates the opening of the 1984 Summer Olympics officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, July 28-August 12. After turmoil brought on by the by the 1972 Munich Massacre and the financial disaster realized by Quebec, Los Angeles was the only host city to bid for the 1984 Summer Olympics. Tehran had considered bidding for these games but because of the social and political changes occurring in Iran they decided to withdrawal their bid. Many countries were not interested in bidding for the games because of the previous problems with hosting the games.

The Munich Massacre in 1972 led to the death of two Israeli Olympic team members and nine other hostages dying. The five terrorists responsible for the Israeli team member’s death also died. This was followed by Quebec’s overspending to build for the 1976 Olympic Games placing them in debt by 2 billion dollars leading to decades of trying to pay this debt off. Moscow in 1980 was also saddled by expenses exceeding their revenues.

The Los Angeles Olympic Games on the other hand profits by 223 million dollars. Except for a swim stadium and the velodrome, the Los Angeles Olympic Committee used pre-existing facilities to host the games. This became the model of future Olympic Games. The United States used corporate sponsorship and already existing facilities to keep their cut cost.

In the Eastern World major political changes were occurring in 1984. The United States after 116 years established diplomatic relations with the Vatican. This was the first time since 1867. Originally, in 1867 after hearing a rumor that the Pope would forbid American Protestants to hold services within Rome's city walls the United States congress passed a resolution stating no federal funds could be used to maintain a diplomatic mission in Rome. This meant President Reagan's "personal envoy" to the Vatican would have the rank of ambassador and the Vatican's apostolic delegate in Washington would have the title Apostic Nuncio.  This change meant that the ambassador's salary would be paid from federal funds. Previously, at receptions where the Pope presided the presidential envoy was often given a back seat with the deputy sitting with the "wives".

This year the first female vice president Geraldine Ferraro was nominated with Walter Mondale to run as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. President Reagan received 58.8% of popular vote to Mondale's 40.6%. Ronald Reagan had received 525 electoral votes compared to Mondale's 13 electoral votes. This was a huge victory for Reagan. No other candidate since 1984 has been able to match or surpass Reagan's electoral vote.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/p/munichmassacre.htm

http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/1984_Summer_Olympics.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBCetGNwwtM
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jan/11/vatican-usa-diplomatic-relations-1984-archive