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The city of Los Angeles went
out of its' way to create a diversified atmosphere of warmth
to welcome thirty nine nations that had sent its' athletes
to participate in the X OLYMPIAD games of competition and
skill.
There was an economic depression facing the world at that
time -- yet, still the crowds filled to capacity 105,000
seats available at the Olympic stadium (The Los Angeles
Coliseum):
NO LADIES ALLOWED
from a book written in German - "Olympia 1932"
Publisher: REEMTSMA CIGARETTENFABRIKEN; Altona-Bahrenfeld
Although Los Angeles had
welcoming mats out for athletes from all over the world,
that welcome mat only pertained to the MALE ATHLETES -- not
the FEMALE athletes. An ELABORATE-- "OLYMPIC VILLAGE" in
Baldwin Hills, CA was erected for the first time in the
history of Olympic competition -- where competitors were all
welcomed -- as long as their gender was MALE.
There was an attitude of "NO WOMEN ALLOWED" at THEIR
EXCLUSIVE village. Lady athletes were housed and cramped
into the Chapman Park HOTEL -- while the men athletes had a
wonderful campus -- with 600 roomy cottages that provided a
great opportunity to socialize in a homey atmosphere.
The men were also pampered, and had access to a make-shift
library that allowed them to even view themselves on moving
pictures of their personal performances earlier in the day.
Frank
Wykoff said that ..."Every night at the village,
prominent motion picture stars arrived and put on gigantic
shows for us all."
ALSO:
..."It was interesting to see the different foods served
to foreign athletes, and it was surprising, to me, at least,
to watch Frenchmen drinking wine (during training) with
their meals."
Other information
concerning the Olympic Village at Baldwin Hills:
http://www.baldwinhillspark.info/olympicvillage.html
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