In the organizer's words:

The 1936 Olympic Games had already been awarded to Berlin by the IOC in 1931, in the democratic Weimar Republic. Following Hitler's appointment as Reich Chancellor in January and the passing of the Enabling Act in March 1933, the anti-Semitic policies of the National Socialists in particular led to global considerations to boycott the Games in Germany. However, the implementation of racial policy in the Nazi state continued unabated, albeit glossed over to the outside world in order to present a seemingly peaceful and tolerant Germany to critics. After the 1936 Games, anti-Jewish persecution was massively intensified.

In his lecture, historian Dr. Berno Bahro (University of Potsdam) will shed light on the various boycott efforts against the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Afterwards, Dr. René Wiese (Zentrum deutsche Sportgeschichte) will discuss with the speaker and other guests and reflect on new aspects of research into sport and the Olympics during the National Socialist era.