Editing Olympic Games (section)

==Controversies==
{{main|List of Olympic Games scandals and controversies}}

===Boycotts===
{{main|List of Olympic Games boycotts}}
[[File:1956 Summer Olympics (Melbourne) boycotting countries (blue).png|thumb|Countries that boycotted the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] (shaded blue)]]
[[File:1964 Summer Olympics (Tokyo) boycotting countries (red).png|thumb|Countries that boycotted the [[1964 Summer Olympics]] (shaded red)]]
[[File:1976 Summer Olympics (Montréal) boycotting countries (blue).png|thumb|Countries that boycotted the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] (shaded blue)]]
[[File:1980 Summer Olympics (Moscow) boycotting countries (blue).svg|alt=|thumb|Countries that boycotted the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] (shaded blue)]]
[[File:1984 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles) boycotting countries (blue).png|thumb|Countries that boycotted the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] (shaded blue)]]
[[Australia]], [[France]], [[Greece]], [[Switzerland]] and the [[United Kingdom]] are the only countries to be represented at every Olympic Games since their inception in 1896. While countries sometimes miss an Olympics due to a lack of qualified athletes, some choose to boycott a celebration of the Games for various reasons. The [[Olympic Council of Ireland]] boycotted the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Berlin Games]], because the IOC insisted its team needed to be restricted to the [[Irish Free State]] rather than representing the entire island of Ireland.{{r|Krüger Murray 2003 p230}}

There were three boycotts of the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne Olympics]]: the [[Netherlands]], [[Spain]], and [[Switzerland]] refused to attend because of the repression of the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian uprising]] by the [[Soviet Union]], but did send an equestrian delegation to Stockholm; [[Cambodia]], [[Egypt]], [[Iraq]], and [[Lebanon]] boycotted the Games because of the [[Suez Crisis]]; and the [[China|People's Republic of China]] boycotted the Games due to the participation of the [[Republic of China]], composed of athletes coming from [[Taiwan]].<ref name="Boycott 1" />

In [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972]] and [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976]] a large number of African countries threatened the IOC with a boycott to force them to ban [[South Africa]] and [[Rhodesia]], because of their [[segregationist]] rule. [[New Zealand]] was also one of the African boycott targets, because [[New Zealand national rugby union team|its national rugby union team]] had toured [[Apartheid in South Africa|apartheid]]-ruled South Africa. The IOC conceded in the first two cases, but refused to ban New Zealand on the grounds that rugby was not an Olympic sport.<ref name="CBC boycott" /> Fulfilling their threat, twenty African countries were joined by [[Guyana]] and Iraq in a withdrawal from the Montreal Games, after a few of their athletes had already competed.<ref name="CBC boycott" /><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1976/ore109/ore109h.pdf|title=Africa and the XXIst Olympiad|journal=Olympic Review|issue=109–110|pages=584–585|date=November–December 1976|access-date=6 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226211550/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1976/ore109/ore109h.pdf|archive-date=26 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Republic of China (Taiwan) was excluded from the [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Games]] by order of [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau]], the prime minister of Canada. Trudeau's action was widely condemned as having brought shame on Canada for having succumbed to political pressure to keep the Chinese delegation from competing under its name.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1080/02722019109481098|title = Trudeau, Taiwan, and the 1976 Montreal Olympics|journal = American Review of Canadian Studies|volume = 21|issue = 4|pages = 423–448|year = 1991|last1 = MacIntosh|first1 = Donald|last2 = Greenhorn|first2 = Donna|last3 = Hawes|first3 = Michael}}</ref> The ROC refused a proposed compromise that would have still allowed them to use the [[ROC flag]] and [[National Anthem of the Republic of China|anthem]] as long as the name was changed.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1976/ore107/ore107i.pdf|title=Game playing in Montreal|journal=Olympic Review|pages=461–462|issue=107–108|date=October 1976|access-date=7 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225031658/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1976/ore107/ore107i.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Athletes from Taiwan did not participate again until 1984, when they returned under the name of Chinese Taipei and with a special flag and anthem.<ref name="corbit" />

In 1980 and 1984, the [[Cold War]] opponents boycotted each other's Games. The [[United States]] and sixty-five other countries boycotted the [[1980 Summer Olympics|Moscow Olympics in 1980]] because of the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]]. This boycott reduced the number of nations participating to 80, the lowest number since 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/moscow-1980-summer-olympics|title=Moscow 1980|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=25 July 2011}}</ref> The Soviet Union and 15 other nations countered by boycotting the [[1984 Summer Olympics|Los Angeles Olympics of 1984]]. Although a boycott led by the Soviet Union depleted the field in certain sports, 140 National Olympic Committees took part, which was a record at the time.<ref name="olympic.org"/> The fact that Romania, a Warsaw Pact country, opted to compete despite Soviet demands led to a warm reception of the Romanian team by the United States. When the Romanian athletes entered during the opening ceremonies, they received a standing ovation from the spectators, which comprised mostly U.S. citizens. The boycotting nations of the Eastern Bloc staged their own alternate event, the [[Friendship Games]], in July and August.<ref name="1980 Boycott" /><ref name="1980 Boycott 2" />

There had been growing calls for boycotts of Chinese goods and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in protest of China's [[Human rights in the People's Republic of China|human rights record]], and in response to [[2008 Tibetan unrest|Tibetan disturbances]]. Ultimately, no nation supported a boycott.<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia: Calls to Boycott Beijing Olympics|work=Inter Press Service|url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41699|access-date=10 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912023227/http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41699|archive-date=12 September 2008 }}</ref><ref name="EUTibet" /> In August 2008, the government of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] called for a boycott of the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], set to be held in [[Sochi]], Russia, in response to Russia's participation in the [[2008 South Ossetia war]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2008/0711/p06s01-woeu.html|title=Putin Faces Green Olympic Challenge: The Sochi 2014 Winter Games are threatened by a looming international boycott, environmental concerns, and public protests against local development|journal=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=18 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822014059/http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0711/p06s01-woeu.html|archive-date=22 August 2009|date=11 July 2008 }}, ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''. Retrieved 18 August 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic challenge for Sochi Games|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/dec/05/winter-olympics-sochi-russia|access-date=31 May 2011|location=London|first=Frederick|last=Bernas|date=5 December 2009}}</ref> Continuing human rights violations in China have led to "[[Concerns and controversies at the 2022 Winter Olympics#Diplomatic boycotts or non-attendance|diplomatic boycotts]]", where athletes still compete at the Games but diplomats do not attend, of the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] in Beijing by several countries, most notably the United States.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Erin|last1=Doherty|access-date=20 February 2022|title=What a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics means|url=https://www.axios.com/diplomatic-boycott-beijing-winter-olympics-10f6e9e4-2cd1-457b-99d9-6dfaa406c568.html|website=Axios|date=3 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Simone McCarthy and Rhea Mogul|access-date=20 February 2022|title=India launches last-minute diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over Chinese soldier|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/03/china/india-diplomatic-boycott-beijing-olympics-intl-hnk/index.html|website=CNN|date=4 February 2022 }}</ref>

===Politics===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-G00630, Sommerolympiade, Siegerehrung Weitsprung.jpg|thumb|[[Jesse Owens]] on the podium after winning the long jump at the [[1936 Summer Olympics]], where he won four gold medals; in his 1980 obituary, ''[[The New York Times]]'' called him "perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in [[track and field]] history".<ref>{{Citation|last=Litsky|first=Frank|year=1980|title=Jesse Owens Dies of Cancer at 66
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|location=New York|url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0912.html|access-date=23 March 2014}}</ref>]]
[[File:John Carlos, Tommie Smith, Peter Norman 1968cr.jpg|thumb|Gold medalist [[Tommie Smith]] (center) and bronze medalist [[John Carlos]] (right) showing the [[raised fist]] on the podium after the 200&nbsp;m race at the [[1968 Summer Olympics]]; both wear [[Olympic Project for Human Rights]] badges. [[Peter Norman]] (silver medalist, left) from Australia also wears an OPHR badge in solidarity with Smith and Carlos.]]
The Olympic Games have been used as a platform to promote political ideologies almost from its inception. Nazi Germany wished to portray the [[Nazi Party|National Socialist Party]] as benevolent and peace-loving when they hosted the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Games]], though they used the Games to display [[Aryan]] superiority.<ref name=FindlingPelle/>{{rp|p. 107}} Germany was the most successful nation at the Games, which did much to support their allegations of [[Aryan]] supremacy, but notable victories by African American [[Jesse Owens]], who won four gold medals, and [[Hungary at the 1936 Summer Olympics|Hungarian]] Jew [[Ibolya Csák]], blunted the message.<ref name=FindlingPelle/>{{rp|pp. 111–112}} The [[Soviet Union at the Olympics|Soviet Union]] did not participate until the [[1952 Summer Olympics]] in Helsinki. Instead, starting in 1928, the Soviets organised an international sports event called [[Spartakiad]]s. During the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s, communist and socialist organisations in several countries, including the United States, attempted to counter what they called the "bourgeois" Olympics with the [[Socialist Workers' Sport International|Workers Olympics]].<ref name="GSE" />{{sfn|Roche|2000|p=106}} It was not until the [[Soviet Union at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Summer Games]] that the Soviets emerged as a sporting superpower and, in doing so, took full advantage of the publicity that came with winning at the Olympics.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1974/ore84/ore84k.pdf|title=The USSR and Olympism|journal=[[Olympic Review]]|issue=84|pages=530–557|date=October 1974|access-date=4 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409030958/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1974/ore84/ore84k.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Soviet Union's success might be attributed to a heavy state's investment in sports to fulfill its political agenda on an international stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/russia-and-its-empires/tyler-benson/|title=The Role of Sports in The Soviet Union|publisher= Guided History|last=Benson|first=Tyler|website=blogs.bu.edu|access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="cia.gov">{{cite web|title=Soviet Sports and Intelligence Activities|url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00810A005600130009-0.pdf|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|date=28 December 1954|access-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413095421/https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00810A005600130009-0.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

Individual athletes have also used the Olympic stage to promote their own political agenda. At the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in Mexico City, two American track and field athletes, [[Tommie Smith]] and [[John Carlos]], who finished first and third in the 200&nbsp;metres, performed the [[1968 Olympics Black Power salute|Black Power salute]] on the victory stand. The second-place finisher, [[Peter Norman]] of Australia, wore an [[Olympic Project for Human Rights]] badge in support of Smith and Carlos. In response to the protest, IOC president [[Avery Brundage]] ordered Smith and Carlos suspended from the US team and banned from the Olympic Village. When the US Olympic Committee refused, Brundage threatened to ban the entire US track team. This threat led to the expulsion of the two athletes from the Games.<ref name="Black Salute" /> In another notable incident in the gymnastics competition, while standing on the medal podium after the balance beam event final, in which [[Natalia Kuchinskaya]] of the [[Soviet Union]] had controversially taken the gold, [[Czechoslovakia]]n gymnast [[Věra Čáslavská]] quietly turned her head down and away during the playing of the Soviet national anthem. The action was Čáslavská's silent protest against the recent [[Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia]]. Her protest was repeated when she accepted her medal for her floor exercise routine when the judges changed the preliminary scores of the Soviet [[Larisa Petrik]] to allow her to tie with Čáslavská for the gold. While Čáslavská's countrymen supported her actions and her outspoken opposition to Communism (she had publicly signed and supported [[Ludvik Vaculik]]'s "[[The Two Thousand Words|Two Thousand Words]]" manifesto), the new regime responded by banning her from both sporting events and international travel for many years and made her an outcast from society until the fall of communism.

Currently, the government of Iran has taken steps to avoid any competition between its athletes and those from Israel. An Iranian [[judoka]], [[Arash Miresmaeili]], did not compete in a match against an Israeli during the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]. Although he was officially disqualified for being overweight, Miresmaeli was awarded US$125,000 in prize money by the Iranian government, an amount paid to all Iranian gold medal winners. He was officially cleared of intentionally avoiding the bout, but his receipt of the prize money raised suspicion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iranian Judoka rewarded after snubbing Israeli
|agency=[[The Associated Press]]
|publisher=NBC Sports|date=8 September 2004|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5942871/|access-date=7 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325034627/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5942871/|archive-date=25 March 2009|url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2022, in the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the IOC Executive Board "recommends no participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, urges International Sports Federations and organisers of sports events worldwide to do everything in their power to ensure that no athlete or sports official from Russia or Belarus be allowed to take part under the name of Russia or Belarus."<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 March 2021|title=IOC EB recommends no participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-eb-recommends-no-participation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-and-officials|access-date=3 March 2022|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301030908/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-eb-recommends-no-participation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-and-officials|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, the IOC announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate in the Olympics under certain conditions: they must not represent their country or any associated organisation, and those actively supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine are barred from competing. This decision aimed to allow athletes to compete and enhance their stature. While 32 athletes accepted the invitation, 28 qualified athletes declined. Competing under a neutral flag and uniform, these athletes had a neutral song played if they won any medals, instead of their national anthems. Additionally, the audience was prohibited from waving their flags.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 July 2024|title=Why are Russian athletes 'banned' from the 2024 Paris Olympics?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sports/russia-athletes-banned-paris-olympics-9484765/|access-date=6 August 2024|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

===Use of performance-enhancing drugs===
{{main|Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games}}
[[File:Marathon Hicks1904.jpg|thumb|[[Thomas Hicks (athlete)|Thomas Hicks]] running the [[marathon]] at the [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 Olympics]] in [[St. Louis]]]]
In the early 20th century, many Olympic athletes began using drugs to improve their athletic abilities. For example, in 1904, [[Thomas Hicks (athlete)|Thomas Hicks]], a gold medallist in the marathon, was given [[strychnine]] by his coach (at the time, taking different substances was allowed, as there was no data regarding the effect of these substances on a body of an athlete).<ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Hicks|publisher=Sports-reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hi/tom-hicks-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171703/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hi/tom-hicks-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|access-date=30 January 2009}}</ref> The only Olympic death linked to performance enhancing occurred at the [[1960 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rome]]. A Danish cyclist, [[Knud Enemark Jensen]], fell from his bicycle and later died. A coroner's inquiry found that he was under the influence of [[amphetamines]].<ref name="wadahistory" /> By the mid-1960s, sports federations started to ban the use of performance-enhancing drugs; in 1967 the IOC followed suit.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sharon|last=Begley|title=The Drug Charade|work=Newsweek|date=7 January 2008|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/86079/output/print|access-date=27 August 2008}}</ref>

According to British journalist [[Andrew Jennings]], a [[KGB]] colonel stated that the agency's officers had posed as anti-doping authorities from the [[IOC]] to undermine [[doping test]]s and that Soviet athletes were "rescued with [these] tremendous efforts".<ref name=DG2011/> On the topic of the [[1980 Summer Olympics]], a 1989 Australian study said "There is hardly a medal winner at the Moscow Games, certainly not a gold medal winner, who is not on one sort of drug or another: usually several kinds. The Moscow Games might as well have been called the Chemists' Games."<ref name=DG2011>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0292739575|title= Drug Games: The International Olympic Committee and the Politics of Doping|first= Thomas M.|last= Hunt|year= 2011|publisher= University of Texas Press|isbn= 978-0292739574|page= 66 }}</ref>

In 2016, documents obtained revealed the [[Soviet Union]]'s plans for a statewide doping system in [[track and field]] in preparation for the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]. Dated prior to the country's decision to boycott the Games, the document detailed the existing steroids operations of the program, along with suggestions for further enhancements.<ref name=NYT160813/> The communication, directed to the Soviet Union's head of track and field, was prepared by Sergei Portugalov of the Institute for Physical Culture. Portugalov was also one of the main figures involved in the implementation of the Russian doping programme prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics.<ref name=NYT160813>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/sports/olympics/soviet-doping-plan-russia-rio-games.html|title=The Soviet Doping Plan: Document Reveals Illicit Approach to '84 Olympics|last=Ruiz|first=Rebecca R.|date= 13 August 2016
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|issn=0362-4331|access-date=3 September 2016|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815033105/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/sports/olympics/soviet-doping-plan-russia-rio-games.html|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first Olympic athlete to test positive for the use of performance-enhancing drugs was [[Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall]], a Swedish [[Modern pentathlon|pentathlete]] at the [[1968 Summer Olympics]], who lost his bronze medal for alcohol use.{{sfn|Porterfield|2008|p=15}} One of the most publicised doping-related disqualifications occurred after the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] where Canadian sprinter [[Ben Johnson (Canadian sprinter)|Ben Johnson]] (who won the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100-metre dash]]) tested positive for [[stanozolol]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Montague|first=James|title=Hero or villain? Ben Johnson and the dirtiest race in history|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/23/sport/olympics-2012-ben-johnson-seoul-1988-dirtiest-race/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=23 July 2012|access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref>

In 1999, the IOC formed the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) in an effort to systematise the research and detection of performance-enhancing drugs. There was a sharp increase in positive drug tests at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] and [[2002 Winter Olympics]] due to improved testing conditions. Several medallists in weightlifting and cross-country skiing from post-Soviet states were disqualified because of doping offences. The IOC-established drug testing regimen (now known as the Olympic Standard) has set the worldwide benchmark that other sporting federations attempt to emulate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Zachary|last=Coile|title=Bill Seeks to Toughen Drug Testing in Pro Sports|date=27 April 2005|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/27/MNGMICG0SS1.DTL|access-date=3 September 2008}}</ref> During the Beijing games, 3,667 athletes were tested by the IOC under the auspices of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Both urine and blood tests were used to detect banned substances.<ref name="wadahistory" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Doping: 3667 athletes tested, IOC seeks action against Halkia's coach|date=19 August 2008|publisher=Express India Newspapers|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Doping-3667-athletes-tested-IOC-seeks-action-against-Halkias-coach/350677/|access-date=28 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201114743/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Doping-3667-athletes-tested-IOC-seeks-action-against-Halkias-coach/350677/|archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref> In London over 6,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes were tested. Prior to the Games 107 athletes tested positive for banned substances and were not allowed to compete.<ref>{{cite web|title=Play True|publisher=World Anti-Doping Agency|year=2012|url=http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/Resources/Publications/PlayTrue_Magazine/PlayTrue-2012-02-London-Games-web-EN.pdf|access-date=13 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125200318/http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/Resources/Publications/PlayTrue_Magazine/PlayTrue-2012-02-London-Games-web-EN.pdf|archive-date=25 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Anti-Doping Results Announced
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|date=25 July 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/sports/olympics/antidoping-results-announced.html
|agency=[[The Associated Press]]
|access-date=13 July 2013|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728054943/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/sports/olympics/antidoping-results-announced.html|archive-date=28 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=IOC Orders Belarus to Return Gold|publisher=ESPN|date=13 August 2012|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/trackandfield/story/_/id/8263960/2012-london-olympics-belarus-shot-putter-nadzeya-ostapchuk-stripped-gold-doping|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref>

In 2024, rumors about China's doping spread as many of the athletes, especially in swimming, were accused of doping before Tokyo 2020. 23 Chinese swimmers were tested positive for prohibited substances, with both the World Anti-Doping Agency and World Aquatics accepting Chinese claims that positive tests were caused by tainted food.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=China hits back at the US in response to doping allegations dogging its swimmers |url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-china-swimming-doping-51cd4e42bf73f4b9b0f8bb37453775a2 |access-date=27 September 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> After the FBI and Justice Department started investigating, the IOC threatened to revoke the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City, unless they dropped the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jett |first=Jennifer |date=2 August 2024 |title=Frequent doping tests and suspicion cast a shadow over China's Olympics swim team |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna164541 |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

====Russian doping scandal====
{{recentism|date=December 2022}}
{{further|Doping in Russia|McLaren Report|Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics#Russian doping scandal|Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics|Russia at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics|Oswald Commission}}
[[Doping in sport|Doping]] in [[Russian sports]] has a systemic nature. [[Russia]] has had 44 [[List of stripped Olympic medals|Olympic medals stripped]] for doping violations – the most of any country, and more than a quarter of the global total. From 2011 to 2015, more than a thousand Russian competitors in various sports, including summer, winter, and Paralympic sports, benefited from a [[cover-up]].<ref name=EDP/><ref name=McLarenII/><ref name=NYT161209/><ref name=Guardian161209/> Russia was partially banned from the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] and was banned from the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] (while still being allowed to participate as the "[[Olympic Athletes from Russia]]") due to the state-sponsored doping programme.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36881326|title=Rio Olympics 2016: Which Russian athletes have been cleared to compete?|date=6 August 2016|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ruiz|first1=Rebecca R.|last2=Panja|first2=Tariq
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/sports/olympics/ioc-russia-winter-olympics.html|title=Russia Banned From Winter Olympics by I.O.C.|date=5 December 2017|access-date=2 February 2020|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217124133/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/sports/olympics/ioc-russia-winter-olympics.html|archive-date=17 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2019, Russia was banned for four years from all major sporting events for systematic doping and lying to WADA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/others-sports/russia-banned-from-olympics-for-four-years-over-doping-scandal-tass/ar-BBXY8gO?ocid=spartanntp#image=CC8RP1%7C2|agency=Reuters|title=Russia banned from Olympics for four years over doping scandal: TASS|website=MSN|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref> The ban was issued by WADA on 9&nbsp;December 2019, and the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA had 21&nbsp;days to make an appeal to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS). The ban meant that Russian athletes would only be allowed to compete under the Olympic flag after passing anti-doping tests.<ref>{{Cite news|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/50710598|title=Russia banned for four years to include 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 December 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> Russia appealed the decision to the CAS.<ref>
{{cite magazine
|author=[[The Associated Press]]
|department=Nation / Olympics / Sports / World
|title=Russia confirms it will appeal 4-year Olympic ban
|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/russia-confirms-it-will-appeal-4-year-olympic-ban
|magazine=[[The Seattle Times]]
|date=27 December 2019
}}</ref> The CAS, on review of Russia's appeal of its case from WADA, ruled on 17&nbsp;December 2020, to reduce the penalty that WADA had placed. Instead of banning Russia from sporting events, the ruling allowed Russia to participate at the Olympics and other international events, but for a period of two years, the team cannot use the Russian name, flag, or anthem and must present themselves as "Neutral Athlete" or "Neutral Team". The ruling does allow for team uniforms to display "Russia" on the uniform as well as the use of the Russian flag colors within the uniform's design, although the name should be up to equal predominance as the "Neutral Athlete/Team" designation.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://apnews.com/article/russia-banned-name-flag-olympic-games-a8bd342806883f66152859701d5ae5d4|title= Russia can't use its name and flag at the next 2 Olympics|first = Graham|last = Dunbar|date = 17 December 2020|access-date= 17 December 2020
|publisher=[[The Associated Press]]
}}</ref>

In February 2022, during the Beijing Olympics, the international news media reported that the issue of doping was again raised over a positive test for [[trimetazidine]] by the ROC's [[Kamila Valieva]],<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Tétrault-Farber|first1=Gabrielle|last2=Axon|first2=Iain|last3=Grohmann|first3=Karolos|date=9 February 2022|title=Figure skating-Russian media say teen star tested positive for banned drug|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/figure-skating-medals-ceremony-delayed-over-legal-consultation-2022-02-09/|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/09/olympic-figure-skating-team-medals-delayed-russian-drug-test/6717526001/|title=Positive drug test by Russian Kamila Valieva has forced a delay of Olympic team medals ceremony|first=Christine|last=Brennan|author-link=Christine Brennan|website=[[USA Today]]|date=9 February 2022}}</ref> which was officially confirmed on 11&nbsp;February.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Anna|date=11 February 2022|title=Winter Olympics: Kamila Valieva failed drug test confirmed|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60329120.amp|work=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> Valieva's sample in question was taken by the [[Russian Anti-Doping Agency]] (RUSADA) at the [[2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships]] on 25&nbsp;December, but the sample was not analyzed at the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] (WADA) laboratory where it was sent for testing until 8&nbsp;February, one day after the team event concluded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/10/sports/olympics/kamila-valieva-trimetazidine.html|title=Star Russian Figure Skater Tested Positive for Banned Drug|first1=Juliet|last1=Macur|author-link1=Juliet Macur|first2=Andrew|last2=Keh
|website=[[The New York Times]]
|date=12 February 2022}}</ref> CAS was expected to hear the case on 13&nbsp;February with a decision scheduled for announcement the next day, ahead of her scheduled appearance in the women's singles event beginning on 15&nbsp;February.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/593979-russian-figure-skaters-drug-case-to-be-heard-sunday-in-beijing|title=Russian figure skater's drug test case to be heard Sunday|first=Lexi|last=Lonas|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=12 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/sport/kamila-valieva-roc-drugs-test-olympics-spt-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Kamila Valieva: Russian anti-doping agency allowed teenage figure skater to compete in Olympics despite failed drug test|last1=Ritchie|first1=Hannah|last2=Watson|first2=Angus|last3=Regan|first3=Helen|date=11 February 2022|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> Due to Valieva being a minor at the time, as well as being classified as a "protected person" under WADA guidelines, RUSADA and the IOC announced on 12&nbsp;February that they would broaden the scope of their respective investigations to include members of her entourage (e.g. coaches, team doctors, etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/winter-olympics/news/30787/12539761/kamila-valieva-ioc-welcomes-investigation-of-russian-figure-skaters-entourage-as-15-year-old-awaits-cas-decision-at-winter-olympics|title=Kamila Valieva: IOC welcomes investigation of Russian figure skater's entourage as 15-year-old awaits CAS decision at Winter Olympics|author=PA Media|author-link=PA Media|website=[[Sky Sports]]|date=12 February 2022}}</ref> By the end of the Beijing Olympics, a total five athletes were reported for doping violations.<ref>{{Cite web|website=Yahoo Sport Australia|title=Spanish skater caught in shock new scandal after Winter Olympics|first=Sam|last=Goodwin|date=22 February 2022|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/winter-olympics-2022-spanish-skater-fresh-doping-storm-195328933.html|url-status=live|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226175553/https://au.sports.yahoo.com/winter-olympics-2022-spanish-skater-fresh-doping-storm-195328933.html }}</ref> A decision by RUSADA was issued in mid-October, which was endorsed by WADA, stating that the details of the Valieva hearing and its scheduled dates would be placed under international guidelines for the protection of minors (Valieva was 15 years old when the positive test results were disclosed) and not to be disclosed publicly.<ref name="Evan Bates">{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/10/23/kamila-valieva-doping-case-russia-figure-skating/|title=Evan Bates calls Kamila Valiyeva doping case secrecy 'an injustice'|work=OlympicTalk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=23 October 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116034401/https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/kamila-valieva-doping-case-russia-figure-skating|archive-date=16 November 2023 }}</ref> Although Russia as a country is currently banned from participating in international skating events due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Valieva has continued to compete within Russian borders without being hindered by RUSADA as recently as the Russian Grand Prix held in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hjnews.com/sports/nation/russia-grand-prix-figure-skating-valieva/image_6fcca14d-892d-5da6-87ee-8498be2dcc28.html|title=Russia Grand Prix Figure Skating Valieva|website=The Herald Journal|date=23 October 2022|first1=Alexander|last1=Zemlianichenko|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025221740/https://www.hjnews.com/sports/nation/russia-grand-prix-figure-skating-valieva/image_6fcca14d-892d-5da6-87ee-8498be2dcc28.html|archive-date=25 October 2022 }}</ref> In mid-November, WADA requested that CAS take up the review of the Valieva case with an eye towards a four-year suspension of Valieva, which would exclude her from competition at the next Winter Olympics, and to rescind her first-place performance at the previous Beijing Olympics because, "the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) did not meet a WADA-imposed Nov. 4 deadline to deliver a verdict on Valiyeva's case."<ref>"[https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/11/14/kamila-valieva-doping-figure-skating/ Kamila Valiyeva could be banned through 2026 Winter Olympics]". NBC Sports. By OlympicTalk. 14 November 2022.</ref>

===Sex discrimination===
{{main|Participation of women in the Olympics}}
[[File:Charlotte Cooper.jpg|thumb|[[Charlotte Cooper (tennis)|Charlotte Cooper]] of the [[Great Britain at the Olympics|United Kingdom]], the first female Olympic champion, in the [[1900 Summer Olympics|1900 Games]]]]
Women were first allowed to compete at the [[1900 Summer Olympics]] in Paris, but at the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] 35 countries were still only fielding all-male delegations.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> This number dropped rapidly over the following years. In 2000, [[Bahrain at the Olympics|Bahrain]] sent two women competitors for the first time: [[Fatema Hameed Gerashi]] and [[Mariam Mohamed Hadi Al Hilli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/09/23/anderson_arab_women/|title=Arab women make breakthrough at Games|date=23 September 2000|website=[[CNN/SI]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810022719/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/09/23/anderson_arab_women/|archive-date=10 August 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2004, [[Robina Muqimyar]] and [[Fariba Rezayee]] became the first women to compete for [[Afghanistan|Afghanistan at the Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3826673.stm|title=Afghan women's Olympic dream|date=22 June 2004|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040719033311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3826673.stm|archive-date=19 July 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, the [[United Arab Emirates at the Olympics|United Arab Emirates]] sent female athletes for the first time; [[Maitha Al Maktoum]] competed in taekwondo, and [[Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum|Latifa Al Maktoum]] in equestrian. Both athletes were from [[Al Maktoum|Dubai's ruling family]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Should Saudi Arabia be Banned from the Olympics?|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wallechinsky/should-saudi-arabia-be-ba_b_115736.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=29 July 2008|first=David|last=Wallechinsky}}</ref>

By 2010, only three countries had never sent female athletes to the Games: [[Brunei at the Olympics|Brunei]], [[Saudi Arabia at the Olympics|Saudi Arabia]], and [[Qatar at the Olympics|Qatar]]. Brunei had taken part in only three celebrations of the Games, sending a single athlete on each occasion, but Saudi Arabia and Qatar had been competing regularly with all-male teams. In 2010, the International Olympic Committee announced it would "press" these countries to enable and facilitate the participation of women for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London. [[Anita DeFrantz]], chair of the IOC's Women and Sports Commission, suggested that countries be barred if they prevented women from competing. Shortly thereafter, the [[Qatar Olympic Committee]] announced that it "hoped to send up to four female athletes in [[Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics|shooting]] and [[Fencing at the 2012 Summer Olympics|fencing]]" to the 2012 Summer Games.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacKay|first=Duncan|title=Qatar decision to send female athletes to London 2012 increases pressure on Saudi Arabia|newspaper=Insidethegames.biz - Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News |url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/2012/9939-qatar-set-to-bow-to-ioc-pressure-and-send-women-to-london-2012|publisher=Inside the Games|date=1 July 2010|access-date=31 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228065858/http://www.insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/2012/9939-qatar-set-to-bow-to-ioc-pressure-and-send-women-to-london-2012|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
  
In 2008, [[Ali Al-Ahmed]], director of the [[Institute for Gulf Affairs]], likewise called for Saudi Arabia to be barred from the Games, describing its ban on women athletes as a violation of the International Olympic Committee charter. He noted: "For the last 15 years, many international nongovernmental organisations worldwide have been trying to lobby the IOC for better enforcement of its own laws banning gender discrimination.&nbsp; While their efforts did result in increasing numbers of women Olympians, the IOC has been reluctant to take a strong position and threaten the discriminating countries with suspension or expulsion."<ref name="nytimes.com" /> In July 2010, ''[[The Independent]]'' reported: "Pressure is growing on the International Olympic Committee to kick out Saudi Arabia, who are likely to be the only major nation not to include women in their Olympic team for 2012.&nbsp;... Should Saudi Arabia&nbsp;... send a male-only team to London, we understand they will face protests from equal rights and women's groups which threaten to disrupt the Games".<ref name="independent.co.uk" />

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, every participating nation included female athletes for the first time in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Saudis to send 2 women to London, make history|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/07/12/saudi-arabia-women-london-olympics.ap/index.html|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=13 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715100639/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/07/12/saudi-arabia-women-london-olympics.ap/index.html|archive-date=15 July 2012 }}</ref> Saudi Arabia included two female athletes in its delegation; Qatar, four; and Brunei, one ([[Maziah Mahusin]], in the 400&nbsp;m hurdles). Qatar made one of its first female Olympians, [[Bahiya al-Hamad]] (shooting), its flagbearer at the 2012 Games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18813543|title=London 2012 Olympics: Saudi Arabian women to compete|date=12 July 2012|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717114955/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18813543|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and runner [[Maryam Yusuf Jamal]] of [[Bahrain]] became the first Persian Gulf female athlete to win a medal when she won a bronze for her showing in the [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 1500 metres|1500&nbsp;m race]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/13/232068.html|title=Female Gulf athletes make their mark in London Olympics|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=13 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328201452/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/13/232068.html|archive-date=28 March 2014}}</ref>

The only sports on the Olympic programme that features men and women individually competing against one another are the equestrian disciplines, as there is no "Women's Eventing", or "Men's Dressage". As of 2008, there were still more medal events for men than women. With the addition of women's boxing to the programme in the 2012 Summer Olympics, however, women athletes were able to compete in all the sports open to men.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8196879.stm|title=Women's boxing gains Olympic spot|date=13 August 2009|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815152537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8196879.stm|archive-date=15 August 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In the winter Olympics, women are still unable to compete in the [[Nordic combined]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mather|first=Victor|title=Desperately Seeking Skiers for a Budding Olympic Sport
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|date=21 February 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/sports/olympics/womens-nordic-combined.html|access-date=24 June 2018|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021834/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/sports/olympics/womens-nordic-combined.html|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After men were included in artistic swimming at the Paris 2024 games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-artistic-swimming-synchronized-worlds-may-fd98564506bf362e515b1e75cb24d01c|title=Men to compete in artistic swimming at Olympics for first time 
|website=[[Associated Press News]]
|date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> the only remaining Olympic event in which male athletes may not compete is [[rhythmic gymnastics]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldsmith|first=Belinda|title=Men notch up an Olympic win at sex equality Games|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-oly-equality-men-day-idUKBRE86R0KC20120728|work=Reuters|date=28 July 2012|access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref> Despite being eligible to qualify for the 2024 Paris games, no men were included on any artistic swimming team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/no-male-artistic-swimmers-olympics-after-us-leave-may-out-squad-2024-06-08/ |title=No male artistic swimmers at Olympics after U.S. leave May out of squad |work=Reuters |last=Ewing |first=Lori |date=8 June 2024 |access-date=5 October 2024}}</ref>

A recent addition to the games has been the inclusion of mixed events, whereby men and women of the same nation compete together against other teams. Beginning in 2018, the sport of [[curling]] introduced a mixed event where teams of one man and one women competed in their own tournament for a medal. As of the 2024 Paris games, there are now 13 mixed medal events across 11 disciplines at the summer games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/mixed-team-events-explained-watch-live |title=Which mixed team events will take place at Paris 2024? |publisher=Olympics.com |last=Nelsen |first=Matt |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=5 October 2024}}</ref>

===War and terrorism===
The [[world war]]s caused three Olympiads to pass without a celebration of the Games: the [[1916 Summer Olympics|1916 Games]] were cancelled because of [[World War I|World War&nbsp;I]], and the summer and winter games of 1940 and 1944 were cancelled because of World War&nbsp;II.<ref name="hines-xxii"/> The [[Russo-Georgian War]] between Georgia and Russia erupted on the opening day of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing. Both American President [[George W. Bush]] and Russian Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]] were attending the Olympics at that time and spoke together about the conflict at a luncheon hosted by the Chinese president [[Hu Jintao]].<ref name="MSNBC 2009-01-30" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic Shooters Hug as their Countries do Battle|website=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/10/olympic.embrace/|access-date=10 August 2008|date=10 August 2008}}</ref>

Terrorism most directly affected the Olympic Games in 1972. When the [[1972 Summer Olympics|Summer Games]] were held in [[Munich]], Germany, eleven members of the [[Israel at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Israeli Olympic team]] were taken hostage by the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|Palestinian]] terrorist group [[Black September Organization|Black September]] in what is now known as the [[Munich massacre]]. The terrorists killed two of the athletes soon after taking them hostage and killed the other nine during a failed liberation attempt. A German police officer and five of the terrorists also died.<ref>{{cite news|title=Munich 1972: Massacre at Munich - 50 Years of Olympic Broadcasting|website=[[CBC.ca]]|url=http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-1289-7332/sports/olympics_cbc/clip5|access-date=29 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223155213/http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-1289-7332/sports/olympics_cbc/clip5|archive-date=23 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the selection of [[Barcelona]], Spain, to host the [[1992 Summer Olympics]], the separatist [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]] terrorist organisation launched attacks in the region, including the [[Vic bombing|1991 bombing]] in the Catalonian city of [[Vic, Catalonia|Vic]] that killed ten people.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0401/01061.html|title=Spain Tackles Terrorist Threat by Basques to Olympics, Expo|journal=Christian Science Monitor|date=1 April 1992|last=Senor|first=Juan I.|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034137/https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0401/01061.html|archive-date= 26 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1991/08/11/the-threat-to-the-games-in-spain/37be840c-3424-4451-b037-151a53bf2491/|title=The Threat to the Games in Spain|newspaper=Washington Post|date=11 August 1991|last1=Finkelstein|first1=Beth|last2=Koch|first2=Noel|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114183729/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1991/08/11/the-threat-to-the-games-in-spain/37be840c-3424-4451-b037-151a53bf2491/|archive-date= 14 November 2020 }}</ref>

Terrorism affected two Olympic Games held in the United States. During the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, [[Centennial Olympic Park bombing|a bomb was detonated at the Centennial Olympic Park]], killing two people and injuring 111 others. The bomb was set by [[Eric Rudolph]], an [[American domestic terrorist]], who is serving a life sentence for the bombing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic Park Bombing|website=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9607/27/olympic.bomb.main|access-date=29 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828222231/http://www.cnn.com/US/9607/27/olympic.bomb.main/|archive-date=28 August 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in Salt Lake City took place just five months after the [[September&nbsp;11 attacks]], which meant a higher level of security than ever before provided for an Olympic Games. The opening ceremonies of the Games featured symbols relating to 9/11, including the flag that flew at [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] and honour guards of [[NYPD]] and [[FDNY]] members.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/05/03/ioc-bin-laden-killing-no-bearing-olympic-security|title=IOC on bin Laden killing: no bearing on Olympic security|date=3 May 2011
|agency=[[The Associated Press]]
|newspaper=Daily Hampshire Gazette|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927034002/http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/05/03/ioc-bin-laden-killing-no-bearing-olympic-security|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>