Remember the alternative Olympic Games in Barcelona, 1936

76 years ago alternative Olympic games was given as a protest to the Hitler propaganda games in Berlin

David Almloef

In 1936 on the Montjuic mountain radical athletes met to compete in alternative games to show the world a protest against the Hitler-games in Berlin. Well, the alternative games where interrupted by the attack from the Franco troops. Lots of athletes joined the defending of Barcelona and the Republic instead.

Lots of tourists visit this urban mountain because of the great view and to remember the ordinary games in 1992. They don’t know about what happened there in 1936.

“Tourists go home!” says a graffiti-tag on the wall on Montjüic. The mountain was the place of Franco-troops executions after the civil war. When I checked this I was a bit ashamed of being there – but know when I read about the alternative games in 1936 I think it’s a good idea to honour the efforts of resisting against fascism and Nazism if you visit the top of the hill. Skip the 1992-games and read about the struggle in 1936!

It was an arrangement by the unions and other radical organizations in Europe. And of course it was not welcomed by the official sports-organisations, the bourgeoisie press, and other authorities. In some countries athletes was supported by their government – but not in Sweden. The Swedish labour party leader told them it was bad Swedish behaviour not to visit the games in Berlin... It was the same leaders who let Hitler transport his troops on Swedish railway to help them with the logistics in Norway and Finland (we where “neutral” in the war) Only twelve Swedish athletes went to Barcelona – and they didn’t come longer than the Pyréenes. Because the same day the radicals celebrated the  inauguration of the alternative games, Franco started the attack against the government of Catalunia/Barcelona.

Other countries sent lots of athletes to Barcelona instead of Berlin. Especially France wanted to officially mark against the Hitler –propaganda.

There were shootings in the central parts of the city – at Parallell and even Plaza Catalunya! This time the Franco falangists had to retire, but as you know in the end they one the war and build the new Spanish fascist republic.

The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, commented on this : 
"The ‘Peace Olympic’ games in  Barcelona started with the smell of powder. --- While the Olympic games of the public starts under the impression of comprehensive rebellions and bloody battles, the Olympic games in Berlin starts under the salutary impression of  agreement between Germany and Austria – a  awaited relaxation makes itself felt."

Amazing…

Such discredits were common in the Swedish press. The same paper is now covering the London Olympic games as one of the biggest actors from Sweden. They are now distinctly against racism and neo Nazism. Maybe they should regularly recapitulate their big mistake 76 years ago.

David Almlöf