ISOH International Society of Olympic Historians

08/12/2026

Could a "Cold War 2.0" impact plans for LA28? That's the question at the center of a guest column by Maggie Seidel of The Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University now published in the online edition of ISOH Journal of Olympic History. Read all about it ... https://bit.ly/ISOHLA28ColdWarQuestion

08/11/2026

One week from today, please join us for the free Games History Hour presented by U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and ISOH. Our 18 August presentation is themed "Uncovering the Ancient Games" exploring how the tradition began, what competitors actually faced, and lesser-known details that continue to reshape our understanding of the ancient world. USOPM’s Chief Content and Integration Officer Lindsay Huban moderates a conversation with ISOH President Dr. Christian Wacker and Dr. Konstantinos Georgiadis, professor at Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz. Registration for this Olympics discussion is free and available here: https://bit.ly/ISOHUSOPMGamesHistoryHour18Aug2026

08/05/2026

Where were you when the spectacle of South America's first Olympics opened in Rio de Janeiro on 5 Aug 2016? After Time Brasil concluded the Olympians parade, the first kinetic cauldron was lit, with more details of its design summarized by Myles Garcia in this archived ISOH Journal feature ... https://bit.ly/ISOHRioCauldron

07/31/2026

Five decades ago at Parc olympique de Montréal, Caitlyn Jenner became the 13th Olympics and ninth Team USA athlete to win gold in decathlon, joining Olympians Kit Klein, Billy Mills, Jesse Owens and Babe Didrikson Zaharias honored to appear on the iconic Wheaties box.

07/29/2026

Fifty years ago this week, 22-year-old Olympics fencer Thomas Bach earned a team foil gold medal in Fencing. Later serving in leadership roles with what is now Team Deutschland, Bach joined the IOC in 1991, then their executive board in 1996 before his election as IOC President in 2013, serving through Olympic Day of 2025. Congrats to Bach on this golden anniversary of Montréal '76.

07/21/2026

Can't get enough of the torch relay 90th anniversary? ISOH Journal of Olympic History Editor Philip Barker delves into more detail from the big day and the flame's journey through Europe. https://isoh.org/the-first-olympic-flame-was-90-years-ago/

07/20/2026

On this date (20 July) 90 years ago, the first Olympics torch relay set out from Ancient Olympia to Berlin for the summer games. According to research by ISOH's Volker Kluge, the first torchbearer was Greek national Konstantin Kongylis, though a Russian was the stand-in for the youthful torchbearer in the official film "Olympia." For more about the route, runners and the many traditions launched (and still in use) for the relays, check out this archived article ... https://bit.ly/ISOHBerlinTorchRelay

07/19/2026

Where were you when Muhammad Ali ignited the World on that warm Atlanta evening 30 years ago (19 July 1996)? There's more than one version of how that iconic moment was created, with Evander Holyfield delivering the Olympics flame into the stadium, handing off to Hellenic Olympic athlete Voula Patoulidou and penultimate torchbearer Janet Evans.

Former NBC executive Dick Ebersol reveals the backstory of how he and his team got the “Greatest” to the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

07/18/2026

When Nadia Comaneci scored the first Olympics perfect 10 in International Gymnastics Federation - FIG competition on 18 July 1976, the scoreboard in Montreal's Parc olympique de Montréal wasn't ready. In the 50 years since making history, this Comitetul Olimpic și Sportiv Român and World Olympians Association member forged a career of influence at almost every Games since. One of her two Olympic Orders is on view in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame beside a uniform worn by her husband, fellow Olympian Bart Conner. And she graced many postage stamps and magazine covers. Read about her memories from these 50 years of achievement written by Scott Bergman for the IOC ... https://bit.ly/NadiaPerfect10at50

07/17/2026

Where were you on 17 July 50 years ago? It seems Parc olympique de Montréal was definitely the place to be! ISOH Journal of Olympics History Editor Philip Barker takes readers back to Montreal '76 in his special report on this five-decade milestone ...

  A Flame Fit For a Queen by Philip Barker Celebrations have begun to mark 50 years since the Montreal Olympics began. The Games of 1976 are often derided because of the problems which dogged…