GAMES OF THE XXI OLYMPIAD, THE {1976 MONTREAL OLYMPICS} {1976/07/17}, PART 4 (TV)
Summary
This program presents a portion of coverage of the 1976 Summer Games of the XXI Olympiad from Montreal. Highlights of this portion include previews of the upcoming events and interviews with various athletes and officials.
Anchor sports commentator Jim McKay presides throughout this portion and reports on the events at Place Jacques-Cartier. McKay previews the various athletes who will participate in the following days' Games and notes that there are no further developments on the absence of Taiwan and many African nations from the events.
McKay gives a brief history of the 100-meter sprint, including Jesse Owens' (USA) four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Summer Games in Berlin, the extremely close race between Ralph Metcalfe and Eddie Tolan (both USA) in the 1932 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles, and the exceptional reflexes of Armin Hary (West Germany), wrongly suspected of cheating at the 1960 Olympic Summer Games in Rome. McKay notes that American runners Steve Williams and Houston McTear, both considered to be highly skilled, did not make it to the Games due to injuries.
Sports commentator Howard Cosell talks to O.J. Simpson about his predictions for the outcome of the sprint.
McKay then gives a brief history of women's swimming, touching upon past winners including Eleanor Holm (USA), who won the gold at the 1932 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles for the 100-meter backstroke, but was then kicked off the team in 1936 for drinking champagne at a party, a punishment to which she objects in a taped interview. Other winners mentioned include Debbie Meyer (USA), who won a record three gold medals at the 1968 Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City.
Sports commentator Keith Jackson talks to commentator Donna de Varona about the evolving fashions in women's swimwear.
De Varona interviews swimmer Shirley Babashoff (USA) at her dorm at the Olympic Village residence. Babashoff comments on her perceived "rivalry" with Kornelia Ender (East Germany) and her recent run-in with the famous Simpson.
McKay profiles painter Leroy Neiman, who will be creating a mural throughout the course of the Games, as he did at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich.
McKay comments further on the history and culture of Montreal, toucing upon its many parks and fountains and its religious and artistic locations, as well as the famed McGill University.
Mayor Jean Drapeau comments on the importance of the Games in inspiring Montreal youth to take part in athletic activities.
Howard Cosell explores the sport of boxing, commenting on notable athletes including Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali (USA), who won a gold medal as a light heavyweight at the 1960 Olympic Summer Games in Rome, and George Foreman (USA), who won gold as a heavyweight at the 1968 Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City. Cosell favors Davey Armstrong and Clint Jackson (both USA) as likely winners for this year, and interviews Ray Charles "Sugar Ray" Leonard (USA) about his recent hand injury and his plans to attend the University of Maryland on a scholarship after hopefully winning gold.
McKay gives a brief history of gymnastics, recalling seventeen-year-old Olga Korbut's (USSR) performance in Munich, for which she won three gold medals and one silver. Sports commentator Cathy Rigby Mason interviews athlete Kim Chace (USA) about her decision to come out of retirement and return to the sport.
Sports commentator David Diles reports on security in Montreal, heightened after the Munich Massacre in 1972, and talks to Guy Toupin (assistant director, The Olympic Committee on Public Safety), Don Cobb (chief superintendant, Intelligence Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and Lieutenant Colonel Jacques Painchaud (commanding officer, Canadian Forces) about their specific methods for preventing violence.
McKay gives a brief history of weightlifting, acknowledging Vasily Alexeev (USSR), known as "the strongest man in the world." Sports commentator Bob Beattie comments on athletes Gerd Bonk (East Germany), Christo Plachkov (Bulgaria), and Sam Walker (USA).
Jackson spotlights men's swimming and talks with Mark Spitz, who won a record seven gold medals in Munich, and also interviews John Naber (USA) about his goals. He dismisses the idea of a "duel" with Roland Matthes (East Germany) and states that he competes only against his own time. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: July 17, 1976 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:15
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:01290
- GENRE: Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: Olympic Games, 1976, Summer, Montreal; Olympics; Sports; Track and Field, 100m men; Swimming, 100m backstroke women; Boxing, Up to 81 kg (Light Heavy weight) men; Boxing Up to 91 kg (Heavy weight) men; Gymnastics, women; Weightlifting, men; Swimming, men; U.S. Olympic Archive, presented by Gordon Crawford, The
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jim McKay … Anchor Sports Commentator
- Howard Cosell … Sports Commentator
- O.J. Simpson … Sports Commentator
- Keith Jackson … Sports Commentator
- Donna de Varona … Sports Commentator
- Cathy Rigby Mason … Sports Commentator
- David Diles … Sports Commentator
- Bob Beattie … Sports Commentator
- Mark Spitz … Sports Commentator
- Shirley Babashoff … Athlete
- Sugar Ray Leonard (see also: Ray Charles Leonard) … Athlete
- Kim Chace … Athlete
- John Naber … Athlete
- Leroy Neiman … Guest
- Jean Drapeau … Guest
- Leroy Neiman … Guest
- Guy Toupin … Guest
- Don Cobb … Guest
- Jacques Painchaud … Guest
- Jesse Owens
- Ralph Metcalfe
- Eddie Tolan
- Armin Hary
- Steve Williams
- Houston McTear
- Eleanor Holm
- Debbie Meyer
- Kornelia Ender
- Jacques Cartier
- Muhammad Ali (see also: Cassius Clay)
- George Foreman
- Davey Armstrong
- Clint Jackson
- Olga Korbut
- Vasily Alexeev
- Gerd Bonk
- Christo Plachkov
- Sam Walker
- Roland Matthes