Held during a worldwide economic crisis, many nations or athletes were unable to pay the trip to Los Angeles, and less than half of the number of participants from Amsterdam showed up.
An Olympic Village was built for the first time, occupied by the male athletes.
Babe Didrikson wins two gold medals in the javelin throw and the hurdles event, and only loses a third in the high jump because her jumping technique is ruled inferior and is placed second.
In field hockey, only three nations take part. The host nation loses 1-24 to India and 2-9 to Japan but wins a bronze medal anyway.
Finnish star Paavo Nurmi is barred from competing in the Olympic for being a professional.
Eddie Tolan wins both the 100 and 200 m sprint events.
Helene Madison wins three gold medals in swimming, while the Japanese upset the men's events and take all but one title.
