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People's Olympiad (1936, Spain)

Olimpiada Popular

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image by Marc Pasquin, 18 Sep 2006

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The People's Olympiad were organised as a protest against the Berlin Olympics of 1936. They were to have taken place in Barcelona from the 22th to the 26th of July 1936 (thus ending a little before the begining of the German Olympic Games). Unfortunately for them, it coincided with the begining of the Spanish Civil War and the games never took place (although some of the athletes' delegations had already arrived).

Some sources have identified the Barcelona's Games as being (despite the name) the 5th "Labour's Olympiad" (a workers' union sporting event), coming just after the 1931 games in Vienna. Most sources however make no mention whatsoever of this and present them instead as a purely Spanish Republican initiative. It is possible that both are partly right and that the Labour's Olypiad were not performed in 1935 with the intent of encouraging instead next year's Peoples' Olympiad.

Coming to the flags, the ones included should be accepted with some reservations. Both come from illustrations; I have not been able to find any pictures showing an actual one. This absence however is not that surprising, considering there was no opening ceremony.

The first one is part of what seem to be the official logo: a white flag (1x3) with thin red bars at the top and bottom, a large red "O" near the hoist and the words "LIMPIADA" & "POPULAR" in red on two rows next to it. The logo itself being the flag held up by 3 persons, each with a different skin colour. I have found it showing up on posters, cards, pins and stamps.

Marc Pasquin, 18 Sep 2006

Reversed Variant

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image by Marc Pasquin, 18 Sep 2006

The second is of the exact same design but with the colours reversed. I have seen it only once on a more naturalistic poster showing a group of athletes following it.

Marc Pasquin, 18 Sep 2006