Olympic snub

Published on 23/07/2012 00:00

AS WE approach the opening of the London Olympics, I recall that in the early 1960s, when I competed in American collegiate athletics, Jesse Owens held a question and answer session with the competitors after a major meeting.

He presented a very different version of how he had been treated at the Berlin 
Olympics saying that, unlike America, he was welcome in all hotels, restaurants and public transport. On the first day, Hitler had congratulated German medallists but Olympic officials later insisted he must greet every medallist or none at all so he opted for the latter. Far from snubbing him, Hitler met Owens privately.

Both Owens and his great friend Ralph Metcalf believed the real snub came from US president Franklin Roosevelt, who studiously ignored their Olympic success. Metcalf caused huge offence by saying Goebbels reference to “black auxiliaries” was spot on because he was an “American hero” in Berlin but a second class citizen in the US.

Dr John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews, Fife