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The Olympics That Changed The World
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Jul 28, 2008
The Olympics That Changed The World
Over the last century, the Olympics have become a global spectacle charged with the drama of international politics, protest, and commercial interest. In his new book, David Maraniss locates the emergence of the political and commercial Olympics in Rome 1960. The first ever to be televised, the Rome games also saw the rise of several prominent black athletes (including one very young Cassius Clay), the first Olympic doping scandal, and the first commercially sponsored Olympians. At the heart of the Cold War, Rome was also the site of Soviet-American spy games, which sometimes involved the athletes themselves. As we head into the Beijing games, David will be in studio with Larry to discuss the unique history of the 1960 Olympics and how the games came to be what they are today.

Over the last century, the Olympics have become a global spectacle charged with the drama of international politics, protest, and commercial interest. In his new book, David Maraniss locates the emergence of the political and commercial Olympics in Rome 1960. The first ever to be televised, the Rome games also saw the rise of several prominent black athletes (including one very young Cassius Clay), the first Olympic doping scandal, and the first commercially sponsored Olympians. At the heart of the Cold War, Rome was also the site of Soviet-American spy games, which sometimes involved the athletes themselves. As we head into the Beijing games, David will be in studio with Larry to discuss the unique history of the 1960 Olympics and how the games came to be what they are today.

Over the last century, the Olympics have become a global spectacle charged with the drama of international politics, protest, and commercial interest. In his new book, David Maraniss locates the emergence of the political and commercial Olympics in Rome 1960. The first ever to be televised, the Rome games also saw the rise of several prominent black athletes (including one very young Cassius Clay), the first Olympic doping scandal, and the first commercially sponsored Olympians. At the heart of the Cold War, Rome was also the site of Soviet-American spy games, which sometimes involved the athletes themselves. As we head into the Beijing games, David will be in studio with Larry to discuss the unique history of the 1960 Olympics and how the games came to be what they are today.

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, Morning Edition, AirTalk Friday, The L.A. Report A.M. Edition
Senior Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Associate Producer, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek