The decision to award Berlin the hosting rights for the 1936 Olympics, despite Adolf Hitler's rise to power and the discriminatory policies of the Nazi regime, was highly controversial.
The tragic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and eventually killed by Palestinian terrorists, shocked the world.
The gold medal basketball game between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1972 Olympics is one of the most disputed matches in Olympic history.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson's stunning victory in the 100 meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was quickly overshadowed by the revelation that he had tested positive for steroids.
The pairs figure skating event at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics was marred by allegations of vote rigging. A judging scandal involving collusion between the Russian and French judges resulted in the Canadian pair of Jamie Salé and David Pelletier initially being awarded silver instead of the gold many believed they deserved
Several controversial decisions in boxing at the 2004 Athens Olympics prompted accusations of biased judging and corruption. Multiple high-profile bouts, including those involving Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin and Azerbaijani bantamweight Aghasi Mammadov, sparked widespread debate and scrutiny over the fairness of the sport.
The Russian doping scandal overshadowed the 2016 Rio Olympics, with revelations of state-sponsored doping programs and widespread cheating by Russian athletes.
The decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic was met with mixed reactions. While many understood the necessity of prioritizing public health and safety, others criticized the timing of the decision and its impact on athletes' training schedules and preparations, leading to ongoing debates and uncertainties surrounding the rescheduled Games.