Did you know?

An innovation in the transport of the flame

The Olympic flame arrived by air, sent in the form of an electronic signal by a telephone cable towards a transmitter in the direction of a satellite from the Intelsat network. It was then forwarded to a receiver where the stored energy activated a laser beam which gave it back its original appearance.

The African boycott

Despite there being no African athletes present (they participated in a boycott organised by Tanzania, in which 22 countries came together to protest against a tour of South Africa by the New Zealand national rugby team), the standard of the competitions at the 1976 Olympic Games was very high.

The medal for the least populated country

With its 53,500 inhabitants, Bermuda became the most sparsely-populated country to win a medal at the Summer Games, thanks to Clarence Hill who won the bronze medal in boxing in the heavyweight category.

An artificial pitch

Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time.

Events open to women

Women's events appeared in basketball, handball and rowing.

(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)