Berlin 1936. You can't even think of including this without mentioning Hitler Jesse Owens, color hatred (particularly toward the Jews). One of the best female athletes ( Gretel Bergmann high jump) on the German team was Jewish. Did it create an uproar? Yes. Even worse was the treatment of 2 Jewish athletes on the American 4 by 100 relay. That event has a very ugly history which I urge you to look up for yourself.
I cannot tell you one thing (and there were many) about the athletic achievements of those who participated in the Munich Olympics (1972). But I remember clearly the massacre of the Israeli team during those Olympics. A total of 17 people lost their lives including 1 West German policeman. There were numerous reprisals a year later. You can start by reading about Black September and Massad's response.
Moscow and Los Angeles share the same basic trait. They were both extremely political. Both involved boycotts. The Americans wouldn't go to Moscow (1980) [read Afghanistan invasion by the Soviets]. Some 66 countries boycotted the Moscow games. Some participated under the Olympic flag (a great idea). The Russians refused to come to LA (along with 13 other Eastern Bloc counties). That seems have seen its end in 1984 (LA). On a brighter note, LA did some innovative financing relying on private advertising rather than pubic funding. That set a trend for future games.
Mexico City. This is where Black American Athletes gave the Black Power Salute. It caused quite an uproar. Jesse Owens and his meek response in 1936 was a forgotten item for these people. They were black and proud of it.
China. Beijing (2008). There is only one word that works for this Olympics. Dominance. Between the United States and China, both numbers >= 100 these two countries dominated the 2008 Olympics. China was especially noteworthy with 51 golds, more than 15 greater than the US.
