Hitler's Olympics: Jewish runners 'betrayed' by U.S. Athletics

    By James Masters, CNN

    Updated 0915 GMT (1715 HKT) July 31, 2015

    Nancy Glickman lights the flame at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin. She is the youngest daughter of Marty Glickman, one of two Jewish-American athletes denied the chance to run at the 1936 Olympics in the German capital, along with Sam Stoller.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Eternal flame – Nancy Glickman lights the flame at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin. She is the youngest daughter of Marty Glickman, one of two Jewish-American athletes denied the chance to run at the 1936 Olympics in the German capital, along with Sam Stoller.
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    The European Maccabi Games are being held in Berlin for the first time. It marks 60 years since the end of the Holocaust and is the biggest Jewish event held in Germany since the end of World War Two. It has attracted 2,300 athletes from 36 different countries.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Back to Berlin – The European Maccabi Games are being held in Berlin for the first time. It marks 60 years since the end of the Holocaust and is the biggest Jewish event held in Germany since the end of World War Two. It has attracted 2,300 athletes from 36 different countries.
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    The opening ceremony was held at the "Waldbühne" in Berlin -- a venue regularly used by the Nazis to host events. The traditional parade and concert opened the Games, which run until August 5.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Welcome party – The opening ceremony was held at the "Waldbühne" in Berlin -- a venue regularly used by the Nazis to host events. The traditional parade and concert opened the Games, which run until August 5.
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    A man wears a Kippa at the "Maifeld" -- a place used by Nazis for mass rallies, near Berlin's Olympic Stadium -- during a Memorial ceremony for the victims of the Holocaust. Six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Remembering the past – A man wears a Kippa at the "Maifeld" -- a place used by Nazis for mass rallies, near Berlin's Olympic Stadium -- during a Memorial ceremony for the victims of the Holocaust. Six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
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    The Olympics took place in Berlin at a time when Adolf Hitler's Nazi party was cementing its control of Germany. By the time the Games took place in 1936, Hitler had already established a number of anti-Semitic laws which placed restrictions on Germany's Jews.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    The 'Hitler Games' – The Olympics took place in Berlin at a time when Adolf Hitler's Nazi party was cementing its control of Germany. By the time the Games took place in 1936, Hitler had already established a number of anti-Semitic laws which placed restrictions on Germany's Jews.
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    Jesse Owens was the star of the Berlin Games, winning four gold medals and shattering a number of world records. The American won the 100-yard and 200-yard dash as well as the long-jump. He also ran in the 4x100-yard relay despite protesting after two of his Jewish teammates were left out.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Olympic icon – Jesse Owens was the star of the Berlin Games, winning four gold medals and shattering a number of world records. The American won the 100-yard and 200-yard dash as well as the long-jump. He also ran in the 4x100-yard relay despite protesting after two of his Jewish teammates were left out.
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    Owens achieved hero status after his performances in front of Hitler and his Nazi sympathizers. A star at college, his ascent to the top was achieved courtesy of intense coaching and astonishing talent. His success put paid to Hitler's notion of Aryan supremacy on the athletics track.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Hero status – Owens achieved hero status after his performances in front of Hitler and his Nazi sympathizers. A star at college, his ascent to the top was achieved courtesy of intense coaching and astonishing talent. His success put paid to Hitler's notion of Aryan supremacy on the athletics track.
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    The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is a powerful and poignant reminder of what happened to Germany's Jewish Community. It has recently had a renaissance, with thousands of Israelis moving to Berlin.
    Photos: U.S. runners 'betrayed' at Hitler's Olympics
    Memorial – The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is a powerful and poignant reminder of what happened to Germany's Jewish Community. It has recently had a renaissance, with thousands of Israelis moving to Berlin.
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    Nancy GlickmanMaccabi fireworksGermany Maccabi DancerMaccabi KippahHitler 1936 OlympicsJesse OwensJesse Owens reportersBerlin Memorial

    (CNN)He had defeated Jesse Owens and the world was at his feet.

    Except there was one snag: Sam Stoller was Jewish.
    Stoller and fellow Jewish-American athlete Marty Glickman arrived at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with dreams of glory -- but they left chastened in an episode which still haunts the world's most famous Games to this very day.
      "Anti-Semitism was the basic reason, I believe, that Sam and I didn't get to run at the Olympic Games," Glickman said when asked about the incident before he passed away in 2001.
        As Hitler stood and watched, attempting to project his vision of Aryan dominance to the world, African-American sprinter Owens shattered the myth the Nazis so desperately craved to display.
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