The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver '76 and the Politics of Growth

The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver '76 and the Politics of Growth

with Professor Adam Berg, Ph.D.

Saturday, June 6, 2026

2:00 - 3:00 pm.

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum presents the 2026 "We The People: Colorado at 150" lecture series. To honor the America 250/Colorado 150 commemorations, this series will explore the diverse experiences and voices of Coloradans. $5 suggested donation. Registration is required.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

If you don't recall the 1976 Denver Olympic Games, it's because they never happened. The Mile-High City won the right to host the winter games and then was forced by Colorado citizens to back away from its successful Olympic bid through a statewide ballot initiative. Adam Berg details the powerful Colorado regime that gained the games for Denver and the grassroots activism that brought down its Olympic dreams, and he explores the legacy of this milestone moment for the games and politics in the United States.

The ink was hardly dry on Denver's host agreement when Mexican American and African American urbanites, white middle-class environmentalists, and fiscally concerned local politicians realized opposition to the Olympics provided them new political openings. The Olympics quickly became a platform for taking stands on a range of issues, from conservation to urban livability to the very idea of growth, which for decades had been unquestioned in Colorado. The Olympics That Never Happened argues that hostility to the Olympics galvanized and empowered diverse citizens in a major US city, with long-term ramifications for Colorado and political activism elsewhere. The Olympics themselves were changed forever, compelling organizers to take seriously competing interests from subgroups within their communities.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Adam teaches courses related to the history, sociology, and philosophy of sport, exercise, and physical activity. His research employs historical and philosophical methods to explore the intersections of American sport, culture, politics, and meaning. He is the author of The Olympics that Never Happened: Denver ’76 and the Politics of Growth, which recounts how powerful politicians, business leaders, and a diverse cast of activists used a thwarted Olympics to shape the state of Colorado and the city of Denver. Adam has also published articles on the metaphysics and value of games and ethics in sports. He is an active member of the North American Society for Sport History and the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport. He previously taught courses at Pennsylvania State University, California State University at Fullerton, and Manhattanville College. Adam received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sport History and Sport Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University. He received his B.S. in Sport Management from Ithaca College.

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