:no_upscale())
The Montreal 1976 Games
Montreal won the vote to host the 1976 Olympics after a 3-way contest with Moscow and Los Angeles. When the decision was made, in 1970, Los Angeles dropped out in the first round and then Montreal won the final vote over Moscow 41-28.
The Games were dominated by the protest of African countries over the All Blacks tour of South Africa. That tour began on June 30 and continued until September. The Olympics began on July 17. African countries wanted New Zealand ejected from the Games for its support of pro-apartheid South Africa. The New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association stated that the policies of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union were beyond its control. Feelings intensified and as Olympics got closer, an increasing number of African countries announced they’d boycott the Games if New Zealand was permitted to stay.
Abraham Ordia and Jean-Claude Ganga, president and secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, led the boycott discussions, and Tanzania set the boycott ball rolling a week before the Games by becoming the first African nation to withdraw.
The IOC still refused to bar New Zealand and eventually 29 countries, mainly from Africa (plus Iraq and Guyana), boycotted. Some, including Morocco, Cameroon and Egypt had already begun participating, having competed on the first day, before they withdrew. Only Senegal and Ivory Coast of African countries remained.
Games Key Facts
- Sports
- 21
- Events
- 198
- Competitors
- 6084
- Countries competing
- 92
- Main stadium
- Olympic stadium
NZ Team Key Facts
- Athletes
- 87 (78 men, 9 women)
- Sports
- 13
- Medals won
- 4
- Position on medal table
- 18th
- Chef de Mission
- Bill Holley
- Opening ceremony flagbearer
- David Aspin
Memorable Moments
:no_upscale())
NZ headed Australia on the medal table
For only the second time since 1920 NZ headed Australia on the medal table. In 1936, when Jack Lovelock won a gold medal, NZ was 20th and Australia, with 1 bronze, was equal 30th. At these games, NZ won 2 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze to place 18th. Australia’s 1 silver and 4 bronzes placed it 32nd.
:no_upscale())
John Walker winning gold in the 1500m
John Walker, the world’s No 1-ranked 1500m runner began his final sprint 270 metres from home and managed to just hold off the chasing pack, winning by 0.1s from Belgian Ivo van Damme with West German Paul-Heinz Wellmann only 0.06s further back.
:no_upscale())
The 5000m final
Dick Quax and Rod Dixon arrived in Montreal confident of gold in the 5000m, each hoping to unleash a last-lap sprint. In a thrilling finish, Finland’s Lasse Virén took gold, just 0.4s ahead of Quax, while Dixon narrowly missed bronze, edged out by 0.12s by West Germany’s Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand.
:no_upscale())
The NZ Hockey team won gold against Australia in the final
Paul Ackerley, Jeff Archibald, Tur Borren, Alan Chesney, John Christensen, Greg Dayman, Tony Ineson, Barry Maister, Selwyn Maister, Trevor Manning, Alan McIntyre, Arthur Parkin, Mohan Patel and Ramesh Patel - survived several critical moments before qualify to meet Australia in the final. They won the final 1-0, courtesy of penalty corner goal by captain Tony Ineson and some solid defence.
:no_upscale())
Saturday 31 July 1976 was a memorable morning
The 5000m final, involving New Zealanders Rod Dixon and Dick Quax, had barely finished in the most thrilling of last laps with victory for the Finn Lasse Viren when the men’s hockey final – New Zealand v Australia – got under way. It was another thriller, but with a more pleasant result for New Zealanders.
:no_upscale())
Simon Dickie became the second NZ athlete to win 3 Olympic medals
Simon Dickie’s bronze medal coxing the eight gave him 3 Olympic medals, 2 of them gold (in the coxed four in 1968 and the eight in 1972). He became only the 2nd New Zealander to win 3 Olympic medals, after athlete Peter Snell, who won 3 golds competing in 1960 and 1964.
:no_upscale())
Rebecca Perrott was NZ's youngest olympian and also the top qualifier for the 400m freestyle final
Rebecca Perrott was just 12 when she swam for Fiji at the 1974 Commonwealth Games. At Montreal in 1976, the Wellingtonian, having just turned 15, became not only the youngest NZ Olympian but also the top qualifier for the 400m freestyle final.She’d beaten her personal best by 8 seconds. She went even faster in the final, clocking 4min 14.76s, but missed the bronze medal by 0.16s. Perrott left Montreal a rising star of world swimming.
:no_upscale())
Dave Aspin carried the NZ flag in the opening ceremony for a second time
Dave Aspin became only the second person, after Arthur Porritt in 1924 and 1928, to twice carry the New Zealand flag in the opening ceremony.
:no_upscale())
Euan Robertson's 6th place in steeplechase
Euan Robertson showed remarkable determination on his path to Montreal. After placing 5th in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, he initially missed out on New Zealand’s Olympic team. Undeterred, he campaigned across Europe, making four bids for late selection, and earned his place after smashing his own national record in Stockholm. In Montreal, he broke the New Zealand record once more, qualifying for the final and finishing a commendable 6th.
:no_upscale())
Rowing eight secured bronze in Montreal
The rowing eight delivered a strong performance in Montreal, claiming bronze behind East Germany and Britain. The crew - Ivan Sutherland, Trevor Coker, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Joe Earl, Dave Rodger, Alec McLean, Tony Hurt, and cox Simon Dickie – upheld the nation’s proud rowing tradition. The Games also marked the end of an era for coach Rusty Robertson, who had led New Zealand crews to gold in 1968 and 1972 and multiple world titles, leaving on a high note with another Olympic medal.