The 1932 Los Angeles Olympics faced two major obstacles: the Depression and the geographical isolation of California.

Participation was the lowest since 1906, although the level of competition was excellent. Only three teams took part in the field hockey tournament, and football (soccer) had to be dropped completely.

All of the male athletes lived in a makeshift Olympic Village in Baldwin Hills, while the women stayed in a hotel on Wilshire Boulevard.

Although the United States was in the midst of Prohibition, an exception was made for the French and the Italians, who claimed that wine was an essential component of their diet.

The 1932 Olympics saw the introduction of automatic timing and the photo-finish camera, as well as the first use of a victory platform for award ceremonies and the playing of national anthem to honour winners.