1988 Summer Olympics

Multi-sport event in Seoul, South Korea July 2021 1988 Summer Olympics 1988 Summer Olympics logo.svg 160 Emblem of the 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul, South Korea Harmony and Progress(화합과 전진 no) 160 8,453 (6,250 men, 2,203 women) 237 in 23 sports (31 disciplines) 17 September 1988 2 October 1988 President Roh Tae-wooFactsheet – Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf live International Olympic Committee 9 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20160814215458/https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf 14 August 2016 22 December 2018 IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch Sohn Kee-chungChung Sun-manKim Won-takhttps://www.olympic.org/seoul-1988-torch-relay Seoul 1988 Torch Relay 2 June 2018 olympic.org 4 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201104040944/https://www.olympic.org/seoul-1988-torch-relay live Seoul Olympic Stadium Los Angeles 1984 Barcelona 1992 Calgary 1988 Albertville 1992 ^서울 하계 ^올림픽 ko sʰʌ.uɭ haɡje oɭːimpʰik̚ The 1988 Summer Olympics (1988년 하계 올림픽), officially the Games of the XXIV Olympiad (제24회 올림픽경기대회 no) and officially branded as Seoul 1988 (서울 1988 no), were an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. 159 nations were represented at the games by a total of 8,391 athletes (6,197 men and 2,194 women). 237 events were held and 27,221 volunteers helped to prepare the Olympics. The 1988 Seoul Olympics were the second summer Olympic Games held in Asia, after the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and the first held in South Korea. As the host country, South Korea ranked fourth overall, winning 12 gold medals and 33 medals in the competition. 11,331 media (4,978 written press and 6,353 broadcasters) showed the Games all over the world. These were the last Olympic Games of the Cold War, as well as for the Soviet Union and East Germany, as both ceased to exist before the next Olympic Games in 1992.Seoul surprises Nagoya for Olympic bid 30 September 1981 UPI https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/30/Seoul-surprises-Nagoya-for-Olympic-bid/5566370670400/ 30 August 2026 24 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210824210423/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/30/Seoul-surprises-Nagoya-for-Olympic-bid/5566370670400/ live The Soviet Union won the most gold and overall medals at the 1988 Games, with 55 and 132 respectively. East Germany was second, and the United States third. Compared to the 1980 Summer Olympics (Moscow) and the 1984 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles), which were divided into two camps by ideology, the 1988 Seoul Olympics was a competition in which the boycotts virtually disappeared, although they were not completely over. A boycott of the 1988 Seoul Olympics took place, with North Korea along with its allies Cuba, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and Madagascar taking part.Official Report of the Games of the XXIVth Olympiad Seoul 1988 https://digital.la84.org/digital/api/collection/p17103coll8/id/33446/download Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee p. 246 and p. 260. en September 17, 1989 Madagascar pulled out of the Games at the last minute in support of the co-hosting demands of North Korea. PDF 4 November 2025 24 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251104041514/https://digital.la84.org/digital/api/collection/p17103coll8/id/33446/download live Albania and the Seychelles did not respond to invitations sent by the IOC.John E. Findling Kimberly D. Pelle Historical Dictionary of the Modern Olympic Movement https://books.google.com/books?id=vj5-Srq3ki4C&pg=PA182 1996 Greenwood Publishing Group 978-0-313-28477-9 182– Nonetheless, the much larger boycotts seen in the three previous editions were avoided, resulting in the largest number of participating nations during the Cold War era. For South Korea, the 1988 Olympics was a symbolic milestone that elevated its international standing while fostering national pride.https://olympics.com/ioc/legacy/seoul-1988/seoul-1988-south-korea-opens-up-to-the-world Seoul 1988: South Korea opens up to the world 25 June 2020 olympics.com 12 December 2021 7 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221007225535/https://olympics.com/ioc/legacy/seoul-1988/seoul-1988-south-korea-opens-up-to-the-world live Only thirty five years after the devastation of the Korean War, and following decades of authoritarian rule and social unrest which concluded with the June Democratic Struggle just a year earlier, the games were staged successfully. The event was regarded as the peak of the "Miracle on the Han River".OLYMPICS '88: A PREVIEW : THE HOST CITY : Seoul Rises From Ashes to Become Metropolitan Center of Distinction Randy Harvey Los Angeles Times September 14, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-14-ss-1983-story.html 17 April 2023 12 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20230417074206/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-14-ss-1983-story.html liveBridges Brian 2008-12-01 The Seoul Olympics: Economic Miracle Meets the World The International Journal of the History of Sport 25 14 1939–52 10.1080/09523360802438983 143356778 0952-3367 In 1999, 11 years after the games, the IOC returned to Seoul for the 109th IOC Session, which saw Turin elected as the host city for the 2006 Winter Olympics. Host city selection Seoul was chosen to host the Summer Games through a vote held on 30 September 1981, finishing ahead of Nagoya, Japan. Seoul 1988 http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Past-Olympic-Games/Summer/Seoul-1988/ olympic.org 12 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20091004191226/http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Past-Olympic-Games/Summer/Seoul-1988/ 4 October 2009 live The awarding to Seoul was internationally considered to be surprising, with Nagoya having been considered a favourite. Below was the vote count that occurred at the 84th IOC Session and 11th Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden, West Germany.http://www.aldaver.com/votes.html Vote History IOC 7 October 2011 25 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080525070757/http://www.aldaver.com/votes.html usurped + 1988 Summer Olympics bidding resulthttp://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml Past Olympic host city election results GamesBids 17 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022022/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html 24 January 2011 live City Country (NOC)Round 1 Seoul South Korea 194952 Nagoya Japan 1947 27 Seoul had previously hosted many international events, but the most noteworthy ones were the Miss Universe 1980 and the 1986 Asian Games, thus demonstrating that it had the appropriate capability.第10届亚运会概况—1986年汉城亚运会 https://sports.qq.com/a/20100329/001205.htm Tencent Sports 11 February 2019 12 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011343/https://sports.qq.com/a/20100329/001205.htm live Highlights right|thumb|Kim Won-tak (athlete), Chong Son-man (teacher) and Son Mi-jong (dance student) during the lighting of the 1988 Summer Olympic cauldron thumb|Fireworks at the closing ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics Vladimir Artemov of the Soviet Union won four gold medals in gymnastics. Honored Inductees – Vladimir Artemov http://www.ighof.com/honorees/honorees_artemov.html www.ighof.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071030190746/http://www.ighof.com/honorees/honorees_artemov.html 30 October 2007 dead Daniela Silivaş of Romania won three and equalled compatriot Nadia Comăneci's record of seven perfect 10s in one Olympic Games. Honored Inductees – Daniela Silivas http://www.ighof.com/honorees/honorees_silivas.html www.ighof.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194910/http://www.ighof.com/honorees/honorees_silivas.html 27 September 2007 dead After having demolished the world record in the 100-metre dash at the US Olympic trials in Indianapolis, sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner set an Olympic record (10.62) in the 100-metre dash and a still-standing world record (21.34) in the 200-metre dash to capture gold medals in both events. To these medals, she added a gold in the 4×100 relay and a silver in the 4×400. World Sport – Florence Griffith-Joyner http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/06/03/olympics.griffithjoyner/index.html CNN 6 October 2007 23 June 2004 30 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100830143813/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/06/03/olympics.griffithjoyner/index.html live This was the first Olympic Games where women's sailing was its own event. It was won by Americans Allison Jolly and Lynne Jewell.ThrowbackThursday - Seoul 1988, Here come the girls https://www.sailing.org/2016/06/30/throwbackthursday-seoul-1988-here-come-the-girls/ World Sailing June 30, 2016 March 21, 2026 Canadian Ben Johnson won the 100-metre final with a world-record time of 9.79 seconds, but was disqualified after he tested positive for stanozolol. Johnson has since claimed that his positive test was the result of sabotage. A Look at André Jackson, the Mystery Man (and friend of Carl Lewis) in the Drug testing area with Ben Johnson in Seoul http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1161912.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20110622070816/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1161912.ece dead 22 June 2011 The Times Online (UK) 23 September 2003 London 23 September 2003 Laura Pitel es Ben Johnson acusa a EEUU de proteger a sus atletas dopados http://www.elmundo.es/jjoo/2004/2004/08/11/atletismo/1092214891.html www.elmundo.es 6 October 2007 30 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080430090244/http://www.elmundo.es/jjoo/2004/2004/08/11/atletismo/1092214891.html live In the women's artistic gymnastics team all-around competition, the United States women's team was penalized five-tenths of a point from their team score by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) after the compulsory round. East German judge Ellen Berger noticed that Rhonda Faehn, who was the American team alternate and not competing, had been standing on the uneven bars podium for the duration of Kelly Garrison-Steve's compulsory uneven bars routine. Although Faehn was not a coach, Berger assessed the penalty under a rule prohibiting coaches from remaining on the podium while an athlete competes. The deduction caused the United States to fall to fourth place with a combined score of 390.575, three-tenths of a point behind East Germany. This incident remains controversial in the sport of gymnastics, as the United States outperformed the East German team and would have taken the bronze medal in the team competition had they not been penalized.POLITICS VAULTING INTO GYMNASTICS COMPETITION https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/09/20/politics-vaulting-into-gymnastics-competition/ Chicago Tribune September 20, 1988 March 21, 2026 The USSR won their final team gold medals in artistic gymnastics on both the men's and women's sides with scores of 593.350 and 395.475 respectively. The men's team was led by Vladimir Artemov, while Elena Shushunova led the women's team. Phoebe Mills won an individual bronze medal on the balance beam, shared with Romania's Gabriela Potorac, making history as the first medal (team or individual) ever won by a US woman in artistic gymnastics at a fully attended games. Lawrence Lemieux, a Canadian sailor in the Finn class, was in second place and poised to win a silver medal when he abandoned the race to save an injured competitor in mortal peril. He finished in 21st place, but was recognized by the International Fair Play Committee with the Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy honoring his bravery and sacrifice.https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-athletes-have-won-the-pierre-de-coubertin-medal-2016-8 There are 2 prestigious awards named for the founder of the modern Olympic movement – here are 8 athletes who have won them Praderio Caroline 23 August 2016 Business Insider 9 August 2024 19 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240219174316/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-athletes-have-won-the-pierre-de-coubertin-medal-2016-8 live American diver Greg Louganis won back-to-back titles on both diving events despite striking his head on the springboard during his third-round dive and suffering a concussion.Schwager-Patel Nischal This week in Olympic history: 16-22 September - Greg Louganis wins diving gold a day after hitting head on board https://www.olympics.com/en/news/this-week-in-olympic-history-16-22-september-greg-louganis-comes-back-head-injury-win-gold olympics.com September 16, 2024 March 21, 2026 23 July 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250723115728/https://www.olympics.com/en/news/this-week-in-olympic-history-16-22-september-greg-louganis-comes-back-head-injury-win-gold live Christa Luding-Rothenburger of East Germany won the silver medal in the women's sprint event in cycling. Combined with the two medals she won in speed skating in the Winter Games in Calgary, she became the first athlete to win medals in two Olympics held in the same year; this feat is no longer possible due to the current scheduling of the Olympic Games.Christa Luding-Rothenburger Encyclopædia Britannica article https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002734/Christa-Luding-Rothenburger Britannica Online Encyclopedia 6 October 2007 15 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071015030617/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002734/Christa-Luding-Rothenburger live Anthony Nesty of Suriname won his country's first Olympic medal by winning the men's 100-metre butterfly, prevailing over American Matt Biondi by .01 of a second (thwarting Biondi's attempt to match Mark Spitz's record seven golds in one Olympics). Odds against Phelps eclipsing Spitz https://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSL2876024120080529 29 May 2008 Reuters 29 May 2008 6 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081206183229/http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSL2876024120080529 live Nesty was the first black person to win an individual swimming gold. es El deporte en el Sur http://www.liceus.com/cgi-bin/ac/pu/Alejandro_Guevara_Deporte.asp Alejandro Guevara Onofre, Liceus.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071017015346/http://www.liceus.com/cgi-bin/ac/pu/Alejandro_Guevara_Deporte.asp 17 October 2007 live Swimmer Kristin Otto of East Germany won six gold medals. Other multi-gold medalists in the pool were Matt Biondi (five)United States Olympic Committee – Biondi, Matt http://www.usoc.org/26_37838.htm usoc.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071010090004/http://www.usoc.org/26_37838.htm 10 October 2007 dead and Janet Evans (three).United States Olympic Committee – Evans, Janet http://www.usoc.org/26_37840.htm usoc.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230617/http://www.usoc.org/26_37840.htm 11 October 2007 dead Swedish fencer Kerstin Palm became the first woman to take part in seven Olympics. Mark Todd of New Zealand won his second consecutive individual gold medal in the three-day event in equestrian on Charisma, only the second time in eventing history that a gold medal has been won consecutively.History of Awards : 1980–1989 http://www.powerupdates.com/clients/halberg/pages/a_article.asp?pid=0&cid=-630935410&aid=789227824 Halberg Trust website 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231704/http://www.powerupdates.com/clients/halberg/pages/a_article.asp?pid=0&cid=-630935410&aid=789227824 27 September 2007 dead Baseball Demonstration Sports at the Olympic Games http://www.topendsports.com/events/discontinued/demo.htm topendsports.com 6 October 2007 20 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140820020928/http://www.topendsports.com/events/discontinued/demo.htm dead and TaekwondoAbout WTF – History http://www.wtf.org/site/about_wtf/history.htm www.wtf.org 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071005052615/http://www.wtf.org/site/about_wtf/history.htm 5 October 2007 live were demonstration sports. The opening ceremony featured a mass demonstration of taekwondo with hundreds of adults and children performing moves in unison. This was the last time the United States was represented by an all-amateur basketball team that did not feature NBA players; The Original Dream Team http://www.nba.com/history/dreamT_moments.html NBA.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071024164412/http://www.nba.com/history/dreamT_moments.html 24 October 2007 dead the team won the bronze medal after losing to the Soviet Union (that was represented by veteran professionals) which went on to win the gold medal.THE SEOUL OLYMPICS: Men's Basketball; After 16-Year Wait, Soviets Stun U.S. Again, 82–76 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/28/sports/seoul-olympics-men-s-basketball-after-16-year-wait-soviets-stun-us-again-82-76.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fO%2fOlympic%20Games&pagewanted=print The New York Times Peter Alfano 28 September 1988 6 October 2007 26 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131126185958/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/28/sports/seoul-olympics-men-s-basketball-after-16-year-wait-soviets-stun-us-again-82-76.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fO%2fOlympic%20Games&pagewanted=print live Federation Rule Change Opens Olympics to N.B.A. Players https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/08/sports/federation-rule-change-opens-olympics-to-nba-players.html The New York Times August 5, 2020 April 8, 1989 20 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230920065103/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/08/sports/federation-rule-change-opens-olympics-to-nba-players.html livehttps://olympics.com/en/featured-news/olympic-basketball-history-dream-team-usa-soviet-union History of basketball at Olympics: A tale of American domination 5 June 2024 3 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221103080911/https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/olympic-basketball-history-dream-team-usa-soviet-union live For the first time in history, all the dressage events were won by women. Canada at the 1988 Summer Olympics http://www.sportsofworld.com/olympics/country-performance/canada/1988-seoul.html sportsofworld.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071013023535/http://www.sportsofworld.com/olympics/country-performance/canada/1988-seoul.html 13 October 2007 dead dmy Women's judo was held for the first time, as a demonstration sport. Obukan Judo History http://www.obukan.org/History.htm obukan.org 6 October 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071228094748/http://www.obukan.org/History.htm 28 December 2007 dmy-all Bowling was held as a demonstration sport, with Kwon Jong Yul of South Korea and Arianne Cerdeña from the Philippines winning the men's and women's gold medals, respectively. Table tennis was introduced at the Olympics, with China and South Korea both winning two titles. Olympic Table Tennis Champions http://www.usatt.org/organization/champions/olympic_champions.shtml usatt.org 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071020015722/http://usatt.org/organization/champions/olympic_champions.shtml 20 October 2007 dead Tennis returned to the Olympics after a 64-year absence.The Seoul Olympics: Tennis; Tennis Returns to Good Reviews https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/02/sports/the-seoul-olympics-tennis-tennis-returns-to-good-reviews.html The New York Times Peter Alfano 2 October 1988 16 December 2024 30 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20241216003035/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/02/sports/the-seoul-olympics-tennis-tennis-returns-to-good-reviews.html live Steffi Graf of West Germany added to her four Grand Slam victories in the year by also winning the Olympic title in women's singles, es Steffi graf, la mejor http://www.eltenis.net/tenis-femenino/steffi-graf-la-mejor.php elTenis.net 6 October 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080807155847/http://www.eltenis.net/tenis-femenino/steffi-graf-la-mejor.php 7 August 2008 dmy-all beating Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina in the final. es Gabriela Sabatini – Fotos, Vídeos, Biografía, Wallpapers y Ficha Técnica http://www.idolosdeportivos.com/tenis/gabriela-sabatini.php idolosdeportivos.com 6 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071018024552/http://www.idolosdeportivos.com/tenis/gabriela-sabatini.php 18 October 2007 usurped dmy-all Graf became the first person to win all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold in a calendar year, known as the golden slam. Two Bulgarian weightlifters were stripped of their gold medals after failing doping tests, and the team withdrew in protest, missing the remaining events.The Seoul Olympics: Weight Lifting; Team Lifted After 2d Drug Test Is Failed https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/24/sports/the-seoul-olympics-weight-lifting-team-lifted-after-2d-drug-test-is-failed.html subscription The New York Times 6 October 2007 24 September 1988 13 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211213090356/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/24/sports/the-seoul-olympics-weight-lifting-team-lifted-after-2d-drug-test-is-failed.html live In boxing, Roy Jones Jr. of the United States dominated his opponents, never losing a single round en route to the final. In the final, he controversially lost a 3–2 decision to South Korean fighter Park Si-Hun despite pummeling Park for three rounds and landing 86 punches to Park's 32.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DD153DF934A35753C1A96E948260 subscription The New York Times In Losing, a Boxer Won David Mamet 7 October 1988 10 April 2010 13 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080913043741/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DD153DF934A35753C1A96E948260 live https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E4D9163AF935A1575AC0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 Sports of The Times – Nice Gesture Substitutes For Justice 26 September 1997 The New York Times George Vecsey subscription 16 April 2015 25 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080325091443/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E4D9163AF935A1575AC0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 live Seoul Games scarred by riots http://in.rediff.com/sports/2004/jul/05oly.htm July 5, 2004 John Mehaffey in.rediff.com 22 August 2008 1 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090901132959/http://in.rediff.com/sports/2004/jul/05oly.htm live In another boxing controversy, Riddick Bowe of the United States lost a controversial match in the final to Canadian future world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Bowe had a dominant first round, landing 33 of 94 punches thrown (34%) while Lewis landed 14 of 67 (21%). In the first round the referee from East Germany gave Bowe two cautions for headbutts and deducted a point for a third headbutt, although replay clearly showed there was none. Commentator Ferdie Pacheco disagreed with the deduction, saying they did not hit heads. In the second round, Lewis landed several hard punches. The referee gave Bowe two standing eight counts and waved the fight off after the second one, even though Bowe seemed able to continue. Pacheco disagreed with the stoppage, calling it "very strange".Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe 88 Olympic Final YouTube FightFranchise 13 April 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K39AbwNl3QU https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/K39AbwNl3QU 2021-10-30 3 May 2017 Soviet weightlifter Yury Zakharevich won the men's heavyweight (up to 110 kg class) with a 210 kg snatch and 245 kg clean and jerk for a 455 kg total. Zakhareivich had dislocated his elbow in 1983 attempting a world record and had it rebuilt with synthetic tendons.Yuri ZAKHAREVICH - Olympics.com https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/yuri-zakharevich olympics.com March 21, 2026 23 February 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250223110643/https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/yuri-zakharevich live Indonesia gained its first medal in Olympic history when the women's team won a silver medal in archery.Chan Ted Indonesia's long wait for an Olympic medal finally ended... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/01/Indonesias-long-wait-for-an-Olympic-medal-finally-ended/2393591681600/ UPI October 1, 1988 March 21, 2026 7 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251207021200/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/01/Indonesias-long-wait-for-an-Olympic-medal-finally-ended/2393591681600/ live Ceremonies Live doves were released during the opening ceremony as a symbol of world peace, but a number of the doves were burned alive or suffered major trauma by the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. As a result of protests following the incident, the last time live doves were released during the opening ceremony was in 1992 in Barcelona, at the start of the ceremony. Balloon doves were released in 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1998 Winter Olympics and paper doves were used at the Atlanta Ceremony in 1996.http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug132004/oly5.asp When messengers of peace were burned alive dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040829084509/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug132004/oly5.asp 29 August 2004 Deccan Herald 12 August 2004 1 March 2024 These were also the last Summer Olympic Games to hold the opening ceremony during the daytime. The opening ceremony featured a skydiving team descending over the stadium and forming the five-colored Olympic Rings,http://www.skydivecolumbus.com/demo_jumps.htm Demo Jumps Columbus School of Skydiving 5 March 2010 25 September 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100925160622/http://www.skydivecolumbus.com/demo_jumps.htm dead as well as a mass demonstration of taekwondo. The skydiving team trained at SkyDance SkyDiving and had hoped the opening ceremony appearance would set the stage for skydiving becoming a medal event by 2000 (what never happened).Natt Lorena Skydivers aiming to elevate sport with Olympic jump https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-sep-05-1988-p-29/ The Orange County Register 5 September 1988 12 July 2018 13 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180713013930/https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-sep-05-1988-p-29/ live Domestic historical significance thumb|Seoul Olympic Stadium The idea for South Korea to place a bid for the 1988 Games emerged during the last days of the Park Chung Hee administration in the late 1970s, as hosting the Olympics was a big opportunity to bring international attention to South Korea. But before that, it was necessary to prove the country's capacity, as South Korea was seen as an exotic and risky destination for large events.Horton Peter Saunders John The 'East Asian' Olympic Games: what of sustainable legacies? http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/75273953 Taylor and Francis 20 February 2015 The project continued to run even after President Park's assassination in 1979. With the successful staging of Miss Universe 1980, and the subsequent decision to host the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, Chun Doo-hwan, Park's successor, submitted Korea's bid to the IOC in September 1981, in hopes that the increased international exposure brought by the Olympics would legitimize his authoritarian regime amidst increasing political pressure for democratization and less rigidity in state policies. Further, he hoped it would provide protection from increasing threats from North Korea, and showcase the economic strength that the country was experiencing to the world.Manheim Jarol Rites of Passage: The 1988 Seoul Olympics as Public Diplomacy The Western Political Quarterly 43 2 Western Political Science Association 279–295 448367 1990 10.2307/448367 Seoul was awarded the bid on 30 September 1981, becoming the 16th nation in the Summer Olympics, as well as the second Asian nation (following Japan in the 1964 Summer Olympics) and the first mainland Asian nation to host the Olympics. Influenced by the model of 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, which served as a rite of passage for the Japanese economy and re-integration of Japan in the international community in the post-war era, the South Korean government hoped to use the Olympics as a "coming-out party". The Olympics gave a powerful impetus to the development of South Korea's relations with Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union and with China.Cho Ji-Hyun Bairner Alan The sociocultural legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games Leisure Studies 31 3 271–289 10.1080/02614367.2011.636178 2012 144604578 In January 1982, South Korea's curfew that had been in place since 1945 was lifted.Tracy Dahl January 18, 1982 S. Koreans Enjoy Nights Without Curfew https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/01/18/s-koreans-enjoy-nights-without-curfew/d7ff2e94-fc38-4cb0-97ca-bebdedbe93b2/ The Washington Post In utilizing media events theory, Larson and Park investigated the Seoul Olympics as a form of political communication. They revealed the significance of South Korea's military government throughout the period of the Olympic bid and preparation, followed by the many advantages of the hosting the Games: rapid economic modernization, social mobilization and the legitimization of the military dictatorship.Kang Jaeho Traganou Jilly 2011 The Beijing National Stadium as Media-space Design and Culture 3 2 145–163 10.2752/175470811X13002771867761 143762612 Homeless camp expansion Existing camps for "vagrants" (homeless persons) were ramped up before the 1988 Olympics. An Associated Press article states that homeless people and alcoholics, "but mostly children and the disabled" were arrested and sent to these camps to prepare for the Olympics. In addition, a prosecutor had his investigation into the Brothers Home camp limited at a number of levels of government "in part out of fear of an embarrassing international incident on the eve of the Olympics."https://apnews.com/c22de3a565fe4e85a0508bbbd72c3c1b AP: S. Korea covered up mass abuse, killings of 'vagrants' Kim Tong-Hyung 20 April 2016 Associated Press News 18 August 2019 30 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20190818143942/https://apnews.com/c22de3a565fe4e85a0508bbbd72c3c1b live In 1975, the previous president of South Korea had begun a policy of rounding up vagrants. According to government documents obtained by the Associated Press, from 1981 to 1986 the number of people held increased from 8,600 to more than 16,000.Hong Sukjung 21 August 2016 The Heinous Olympification of Seoul The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/136167/heinous-olympification-seoul 28 July 2021 28 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210728201138/https://newrepublic.com/article/136167/heinous-olympification-seoul live Police officers often received promotions based on the number of vagrants they had arrested, and owners of facilities received a subsidy based on the number of people held. There were multiple reports of inmates raped or beaten, and sometimes beaten to death. 4,000 of these "vagrants" were held at the Brothers Home facility. Many of the guards were former inmates who had been "promoted" because of loyalty to the camp's owner. Various money-making operations were conducted such as manufacturing ball-point pens and fishing hooks, as well as clothing for Daewoo. Only a few inmates were paid belatedly for this work. By accident while on a hunting trip, prosecutor Kim Yong-won heard about and visited a work detail of prisoners in ragged clothes overseen by guards with wooden bats and dogs. In his words, he knew immediately that "a very serious crime" was occurring, and in January 1987, he led a raid on the facility and found beaten and malnourished inmates. He was politically pressured at various levels to reduce the charges against the owner, managers, and guards. In the end, the owner only served 2 1 2 years in prison. The Brothers Home was a religious facility based on the Christian faith. There were, in fact, inspections by both city officials and church officials. However, these were scheduled inspections in which healthier inmates were presented in carefully planned and orchestrated circumstances. There were no unannounced inspections. In the 1990s, construction workers found about 100 human bones on a mountainside outside the location of the former Brothers Home. Victims of the Brothers Home are seeking a government investigation into the crimes committed and accountability.Hancocks Paula South Korea's shame: Child victims of Brothers Home abuse still searching for justice https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/25/asia/south-korea-brothers-home-abuse/index.html October 25, 2016 2021-07-28 CNN 31 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161031235337/https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/25/asia/south-korea-brothers-home-abuse/index.html live Boycott 1988 Summer Olympics boycott thumb|370px|Countries boycotting or absent from the 1988 Games are shaded blue. The games were boycotted by North Korea and its allies Cuba, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. North Korea had insisted upon co-hosting the Games, something that had been encouraged by Cuban president Fidel Castro, who called for North Korea to be considered joint host of the Games. On 8 and 9 January 1986 in Lausanne, Switzerland, the IOC President chaired a meeting of the North and South Korean Olympic Committees. North Korea demanded that eleven of the 23 Olympic sports be carried out on its territory, special opening and closing ceremonies, and a joint organizing committee and a united team. The negotiations were continued into another meeting, but were not successful.Radchenko Sergey December 12, 2011 https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/sport-and-politics-the-korean-peninsula-north-korea-and-the-1988-seoul-olympics Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula – North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympic wilsoncenter.org 7 June 2025 15 May 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250515065358/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/sport-and-politics-the-korean-peninsula-north-korea-and-the-1988-seoul-olympics live 1987 IAAF World Track and Field Championships - Day 9 July 26, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSuL4z63kjs YouTube 2:39:23 21 June 2025 17 August 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250817100942/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSuL4z63kjs live North Korea then announced its boycott on September 3, 1988. The North Korean Central News Agency stated "this will leave another stain on Olympic history", and that "the 24th Olympic Games will be inevitably another crippled Olympiad where not all Olympic member states will participate".North Korea Announces Olympic Boycott UPI September 3, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/03/North-Korea-announces-Olympic-boycott/4545589262400/ 3 December 2025 24 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251203102003/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/03/North-Korea-announces-Olympic-boycott/4545589262400/ live Nicaragua had previously announced its intention to boycott on May 20, 1987. Moisés Hassan Morales, the Nicaraguan NOC president, stated "if the 1988 Olympics are not carried out in Pyongyang and Seoul, the two Korean capitals, Nicaragua will not attend this event".Nicaragua Conditions Its Attendance at Olympic Games UPI May 20, 1987 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/20/Nicaragua-conditions-its-attendance-at-Olympic-Games/2883548481600/ 4 November 2025 24 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251104030759/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/20/Nicaragua-conditions-its-attendance-at-Olympic-Games/2883548481600/ live Cuba made its boycott announcement on January 16, 1988, where it stated "Cuba deeply laments this decision, but our people and our athletes live by profound ethical norms and a great sense of honor".Cuba, Following the Lead of North Korea, Will Not Participate in Seoul's Summer Olympic Games UPI January 16, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/16/Cuba-following-the-lead-of-ally-North-Korea-will/8073569307600/ 3 December 2025 24 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251203104216/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/16/Cuba-following-the-lead-of-ally-North-Korea-will/8073569307600/ live Ethiopia announced on January 20, 1988, that it would boycott the 1988 Summer Olympics in solidarity with North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Madagascar, which had all criticized the decision disallowing North Korea to jointly organize the Games. The Ethiopian NOC said "at a time when the Korean people, who are divided against their will, are struggling for peaceful negotiations, Ethiopia strongly objects to the Olympic Games being conducted in South Korea which further strengthens disunity", adding that Ethiopia would participate "if the decision to keep the games in South Korea were reversed".Ethiopia Says It Will Boycott Seoul Olympics UPI January 20, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/20/Ethiopia-says-it-will-boycott-Seoul-Olympics/2535569653200/ 23 January 2025 24 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250123233632/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/20/Ethiopia-says-it-will-boycott-Seoul-Olympics/2535569653200/ live The Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOOC) closed the receipt of final entry applications for athletics on September 8, 1988. Among the 161 NOCs which officially notified their intention to participate in the Olympics, Madagascar failed to send in an entry form by the closing date, thus, its athletes did not compete at the Games. According to the SLOOC, Madagascar did this "in support of North Korea's co-hosting request". Albania and the Seychelles did not respond to the invitations sent by the IOC. Official theme song thumb|One of the Olympic Torches used during the 1988 Summer Olympics Torch Relay Hand in Hand (Olympic theme song) The Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOOC) also produced and distributed an official song of the Seoul Games to publicize the Games to all National Olympic Committees, encouraging their participation and consolidating the idea of harmony and friendship of the entire world through the song. "Hand in Hand" was commissioned for the Italian composer Giorgio Moroder and the American songwriter Tom Whitlock, and was performed by local group Koreana. Venues Venues of the 1988 Summer Olympics right|thumb|The World Peace Gate in Seoul thumb|Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool thumb|Seoul Olympic Park in autumn Seoul Sports Complex venues Seoul Olympic StadiumE E – opening/closing ceremonies, athletics, equestrian (jumping individual final), football (final) Jamsil Indoor Swimming PoolE E – diving, modern pentathlon (swimming), synchronized swimming, swimming, water polo Jamsil GymnasiumE E – basketball, volleyball (final) Jamsil Students' GymnasiumE E – boxing Jamsil Baseball StadiumE E – baseball (demonstration) Olympic Park venues Olympic VelodromeN N – cycling (track) Olympic Weightlifting GymnasiumN N – weightlifting Olympic Fencing GymnasiumN N – fencing, modern pentathlon (fencing) Olympic Gymnastics HallN N – gymnastics Olympic Tennis CenterN N – tennis Mongchon TosongN N – modern pentathlon (running) Other venues in metropolitan Seoul Seoul Equestrian Park– equestrian (all but jumping individual final), modern pentathlon (riding) Han River Regatta Course/Canoeing Site CourseN N – canoeing, rowing Saemaul Sports HallN N – volleyball preliminaries Hanyang University GymnasiumN N – volleyball preliminaries Changchung GymnasiumE E – judo, taekwondo (demonstration) Seoul National University Gymnasium – badminton (demonstration), table tennis Royal Bowling CenterE E – bowling (demonstration) Dongdaemun StadiumE E – football preliminaries Hwarang Archery FieldE E, Nowon District – archery Taenung International Shooting RangeE E, Taenung – modern pentathlon (shooting), shooting Streets of Seoul – athletics (20 km/ 50 km walk, marathon) Jangchung Gymnasium – taekwondo (demonstration), judo Venues outside Seoul Sangmu GymnasiumN N, Seongnam – wrestling Daejeon StadiumE E, Daejeon – football preliminaries Daegu StadiumE E, Daegu – football preliminaries Busan StadiumE E, Busan – football preliminaries Gwangju StadiumE E, Gwangju – football preliminaries Suwon GymnasiumN N, Suwon – handball Seongnam StadiumE E, Seongnam – field hockey Busan Yachting CenterN N, Busan – sailing Tongillo Road Course – cycling (individual road race, road team time trial) E E Existing facilities modified or refurbished in preparation for the Olympic Games. N N New facilities constructed in preparation for the Olympic Games. Cost According to The Oxford Olympics Study data is not available to establish the cost of the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics.2804554 The Oxford Olympics Study 2016: Cost and Cost Overrun at the Games Flyvbjerg Bent Stewart Allison Budzier Alexander Saïd Business School Working Papers (Oxford: University of Oxford) 2016 Oxford 9–13 The cost of the stadium was 491 billion won, approximately US$354 million. Sports August 2023 Unusual bullet point format section The 1988 Summer Olympics featured 23 different sports encompassing 31 disciplines, and medals were awarded in 237 events. In the list below, the number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses. 22em Aquatics Diving 4 d Swimming 31 d Synchronized swimming 2 d Water polo 1 d Archery 4 d Athletics 42 d Basketball 2 d Boxing 12 d Canoeing 12 d Cycling d Road (3) Track (6) Equestrian d Dressage (2) Eventing (2) Show jumping (2) Fencing 8 d Field hockey 2 d Football 1 d Gymnastics d Artistic (14) Rhythmic (1) Handball 2 d Judo 7 d Modern pentathlon 2 d Rowing 14 d Sailing 8 d Shooting 13 d Table tennis 4 d Tennis 4 d Volleyball 2 d Weightlifting 10 d Wrestling d Freestyle (10) Greco-Roman (10) thumb|150px|right|Erich Buljung shows a silver medal he won in the 10m air pistol competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Demonstration Baseball Women's Judo Taekwondo Exhibition Badminton and bowling were held as exhibition sports, which did not require IOC approval and were not part of the official Olympic schedule.Competition Management by Sport library.la84.org 2018-07-25 http://library.la84.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1988/1988v1p2.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205113/http://library.la84.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1988/1988v1p2.pdf 2018-10-07 unfit 2024-01-27 362 Badminton Bowling Calendar All times are local KST (UTC+10) Note: between May 8 and October 9, 1988, all the clocks in the country were advanced by one hour as a test of the possibility of adopting the daylight summer time in the country in the future. This advance also enabled the development of a sports calendar in which the main events were scheduled to be broadcast in major Western markets in television prime time.  ● Opening ceremony   Event competitions  ● Event finals  ● Closing ceremony DateSeptemberOctober17thSat18thSun19thMon20thTue21stWed22ndThu23rdFri24thSat25thSun26thMon27thTue28thWed29thThu30thFri1stSat2ndSun Archery● ●● ● Athletics●● ●●● ●● ●● ● ●● ● ● ●● ● ● ●● ● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ●● Basketball●● Boxing● ● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ● Canoeing● ● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ● Cycling●●●● ●● ●●● Diving ● ● ● ● Equestrian● ●●●●● Fencing●●●●●●●● Field hockey●● Football (soccer)● Gymnastics●●●●● ● ●● ● ●● ●● ●● Handball●● Judo●●●●●●● Modern pentathlon● ● Rowing● ●● ●● ● ●● ●● ●● ● ● Sailing● ● ● ●● ● ● ● Shooting● ●● ●● ●● ●●● ●● ● Swimming● ●● ●● ●● ● ●● ●● ● ●● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ●● ● ● Synchronized swimming●● Table tennis● ●● ● Tennis● ●● ● Volleyball●● Water polo● Weightlifting●●●●● ●●●●● Wrestling●● ●● ●● ●●● ●●● ●●● ●● ●● ● Total gold medals 5 7 9 14 17 12 30 26 9 15 9 11 36 37 9 Ceremonies ● ●Date17thSat18thSun19thMon20thTue21stWed22ndThu23rdFri24thSat25thSun26thMon27thTue28thWed29thThu30thFri1stSat2ndSunSeptemberOctober Participating National Olympic Committees thumb|Participants (blue nations had their first entrance) thumb|Number of athletes sent by each nation Athletes from 160 nations competed at the Seoul Games. Aruba, American Samoa, Brunei, Cook Islands, Maldives, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Yemen made their first Olympic appearance at these Games. Guam made their first Summer Olympic appearance at these games having participated in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. In the following list, the number in parentheses indicates the number of athletes from each nation that competed in Seoul: Olympic Games Participating Countries – 1988 Seoul http://olympic-museum.de/part_count/1988.htm olympic-museum.de 7 October 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071012133414/http://olympic-museum.de/part_count/1988.htm 12 October 2007 dmy-all Participating National Olympic Committees18em AFG 1988 Summer 5 ALG 1988 Summer 42 ASA 1988 Summer 6 AND 1988 Summer 3 ANG 1988 Summer 24 ANT 1988 Summer 15 ARG 1988 Summer 118 ARU 1988 Summer 8 AUS 1988 Summer 252 AUT 1988 Summer 73 BAH 1988 Summer 16 BRN 1988 Summer 7 BAN 1988 Summer 6 BAR 1988 Summer 17 BEL 1988 Summer 59 BIZ 1988 Summer 10 BEN 1988 Summer 7 BER 1988 Summer 12 BHU 1988 Summer 3 BOL 1988 Summer 7 BOT 1988 Summer 8 BRA 1988 Summer 160 IVB 1988 Summer 3 BUL 1988 Summer 172 BUR 1988 Summer 6 BRU 1988 Summer 0Note BIR 1988 Summer 2 CMR 1988 Summer 15 CAN 1988 Summer 328 CAY 1988 Summer 8 CAF 1988 Summer 15 CHA 1988 Summer 6 CHI 1988 Summer 17 CHN 1988 Summer 273 COL 1988 Summer 40 CGO 1988 Summer 7 COK 1988 Summer 7 CRC 1988 Summer 16 CYP 1988 Summer 9 TCH 1988 Summer 163 DEN 1988 Summer 78 DJI 1988 Summer 6 DOM 1988 Summer 16 ECU 1988 Summer 13 EGY 1988 Summer 49 ESA 1988 Summer 6 GEQ 1988 Summer 6 FIJ 1988 Summer 23 FIN 1988 Summer 78 FRA 1988 Summer 266 GAB 1988 Summer 2 GAM 1988 Summer 6 GDR 1988 Summer 259 FRG 1988 Summer 347 GHA 1988 Summer 16 GBR 1988 Summer 345 GRE 1988 Summer 56 GRN 1988 Summer 6 GUM 1988 Summer 19 GUA 1988 Summer 28 GUI 1988 Summer 6 GUY 1988 Summer 8 HAI 1988 Summer 4 HON 1988 Summer 8 HKG 1988 Summer 48 HUN 1988 Summer 188 ISL 1988 Summer 32 IND 1988 Summer 46 INA 1988 Summer 29 IRI 1988 Summer 23 IRQ 1988 Summer 27 IRL 1988 Summer 61 ISR 1988 Summer 18 ITA 1988 Summer 253 CIV 1988 Summer 28 JAM 1988 Summer 35 JPN 1988 Summer 255 JOR 1988 Summer 7 KEN 1988 Summer 74 KOR 1988 Summer 401 (host) KUW 1988 Summer 25 LAO 1988 Summer 3 LIB 1988 Summer 21 LES 1988 Summer 6 LBR 1988 Summer 8 LBA 1988 Summer 6 LIE 1988 Summer 12 LUX 1988 Summer 8 MAW 1988 Summer 16 MAS 1988 Summer 9 MDV 1988 Summer 7 MLI 1988 Summer 6 MLT 1988 Summer 6 MTN 1988 Summer 6 MRI 1988 Summer 8 MEX 1988 Summer 83 MON 1988 Summer 9 MGL 1988 Summer 28 MAR 1988 Summer 27 MOZ 1988 Summer 8 NEP 1988 Summer 16 NED 1988 Summer 147 AHO 1988 Summer 3 NZL 1988 Summer 83 NIG 1988 Summer 6 NGR 1988 Summer 69 NOR 1988 Summer 69 OMA 1988 Summer 8 PAK 1988 Summer 30 PAN 1988 Summer 6 PNG 1988 Summer 11 PAR 1988 Summer 10 PER 1988 Summer 21 PHI 1988 Summer 31 POL 1988 Summer 143 POR 1988 Summer 65 PUR 1988 Summer 47 QAT 1988 Summer 10 ROM 1988 Summer 68 RWA 1988 Summer 6 VIN 1988 Summer 6 SMR 1988 Summer 11 KSA 1988 Summer 9 SEN 1988 Summer 23 SLE 1988 Summer 12 SIN 1988 Summer 8 SOL 1988 Summer 4 SOM 1988 Summer 5 URS 1988 Summer 481 ESP 1988 Summer 229 SRI 1988 Summer 6 SUD 1988 Summer 8 SUR 1988 Summer 6 SWZ 1988 Summer 11 SWE 1988 Summer 184 SUI 1988 Summer 99 SYR 1988 Summer 13 TPE 1988 Summer 61 TAN 1988 Summer 10 THA 1988 Summer 14 TOG 1988 Summer 6 TGA 1988 Summer 5 TRI 1988 Summer 6 TUN 1988 Summer 41 TUR 1988 Summer 41 UGA 1988 Summer 24 UAE 1988 Summer 12 USA 1988 Summer 527 URU 1988 Summer 15 VAN 1988 Summer 4 VEN 1988 Summer 17 VIE 1988 Summer 9 ISV 1988 Summer 22 WSM 1988 Summer 11 YAR 1988 Summer 8 YMD 1988 Summer 5 YUG 1988 Summer 155 ZAI 1988 Summer 15 ZAM 1988 Summer 29 ZIM 1988 Summer 29 Note Brunei participated in the Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies, marking its first appearance at the Olympic Games, but its delegation consisted of only one swimming official. When the team from the Dominican Republic marched in during the Parade of Nations, the superimposed map erroneously showed the location of Cuba, a nation that did not take part at the Games.Lee Junewoo 14 January 2014 [1/3] Opening Ceremony – 1988 Seoul Olympic Games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfIFiyLswLE 25 October 2016 38:15 25 December 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181225173508/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfIFiyLswLE live Number of athletes by National Olympic Committee 8,453 athletes from 159 NOCs IOC Letter Code Country Athletes AFG AFG 1988 Summer 5 ALG ALG 1988 Summer 42 ASA ASA 1988 Summer 6 AND AND 1988 Summer 3 ANG ANG 1988 Summer 24 ANT ANT 1988 Summer 15 ARG ARG 1988 Summer 118 ARU ARU 1988 Summer 8 AUS AUS 1988 Summer 252 AUT AUT 1988 Summer 73 BAH BAH 1988 Summer 16 BRN BRN 1988 Summer 7 BAN BAN 1988 Summer 6 BAR BAR 1988 Summer 17 BEL BEL 1988 Summer 59 BIZ BIZ 1988 Summer 10 BEN BEN 1988 Summer 7 BER BER 1988 Summer 12 BHU BHU 1988 Summer 3 BOL BOL 1988 Summer 7 BOT BOT 1988 Summer 8 BRA BRA 1988 Summer 160 IVB IVB 1988 Summer 3 BUL BUL 1988 Summer 172 BUR BUR 1988 Summer 6 BRU BRU 1988 SummerNote 0 BIR BIR 1988 Summer 2 CMR CMR 1988 Summer 15 CAN CAN 1988 Summer 328 CAY CAY 1988 Summer 8 CAF CAF 1988 Summer 15 CHA CHA 1988 Summer 6 CHI CHI 1988 Summer 17 CHN CHN 1988 Summer 273 COL COL 1988 Summer 40 CGO CGO 1988 Summer 7 COK COK 1988 Summer 7 CRC CRC 1988 Summer 16 CYP CYP 1988 Summer 9 TCH TCH 1988 Summer 163 DEN DEN 1988 Summer 78 DJI DJI 1988 Summer 6 DOM DOM 1988 Summer 16 ECU ECU 1988 Summer 13 EGY EGY 1988 Summer 49 ESA ESA 1988 Summer 6 GEQ GEQ 1988 Summer 6 FIJ FIJ 1988 Summer 23 FIN FIN 1988 Summer 78 FRA FRA 1988 Summer 266 GAB GAB 1988 Summer 2 GAM GAM 1988 Summer 6 GDR GDR 1988 Summer 259 FRG FRG 1988 Summer 347 PLE GHA 1988 Summer 16 GBR GBR 1988 Summer 345 GRE GRE 1988 Summer 56 GRN GRN 1988 Summer 6 GUM GUM 1988 Summer 19 GUA GUA 1988 Summer 28 GUI GUI 1988 Summer 6 GUY GUY 1988 Summer 8 HAI HAI 1988 Summer 4 HON HON 1988 Summer 8 HKG HKG 1988 Summer 48 HUN HUN 1988 Summer 188 ISL ISL 1988 Summer 32 IND IND 1988 Summer 46 INA INA 1988 Summer 29 IRN IRI 1988 Summer 23 IRQ IRQ 1988 Summer 27 IRL IRL 1988 Summer 61 ISR ISR 1988 Summer 18 ITA ITA 1988 Summer 253 CIV CIV 1988 Summer 28 JAM JAM 1988 Summer 35 JPN JPN 1988 Summer 255 JOR JOR 1988 Summer 7 KEN KEN 1988 Summer 74 KOR KOR 1988 Summer 401 KUW KUW 1988 Summer 25 LAO LAO 1988 Summer 3 LIB LIB 1988 Summer 21 LES LES 1988 Summer 6 LBR LBR 1988 Summer 8 LBA LBA 1988 Summer 6 LIE LIE 1988 Summer 12 LUX LUX 1988 Summer 8 MAW MAW 1988 Summer 16 MAS MAS 1988 Summer 9 MDV MDV 1988 Summer 7 MLI MLI 1988 Summer 6 MLT MLT 1988 Summer 6 MTN MTN 1988 Summer 6 MRI MRI 1988 Summer 8 MEX MEX 1988 Summer 83 MON MON 1988 Summer 9 MGL MGL 1988 Summer 28 MAR MAR 1988 Summer 27 MOZ MOZ 1988 Summer 8 NEP NEP 1988 Summer 16 HOL NED 1988 Summer 147 AHO AHO 1988 Summer 3 NZL NZL 1988 Summer 83 NIG NIG 1988 Summer 6 NGR NGR 1988 Summer 69 NOR NOR 1988 Summer 69 OMA OMA 1988 Summer 8 PAK PAK 1988 Summer 30 PAN PAN 1988 Summer 6 NGU PNG 1988 Summer 11 PAR PAR 1988 Summer 10 PER PER 1988 Summer 21 PHI PHI 1988 Summer 31 POL POL 1988 Summer 143 POR POR 1988 Summer 65 PUR PUR 1988 Summer 47 QAT QAT 1988 Summer 10 ROM ROM 1988 Summer 68 RWA RWA 1988 Summer 6 VIN VIN 1988 Summer 6 SMR SMR 1988 Summer 11 KSA KSA 1988 Summer 9 SEN SEN 1988 Summer 23 SLE SLE 1988 Summer 12 SIN SIN 1988 Summer 8 SOL SOL 1988 Summer 4 SOM SOM 1988 Summer 5 URS URS 1988 Summer 481 ESP ESP 1988 Summer 229 SRI SRI 1988 Summer 6 SUD SUD 1988 Summer 8 SUR SUR 1988 Summer 6 SWZ SWZ 1988 Summer 11 SWE SWE 1988 Summer 184 SUI SUI 1988 Summer 99 SYR SYR 1988 Summer 13 TPE TPE 1988 Summer 61 TAN TAN 1988 Summer 10 THA THA 1988 Summer 14 TOG TOG 1988 Summer 6 TGA TGA 1988 Summer 5 TRI TRI 1988 Summer 6 TUN TUN 1988 Summer 41 TUR TUR 1988 Summer 41 UGA UGA 1988 Summer 24 UAE UAE 1988 Summer 12 USA USA 1988 Summer 527 URU URU 1988 Summer 15 VAN VAN 1988 Summer 4 VEN VEN 1988 Summer 17 VIE VIE 1988 Summer 9 ISV ISV 1988 Summer 22 WSM WSM 1988 Summer 11 YAR YAR 1988 Summer 8 YMD YMD 1988 Summer 5 YUG YUG 1988 Summer 155 ZAI ZAI 1988 Summer 15 ZAM ZAM 1988 Summer 29 ZIM ZIM 1988 Summer 29 Medal table thumb|Gold medal of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics medal table These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1988 Games. Mascot The official mascot for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games was Hodori. It was a stylized tiger designed by Kim Hyun as an amicable Amur tiger, portraying the friendly and hospitable traditions of the Korean people. Hodori – mascot of the 1988 Olympic Summer Games http://en.beijing2008.com/07/74/article211987407.shtml beijing2008.com 8 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071011224332/http://en.beijing2008.com/07/74/article211987407.shtml 11 October 2007 dead dmy-all Hodori's female version was called Hosuni.Seoul 1988 – Hodori and Hosuni http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2006-08/25/content_674011.htm www.chinadaily.com.cn 8 October 2007 8 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071208200513/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2006-08/25/content_674011.htm live The name ko 호돌이 Hodori was chosen from 2,295 suggestions sent in by the public. It is a compound of ko 호 ho, the Sino-Korean bound morpheme for "tiger" (appearing also in the usual word ko 호랑이 horangi for "tiger"), and ko 돌이 dori, a diminutive for "boys". Broadcasting In the United States, NBC became the telecast provider hereafter for the Summer Games, after a five-Olympics run by the American Broadcasting Company from 1968 to 1984.Logan Elizabeth A Look Back at When NBC Began Broadcasting the Olympics https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/how-long-nbc-has-been-broadcasting-the-olympics NBC February 4, 2026 March 21, 2026 7 February 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260207130127/https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/how-long-nbc-has-been-broadcasting-the-olympics live NBC's coverage was their first sporting event to feature the new Quantel Cypher to generate the on-screen graphics.20 Super Bowls in 60 Years: A Look Back as NBC Turns 100 https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/20-super-bowls-60-years-look-back-nbc-turns-100#:~:text=NBC%20also%20innovated%20new%20on,in%20history%20at%20the%20time. NBCUniversal February 4, 2026 March 21, 2026 12 February 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260212193729/https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/20-super-bowls-60-years-look-back-nbc-turns-100#:~:text=NBC%20also%20innovated%20new%20on,in%20history%20at%20the%20time. live However, the network would continue to use Chyron Corporation for the rest of the year with Quantel being used again for the 1988 World Series. The Cypher would be implemented permanently starting with Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989.Pugh Chris The Bengals 1989 Super Bowl was the last one for Merlin Olsen as broadcaster https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2022/02/05/1989-super-bowl-bengals-merlin-olsens-last-one-nbc/6637868001/ Cincinnati Enquirer February 5, 2022 March 21, 2026 8 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240908191421/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2022/02/05/1989-super-bowl-bengals-merlin-olsens-last-one-nbc/6637868001/ live Doping NameCountrySportBanned substanceMedalsRef.Ali DadAFG 1988 SummerWrestlingFurosemideKerrith BrownGBR 1988 SummerJudoFurosemide (71 kg)https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1028410/brown-steps-down-as-british-judo-association-chairman-to-become-president-of-ufc-partner-immaf Brown steps down as British Judo Association chairman to become President of UFC partner IMMAF 24 February 2022 26 November 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241126220955/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1028410/brown-steps-down-as-british-judo-association-chairman-to-become-president-of-ufc-partner-immaf live Kalman CsengeriHUN 1988 SummerWeightliftingStanozololMitko GrablevBUL 1988 SummerWeightliftingFurosemide (56 kg)Angell GuenchevBUL 1988 SummerWeightliftingFurosemide (67.5 kg)Ben JohnsonCAN 1988 SummerAthleticsStanozolol (men's 100 m)Butler Mark 2015 IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 Statistics Handbook http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Beijing-2015-Statistics-Handbook/index.htm Monaco IAAF Doping violations Olympic Athletics 419–420 18 October 2015 24 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20151018122334/http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/Beijing-2015-Statistics-Handbook/index.htm live Fernando MariacaESP 1988 SummerWeightliftingPemolineJorge QuesadaESP 1988 SummerModern pentathlonPropranololAndor SzanyiHUN 1988 SummerWeightliftingStanozolol (100 kg)Alexander WatsonAUS 1988 SummerModern PentathlonCaffeine In 2003, Wade Exum, the United States Olympic Committee's director of drug control administration from 1991 to 2000, released documents that showed Carl Lewis had tested positive three times at the 1988 United States Olympic trials for minimum amounts of pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, which were banned stimulants. Bronchodilators are also found in cold medication. Due to the rules, his case could have led to disqualification from the Seoul Olympics and suspension from competition for six months. The levels of the combined stimulants registered in the separate tests were 2 ppm, 4 ppm and 6 ppm.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-23-sp-oly23-story.html Just a Dash of Drugs in Lewis, DeLoach Los Angeles Times April 23, 2003 Abrahamson, Alan October 10, 2019 10 October 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191010221046/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-23-sp-oly23-story.html live Lewis defended himself, claiming that he had accidentally consumed the banned substances. After the supplements that he had taken were analyzed to prove his claims, the USOC accepted his claim of inadvertent use, since a dietary supplement he ingested was found to contain "Ma huang", the Chinese name for Ephedra (ephedrine is known to help weight loss). Fellow Santa Monica Track Club teammates Joe DeLoach and Floyd Heard were also found to have low levels of the same stimulants in their systems, and were cleared to compete for the same reason.Pete McEntegart https://www.si.com/vault/2003/04/14/341393/scorecard Scorecard Sports Illustrated April 14, 2003 3 February 2022 9 October 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191009012244/https://www.si.com/vault/2003/04/14/341393/scorecard livehttps://www.smh.com.au/sport/carl-lewiss-positive-test-covered-up-20030418-gdgmdt.html Carl Lewis's positive test covered up The Sydney Morning Herald April 18, 2003 October 9, 2019 5 February 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180205084220/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/17/1050172709693.html live The highest level of the stimulants Lewis recorded was 6 ppm, which was regarded as a positive test in 1988 but is now regarded as negative test. The acceptable level has been raised to ten parts per million for ephedrine and twenty-five parts per million for other substances.Wallechinsky and Loucky, The Complete Book of the Olympics (2012 edition), page 61. According to the IOC rules at the time, positive tests with levels lower than 10 ppm were cause of further investigation but not immediate ban. Neal Benowitz, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco who is an expert on ephedrine and other stimulants, agreed that "These [levels] are what you'd see from someone taking cold or allergy medicines and are unlikely to have any effect on performance." Following Exum's revelations the IAAF acknowledged that at the 1988 Olympic Trials the USOC indeed followed the correct procedures in dealing with eight positive findings for ephedrine and ephedrine-related compounds in low concentration. Additionally, in 1988 the federation reviewed the relevant documents with the athletes' names undisclosed and stated that "the medical committee felt satisfied, however, on the basis of the information received that the cases had been properly concluded by the USOC as 'negative cases' in accordance with the rules and regulations in place at the time and no further action was taken".http://157.166.224.103/athletics/news/2003/04/30/iaaf_doping_ap/ IAAF: USOC followed rules over dope tests April 30, 2003 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140201150836/http://157.166.224.103/athletics/news/2003/04/30/iaaf_doping_ap/ February 1, 2014 mdyhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-01-sp-oly1-story.html USOC's Actions on Lewis Justified by IAAF Los Angeles Times May 1, 2003 Abrahamson Alan 17 September 2018 14 August 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20180917172810/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/may/01/sports/sp-oly1 live See also 1988 Summer Olympics 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games – 1988 Seoul References 30em External links 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul Olympic Library, full event replays 88 Seoul Olympics, Seoul Olympics memorial hall http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1988/ore252/ORE252h.pdf Olympic Review 1988 – Official results 22 March 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090326105229/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1988/ore252/ORE252h.pdf 26 March 2009 live Official Report Vol. 1 Official Report Vol. 2 17 September 1988 Newsdesk broadcasting 2 October 1988 Newsdesk broadcasting The program of the 1988 Seoul Olympics http://110.45.145.134/10_search/index.asp Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation 1988 Seoul Olympic Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20090814204230/http://110.45.145.134/10_search/index.asp 14 August 2009 dead soly Los Angeles XXIV OlympiadSeoul 1988 Barcelona Olympics South Korea Sports 1980s Olympics Category:Sports competitions in Seoul Category:Olympic Games in South Korea Olympic Games Category:Summer Olympics by year Category:1980s in Seoul Category:September 1988 sports events in Asia Category:October 1988 sports events in Asia