olympic chain 1936

Olympic Games Berlin 1936

The Golden Chain of Office for the Members
of the International Olympic Committee


During the journey to Athens for the meeting of the International Olympic Committee in 1934, the important question concerning the festive aspect of the Games was discussed. It was decided that the International Olympic Committee, as the supreme senate of physical culture, should constitute a unit at the Olympic Games and should be distinguished as such. The Secretary-General, Dr. Diem, therefore proposed that the form generally used for magistrates and scholastic dignitaries be adhered to, and since it was deemed impractical to institute robes of office, a large gold chain should be worn to symbolize the membership in the International Olympic Committee. This proposal was approved by the Olympic Committee. Six medallions were set into the links of a gold-plated, hand-worked chain, these being reproductions of antique originals from the period between 300 and 500 B.C. depicting a The five enamelled Olympic rings were attached to a large medallion revealing a reproduction of the head of Zeus from a Greek engraved gem in the Berlin State Museum. The reverse side of the medallion contained the inscription, "XI. Olympiade Berlin 1936," and space for additional Olympic Festivals. This chain was also created by the Berlin sculptor, Herr Lemcke, whose designs met with the approval of the President of the Organizing Committee. According to the regulations drawn up, these chains become the permanent property of the International Olympic Committee, and shall be preserved at the headquarters of the Secretary-General in Lausanne, being presented to the members of the Committee on the occasion of each Olympic Festival. (Source document: Official Report 1936, Vols. I, page 126, 127)

The Golden Chain for the members of the International Olympic Committee.
Design: Walter E. Lemcke, Berlin.

The chain intended to be worn at all future Olympic Games,
but was only worn at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.

The Presidents of the IOC and Organizing Committe
inspect the company of honour.


The opening of the exhibition, "Sport in Hellenic Times," at the German Museum on July 29th was the first official function. On the same afternoon the International Olympic Committee assembled in the main auditorium of the Berlin University, the room in which the first invitation to allot the Games to Berlin had been voiced six years before. The members of the International Olympic Committee wore their new gold chains of office for the first time on this festive occasion. In the course of the following days other meetings were held and the important decision was made to award the Games of 1940 to Tokyo. (Source document: Official Report 1936, Vols. I, page 87)

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Count Baillet-Latour
and Dr. Th. Lewald, President of the Organizing Committee
with the Golden Chains of Office

The six medaillions of the golden chain:



javelin-thrower	two wrestlers	torch-runner

youth with jumping weights	weapon-runner	discus-thrower

On the poto you can recognize 8 IOC members with the Golden Chain of Office.
There were 68 IOC members and the IOC President Baillet-Latour at the time of the
Berlin games


Olympic Memorabilias:
1936 Page I	1936 Page II	1936 Page III
1936 Page IV	1936 Page V