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The Olympics go East -

Tokyo was the first non-Western city to host the Olympics. The Games of the XVIII Olympiad, as it was officially known, were held in Tokyo, Japan, from October 10 to 24, 1964.

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The Olympics go East -

Though this was not the first time the Japanese capital was chosen to host the Olympics. The country was supposed to host the 1940  Olympics, but due to the conflict with China, the competition was rescheduled for Helsinki. But then World War II started, so the games ended up being canceled.

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South Africa was banned from the Olympics -

South Africa was banned from the Tokyo Olympics due to their apartheid policies. The South African government refused to send an integrated team to the Games.

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South Africa was banned from the Olympics -

The country's Minister of the Interior, Johannes de Klerk, claimed that it would be "inadmissible" for black South Africans to represent white South Africans. They did eventually announce seven non-white athletes in a team of 62, but this was not good enough for the International Olympic Committee and the country was banned.

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Back-to-back Olympic marathon champion -

Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila won two Olympic marathons in a row. First the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome (where he ran barefoot!), and then the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.

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Back-to-back Olympic marathon champion -

The first black African Olympic gold medalist won the Tokyo marathon some 40 days following a surgery to get his appendix removed!

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Broadcast -

While the 1960 Rome Games were broadcast live in Europe, the Tokyo Olympics were the first to be broadcast internationally.

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Broadcast -

Though the broadcast was not the same for everyone around the world. Those in Japan had the privilege of watching it in color. People in the US, for instance, could only watch the opening ceremony.

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Zambia independence -

The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved a year prior to the Tokyo Olympics, but the nation didn't become the Republic of Zambia until October 24, 1964.

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Zambia independence -

The country's independence was declared on the same day as the Olympics closing ceremony, making it the only nation to enter the competition as one country and leave as another.

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The underdog -

Oglala Lakota distance runner Tamakoce Te'Hila, also known as Billy Mills, took everyone by surprise by winning Olympic gold for the US. He was virtually unknown up until the event.

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The underdog -

As of today, no other US athlete has won gold in the 10,000-meter run since. In 2012, Mills received the Presidential Citizens Medal for his efforts in Native American causes.

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Women's volleyball -

Women's volleyball officially debuted at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and the home team in particular made the headlines.

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Women's volleyball -

The Japanese women's volleyball team won gold. Their final match against the Soviet Union had an audience rating of over 80% in Japan.

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First bullet train line -

The first Shinkansen train line was opened just nine days before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics began.

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First bullet train line -

The overrun costs led to the resignation of the president of Japanese National Railway and the chief engineer. But according to The Japan Times, "the goal was to impress the rest of the world with the high level of Japanese technological achievement, as the global media focused on the Tokyo Olympics."

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Record-breaking debut -

British runner Ann Packer made her international debut at the Tokyo Olympics with only five races under her belt.

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Record-breaking debut -

But despite being fairly inexperienced, she won the gold medal in the 800m run and took silver in the 400m run. Plus, she also set a new world record in the 800m at the time!

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Wrestling superstar -

Watanabe Osamu is considered one of the greatest wrestlers in Olympics history.

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Wrestling superstar -

But Tokyo 1964 were the first and last Olympic Games where the Japanese wrestler competed. Osamu remained undefeated throughout his entire career. 

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Rebuilding Tokyo -

The capital city suffered a major transformation before hosting the Olympics. Up to 10,000 offices and residential buildings were built. Wooden houses were replaced with apartment blocks.

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Rebuilding Tokyo -

New road infrastructures were also built, including a new sewage system. The rebuild also included new subway lines and new hotels.

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The most decorated Olympian -

Before Michael Phelps won 28 medals, the record was held by the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. She set the record during the Tokyo Olympics. In total, the gymnast amassed 18 medals: a record she held for 48 years!

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The most decorated Olympian -

And she didn't even knew about it for years, until she was sent a magazine article cutout. "Up until 1979 I did not even have an idea that I could be a record holder. I really was surprised by this," said Latynina.

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The dark history of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics -

Tokyo had thousands of stray dogs and cats roaming the streets, but this wouldn't look good for the country hosting the Olympics.

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The dark history of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics -

So an estimated 200,000 stray dogs and cats were euthanized.

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Thumb troubles -

American boxer Joe Frazier was sent as a replacement for Buster Mathis, who had broken his thumb. But just before Frazier competed in the Tokyo Olympics, he broke his thumb as well! Frazier still managed to win gold though.

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Thumb troubles -

Frazier went on to become the first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali, in what became known as the "Fight of the Century."

Sources: (Grunge) 

See also: The greatest and most inspiring Olympic moments

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