因为近几届奥运会耗资不断加强与政治原因的干扰,使得申办奥运会的城市望而却步,愈加少。本届奥运会的申办城市原有两家,除洛杉矶外,还有伊朗的德黑兰,但出于上述种种缘由,德黑兰中途退出。因此,在1978年国际奥委会雅典年会上,洛杉矶在没对手的状况下,获得了本届奥运会的承办权。1932年洛市曾主办过第十届奥运会,52年过去,奥林匹克圣火第三在这里燃起,使它成为继巴黎、伦敦之后,第三个举行两届夏天奥运会的城市。

历届奥运回顾:1984年洛杉矶奥运会KEY FACTS

Opening date: 28 July 1984

Closing date: 12 August 1984

The Host City:Los Angeles

Sports: 23

LOS ANGELES 1984 Games of the XXIII Olympiad

Although a revenge boycott1 led by the Soviet2 Union depleted3 the field in certain sports, a record 140 nations took part. Joan Benoit won the inaugural4 women's marathon and Connie Carpenter-Phinney the first women's cycling road race.

Carl Lewis won both sprints5 and the long jump and earned a fourth gold in the 4x100m relay. Pertti Karppinen won single sculls rowing for the third time. Sebastian Coe became the first repeat winner of the men's 1,500m. Archer6 Neroli Fairhall was the first paraplegic athlete to take part in a medal event. She competed in a wheelchair.
Do You Know? 允许职业足球运动员参加奥运会?

Professionals were allowed to participate in the football tournament - as long as they had not yet taken part in the World Cup. This led to a spirited final -viewed by 101,799 spectators - in which France defeated Brazil 2-0.

这届奥运会上允许职业运动员参加足球比赛,只须他们不参加世界杯。这直接导致了决赛爆满的场景,最后法国队以2-0击败了巴西队夺冠。