• It was the first time that television was used to broadcast a sporting event.
• The first torch run to light the Olympic flame was originated. Perhaps the most important Olympic film ever produced covered the summer games.
• It was the first real political boycotts. The first fully self-contained Olympic village was constructed.
• It was the most elaborate Olympics staged up to that time and for several more afterwards.
• The largest crowd to ever watch a baseball game (100,00) saw an exhibition match between two American teams.
• Basketball was introduced to the Olympics.
• Three American competitors were removed from the team for breaking training or for criminal activities.
• Downhill skiing was introduced to the winter games.
• A Polish female sprinter was later found out to be a male.
• Two American sprinters were replaced on the relay team supposedly because they were Jewish.
• The youngest American participant was a 13-year-old diver.
• Germany, the host country, won the most medals, the last time a country other than the United States or the Soviet Union would do so.
• Several athletes such as Jesse Owens and Sonja Henie would become household names throughout the world.
• Many myths have grown up around the 1936 Olympics, including one that had Hitler snubbing Jesse Owens after his victory in the 100-meter dash.

A fascinating book covering early history leading to WWII. Incredible photo collection. By Stan Cohen. Edition unknown, published 1996.