1988 Seoul facts

While investigating facts about 1988 Seoul, I found out little known, but curios details like:

Doves were traditionally released during the opening ceremony of the Olympics games, until Seoul 1988. Several of the birds, instead of flying away, settled on the cauldron housing the Olympic flame and were subsequently incinerated in front of the crowd when it was lit.

In the 1988 Seoul Olympics a boxing match was declared "No Contest" after a boxer heard the bell ending a round from a nearby second ring, stopped fighting, and was knocked down and counted out.

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 18 of the best facts about 1988 Seoul I managed to collect.

1. A flock of peace doves got incinerated at the 1988 Olympics opening ceremony in Seoul

2. At the Opening Ceremonies for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, a large group of doves were released to symbolize peace. The world watched in horror a few minutes later when those doves were cooked alive when the Opening Ceremony cauldron was ignited.

3. In the 1988 summer Olympics opening ceremony in Seoul, thousands of doves were released and some of them were in the cauldron when it was lit, being burned alive in front of the world.

4. The 1988 Seoul Olympics directly contributed to South Korea's transition from authoritarianism to Democracy. As the June Democratic Uprisings of 1987 emerged, the desire not to taint the Olympic Games with military dictatorship and riots served as an impetus for Korea’s transition to democracy.

5. 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul was the last time US basketball team didn't include NBA players. This team won the bronze medal. It was defeated by Soviet Union that went on to win the gold medal.

6. Live Doves of Peace were burned alive in the ceremorial lighting of the Olympic Flame in 1988, Seoul.

7. 450,000 condoms have been distributed for free at the Rio Olympics (42.8 condoms/person), 3 times the amount given out in London. The first Olympics to give out free condoms was Seoul in 1988, which handed out only 8,500.

8. A great-grand nephew of Bram Stoker (Dacre Stoker) coached the Canadian Pentathlon team at the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul

9. Doves were traditionally released during the opening ceremony of the Olympics games until Seoul games of 1988. Several of the birds, instead of flying away, settled on the cauldron housing the Olympic flame and were subsequently incinerated in front of the crowd when it was lit.

10. During the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, 2400 white doves were released. Unfortunately many of them settled on the large torch that was ignited at the end of the ceremony and the stadium allegedly smelled like burnt dove for days afterwards

What is true about 1988 seoul?

You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.

The practice of releasing live doves at the Olympic opening ceremony was modified after a number of doves were burned alive when the Olympic cauldron was lit at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Boxer Roy Jones Jr was cheated out of gold at the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul. - source

In 1988 Carl Lewis failed 3 drug tests during the Olympic trials and should have been disqualified from the Seoul Olympics

During the opening ceremony for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the huge torches set doves on fire - source

The worst Olympic opening ceremonies. During the 1988 Summer Olympic opening ceremonies in Seoul, a flock of doves were released. Some of these birds settled on the Olympic cauldron and were burned to a crisp, live in front of the world, when it was lit.