The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is under fire for selling T-shirts that showcase designs from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, an event notable for its association with Nazi Germany. The shirts bear the original poster design by Franz Wirthbel, depicting a male figure wearing a laurel wreath, with the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the inscription 'Germany Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.' There have been calls in Germany urging the IOC to halt these sales due to the event's historical implications and the troubling context surrounding it.

The backlash highlights the tension between celebrating Olympic heritage and acknowledging the dark chapters of history that coincide with some Olympic events. While the IOC has defended the sale as part of its Heritage Collection, which honors styles from various editions of the Games, critics argue that selling merchandise linked to a regime responsible for horrific atrocities is highly inappropriate and insensitive.

The controversy underscores a broader discussion about the responsibility of sports organizations in addressing historical contexts and the implications of promoting products associated with events that occurred under oppressive regimes. The T-shirts are currently not available for sale, leaving the IOC to navigate the complexities of maintaining ceremonial respect while honoring its past.