In protest of the upcoming Olympics in Nazi Germany, the newly elected left-wing government of the Second Spanish Republic celebrated the opening of the "Olimpíada Popular" on 18 July 1936 in Barcelona. 6,000 athletes across 22 nations were set to "exalt the peace and brotherhood between peoples and be a denunciation of Nazism". The same day, the fascist military coup expanded to the mainland, starting the "Spanish Civil War" and ending the event. 200 athletes joined the opposing forces.