1980 Olympic Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games
By Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli
With a thorough exploration of the political climate of the time and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, this book describes the repercussions of Jimmy Carter’s American boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Despite missing the games they had trained relentlessly to compete in, many U.S. athletes went on to achieve remarkable successes in sports and overcame the bitter disappointment of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity dashed by geopolitics.
Swimming World and the International Swimming Hall of Fame is selling this book to commemorate and to commiserate the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Boycott Games. Click here to order for only $19,95
Read More About The Moscow Boycott From January Issue of Swimming World Magazine
Years of hard work went unfulfilled. Dreams turned into nightmares. Sadness and anger abounded. The repercussions of the United States’ decision to boycott the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow were severe. This summer marks the 40th anniversary of what was a toxic mix of sports and politics.
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There was no proper reaction to the official announcement. The athletes, as was their right, reacted differently, and in fashions that were personally appropriate. Some immediately let the tears flow. Several instantly harbored intense anger. Others sat in disbelief, wondering how such a decision could be made.
An adage that sports and politics do not mix has been uttered for years. Fans want their athletes to play. They want touchdowns. They want goals. They want baskets. More, citizens don’t need their elected officials to infuse government policy into the games they follow. Yet, when President Jimmy Carter announced on March 21, 1980 that the United States would not send a delegation to that summer’s Olympics in Moscow, instead choosing to boycott the Games, sports and politics were pureed in the same blender.
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