Jimmy Carter and the 1980 Olympics
On March 21, 1980, (31 years ago today), President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused Carter to issue his ultimatum that the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympics if Soviet troops did not withdraw from the country by 12:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on February 20, 1980. The official announcement confirming the boycott was made on March 21st. The United States was joined in the boycott by some other countries - including Japan, West Germany, China, the Philippines and Canada. Some of these countries competed at the Olympic Boycott Games in Philadelphia. The United Kingdom and France supported the boycott, but allowed their athletes to participate if they wished. The U.S. did not. The United Kingdom and France sent a much smaller delegation of athletes than usual. Italian athletes belonging to military corps did not attend the Games, due to the government's support of the boycott. Some American-born athletes who were citizens of other countries, such as Italy and Australia, did compete in Moscow.
At the closing ceremony, the Los Angeles city flag — rather than the United States flag — was raised to symbolize the next host of the Olympic Games. Even though only 80 nations participated, more world records were set in Moscow than in the previous summer games in 1976 in Montreal.
On May 24, 1980 in Buffalo, New York at the United States Olympic Trials for the marathon, Gary Fanelli led the pack for 15 miles while protesting the boycott with a shirt that read "The Road to Moscow Ends Here". The boycott was one of the most unpopular decisions of Carter's presidency.
Following is a youtube video concerning the boycott and it's effect on the 1980 US gymnastics team:
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused Carter to issue his ultimatum that the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympics if Soviet troops did not withdraw from the country by 12:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on February 20, 1980. The official announcement confirming the boycott was made on March 21st. The United States was joined in the boycott by some other countries - including Japan, West Germany, China, the Philippines and Canada. Some of these countries competed at the Olympic Boycott Games in Philadelphia. The United Kingdom and France supported the boycott, but allowed their athletes to participate if they wished. The U.S. did not. The United Kingdom and France sent a much smaller delegation of athletes than usual. Italian athletes belonging to military corps did not attend the Games, due to the government's support of the boycott. Some American-born athletes who were citizens of other countries, such as Italy and Australia, did compete in Moscow.
At the closing ceremony, the Los Angeles city flag — rather than the United States flag — was raised to symbolize the next host of the Olympic Games. Even though only 80 nations participated, more world records were set in Moscow than in the previous summer games in 1976 in Montreal.
On May 24, 1980 in Buffalo, New York at the United States Olympic Trials for the marathon, Gary Fanelli led the pack for 15 miles while protesting the boycott with a shirt that read "The Road to Moscow Ends Here". The boycott was one of the most unpopular decisions of Carter's presidency.
Following is a youtube video concerning the boycott and it's effect on the 1980 US gymnastics team: