Moscow+1980+5

By Anna S. and Carly H.

Bibliography: http://history1900s.about.com http://www.moscow-life.com http://www.worldbookonline.com- Olympic Games (1980) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/history/3055212.stm http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/20/spotlight/ http://history1900s.about.com/library/weekly/aa081000w.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0114780.html

"1980- Moscow, Soviet Union." About. 2008. 24 Apr. 2008 .

"1980 Moscow Olympic Games." Moscow-Life. 24 Apr. 2008 .

"1980 Olympics Moscow." Infoplease. 2008. 24 Apr. 2008 .

"Moscow 1980." BBC Sport. 24 Apr. 2008 .

"Olympic Boycots." CNN. 24 Apr. 2008 .

"Olympic Games (1980)." World Book. 2008. 24 Apr. 2008 .

Facts/Research:


 * The boycott was made in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the year before, one of the many conflicts that took place as the Americans and Russians fought during the Cold War years.


 * The 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow were most memorable for the largest boycott of an Olympics in history.

Approximately 5,000 athletes participated, representing 81 countries.
 * The United States and 61 other countries decided to boycott the Olympics (France, Great Britain, Italy, and Sweden did not join the boycott).


 * President Jimmy Carter proposed in January 1980 that the Moscow Olympics be canceled or postponed unless Russia removed its troops from Afghanistan


 * Sixteen nations protested the Russian aggression in Afghanistan in a different way. Their athletes competed, but their national anthems and flags were replaced in ceremonies by the Olympic anthem and flag. Ten of the 16 did not allow their athletes to take part in the opening ceremonies.


 * The 1980 Moscow Games were the first olypics held in a country under communist rule, and was impaired by a boycott.


 * When the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979, then-U.S. President Carter brought that relationship to the forefront. He made the U.S. team to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics.


 * Unable to persuade the International Olympic Committe (IOC) to cancel or move the Summer Games, U.S. President Jimmy Carter pressured the United States Olympic Committe (USOC) to officially withdraw in April. Germany and Japan did the same with their atheletes.

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