I have to admit that I remember 1984 Olympics and how everyone talked about the 1980 boycott. I guess I didn’t pay attention to this boycott. Notwithstanding, it was on this date in 1980, that President Jimmy Carter announced that the U.S.would boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics. This came after the Soviet Union refused to withdraw from Afghanistan by the deadline imposed by the president. Canada, West Germany, and Japan joined the U.S. in the boycott, but Great Britain, France, Greece and Australia refused. An international coalition suggested that athletes from nations involved in the boycott could compete under a neutral Olympic banner, but President Carter threatened to revoke the passport and/or citizenship of any athlete who did so. In retaliation, the Soviet Union boycotted the Summer Olympic Games that were held in Los Angeles (that’s the one I remember). I don’t really think this did very much except ultimately hurt a lot of athletes.
For more information:
http://famousdaily.com/history/us-boycott-of-moscow-olympics-announced.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-announces-olympic-boycott
http://slicethelife.com/2013/03/21/potus-jimmy-carter-announces-u-s-boycott-of-1980-summer-olympic-games-in-moscow-this-day-1980/
