The boycotts
The Olympic games in the 1980s had three big boycotts. The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a package of actions initiated by the United States to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
The boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States, followed that boycott, and involved 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies, led by the Soviet Union who initiated the boycott on May 8, 1984, and joined by others, including East Germany, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary and Cuba. Romania, considered a Soviet ally, notably did not
withdraw, instead turning up in Los Angeles for the Games held on July
28 through August 12.
Backgrounds
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan spurred Jimmy Carter to issue an ultimatum on January 20, 1980 that the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympics if Soviet troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan within one month.
The pros and cons of the boycott were further discussed in several interventions at the 1980 Bilderberg meeting held towards the end of April in Aachen.
The debate partly surrounded the perception that the action could be
perceived on the worldwide stage as a sentimental rather than a
strategic act. An African representative at the event stated that a
boycott would be an effective symbolic protest because of its dramatic
visibility to the citizens of the Soviet Union, regardless of whether or
not the action provoked a response.
The boycotting of the 1980 Summer Olympics took place
The United States was joined in the boycott by some other countries – including Japan, West Germany, China, the Philippines, Argentina and Canada. Some of these countries competed at the Olympic Boycott Games in Philadelphia. Notably, 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. Nevertheless, the delegation of the United Kingdom was the largest among Western Europe, with 170 athletes applying to compete. Spain, Italy, Sweden, Iceland and Finland were other principal nations representing western Europe, though Italian athletes belonging to military corps did not attend the Games, due to the government's support of the boycott, which severely affected many events. Some American-born athletes who were citizens of other countries, such as Italy and Australia, did compete in Moscow.
Reaction
At the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletes from a number of countries, including Australia, Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Spain, and Switzerland, marched under the Olympic Flag, instead of their national flags, a fact that the Soviet TV coverage alternately ignored and criticized. Moreover, although the government of New Zealand officially supported the boycott, four athletes from that country competed independently and marched under their NOC's flag.Altogether, the athletes of 16 countries were not represented by their national flags, and the Olympic Anthem replaced their national anthems at medal ceremonies. As a result, there were a few ceremonies where three Olympic Flags were raised.
Because Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau was unable to travel to Moscow because of the boycott, Sandra Henderson and Stéphane Préfontaine, the final torchbearers at the previous games, were sent in his stead to participate in the Antwerp Ceremony at the opening ceremony, and 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 1976 in Montreal.
Because Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau was unable to travel to Moscow because of the boycott, Sandra Henderson and Stéphane Préfontaine, the final torchbearers at the previous games, were sent in his stead to participate in the Antwerp Ceremony at the opening ceremony, and 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 1976 in Montreal.
Response by athletes
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 Soviets boycotted the 1984 Summer Games
The succeeding 1984 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, United States saw another boycott, this time led by the Soviet Union. The USSR announced its intentions to boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics on May 8, 1984. Six more states followed within days: Bulgaria, then East Germany (on May 10, citing the attitude of the American government for "destroy[ing] the basis" of its desired participation), followed by Mongolia and Vietnam (both May 11), and then Laos and Czechoslovakia (both May 13), with China formally accepting that it would be present in Los Angeles as the Laotians and Czechs announced their decision to absent themselves. Afghanistan was the eighth country to boycott the 1984 Olympics. Hungary and Poland were the ninth and tenth countries to join the boycott on May 16 and May 17 respectively, Hungary saying the lives of its athletes would be put in danger if they were to spend time in Los Angeles, Poland saying the United States was engaging in a "campaign aimed at disturbing the Games" and the Soviet Union saying the White House intended to permit any possible massacre of Soviet athletes in their apartments, leaving Romania as the only remaining Soviet ally to announce a boycott. Cuba was the eleventh country to announce its participation in the boycott, making front page news in America because it was a "serious blow to boxing and baseball" (May 24). South Yemen were the twelfth state to drop out (May 27), with The Los Angeles Times stating that this was due to their "Marxist" connections. North Korea were the thirteenth state to boycott the 1984 Olympics. Radio Moscow announced Angola's decision to boycott the 1984 Olympics, as the country became the second African state and 15th state to participate in the boycott.
Iran decided to boycott 1984 because of "United States interference in the Middle East, its support for the regime occupying Jerusalem and the crimes being committed by the U.S.A. in Latin America, especially in El Salvador."[12] Iran was the only country not to attend both the 1980 Moscow and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. For different reasons, Libya also boycotted.
Announcing its intentions on May 8, 1984, the Soviet Union cited security concerns and stated that "chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria [were] being whipped up in the United States." A US official said the country had ignored suggestive comments by the Soviets in the weeks building up to the announcement and that, in spite of all the indications, America was "absolutely dumbfounded" when the official announcement actually came. The American media saw the boycott as revenge for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games in response to the 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Among those subscribing to the revenge hypothesis was Peter Ueberroth, the chief organizer of the 1984 L.A. Games, who expressed his views in a press conference after the boycott was announced, on the same day that the Olympic Torch Relay in the United States began in New York City. U.S. President Ronald Reagan later stated his belief that the Soviets feared some of their athletes might defect. As more and more countries withdrew and the United States became more desperate the IOC even announced on deadline week that it would consider extending the deadline for entry into the Olympics. The three top medal winners from the 1980 Games in Moscow were among the boycotters, but the United States saw this as a "clear advantage" as it meant they would win more medals.
Iran decided to boycott 1984 because of "United States interference in the Middle East, its support for the regime occupying Jerusalem and the crimes being committed by the U.S.A. in Latin America, especially in El Salvador."[12] Iran was the only country not to attend both the 1980 Moscow and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. For different reasons, Libya also boycotted.
Announcing its intentions on May 8, 1984, the Soviet Union cited security concerns and stated that "chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria [were] being whipped up in the United States." A US official said the country had ignored suggestive comments by the Soviets in the weeks building up to the announcement and that, in spite of all the indications, America was "absolutely dumbfounded" when the official announcement actually came. The American media saw the boycott as revenge for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games in response to the 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Among those subscribing to the revenge hypothesis was Peter Ueberroth, the chief organizer of the 1984 L.A. Games, who expressed his views in a press conference after the boycott was announced, on the same day that the Olympic Torch Relay in the United States began in New York City. U.S. President Ronald Reagan later stated his belief that the Soviets feared some of their athletes might defect. As more and more countries withdrew and the United States became more desperate the IOC even announced on deadline week that it would consider extending the deadline for entry into the Olympics. The three top medal winners from the 1980 Games in Moscow were among the boycotters, but the United States saw this as a "clear advantage" as it meant they would win more medals.
Effect of the retaliation
The boycott affected a large number of Olympic events that were normally dominated by the absent countries. Boycotting countries organized another major event, called the Friendship Games, in July–August, 1984.
Countries refused to join the 1980 Summer Olympics
They are:
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Chinese Taipei**
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Fiji
- Gabon
Note:
- Even though Albania was a communist state, Albania would not return until 1992.
- *Qatar did not attend the Games because they were not invited by the International Olympic Committee.
- **Chinese Taipei / Taiwan did not attend because of the 1979 Nagoya Resolution, in which the People's Republic of China agreed to participate in the IOC if the Republic of China/Taiwan were referred to as "Chinese Taipei".
- East Germany also claimed that they would also boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics because they didn't want to compete without the West Germany, but finally decided to join anyway.
Nations participated in 1980 Summer Olympics without carrying the national flag
16 nations participated in the Games, but paraded into the Olympic stadium without their national flags.
Those seven countries above did not participate in the Opening parade.
Those two still able to parade, but by their own officials.
Those four participated at the Games under the Olympic flag and by their own athletes.
Spain national team competed under the Olympic flag, while Portugal and New Zealand competed under their NOC flag.
Those seven countries above did not participate in the Opening parade.
- Great Britain – Richard Palmer
- Ireland
Those two still able to parade, but by their own officials.
Those four participated at the Games under the Olympic flag and by their own athletes.
Spain national team competed under the Olympic flag, while Portugal and New Zealand competed under their NOC flag.
Countries refused to join the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Soviet Union
- Bulgaria
- East Germany
- Mongolia
- Vietnam
- Laos
- Czechoslovakia
- Afghanistan
- Hungary
- Poland
- Cuba
- South Yemen
- North Korea
- Ethiopia
- Angola
- Iran
- Libya
- Albania
In popular culture
In the season 4 episode, "Lisa's First Word", of the U.S. television show The Simpsons, Krusty Burger is featured in a promotion where the characters get free food if they receive a slip that features an event that was "won" by the United States. The promotion was rigged, as was said in the episode, where every game card was to be in an event that "Communists never lose." However, almost immediately after that is said, word of the boycott is spread and the rigging backfires. Krusty Burger loses so much money on the promotion that Krusty states publicly he will "personally spit in every 50th burger".
The Krusty Burger promotion paralleled a real-life McDonald's scratch-card promotion from the 1984 Olympics that also lost that company money. The promotion was called "If the US Wins, You Win!" and gave away Big Mac hamburger sandwiches for every gold medal, fries for every silver medal, and Coca-Cola beverages for every bronze; like the Krusty Burger promotion, McDonald's lost money. (McDonald's promotion lost money due to employees handing out promotion cards at will instead of with purchases as was intended.)
The Krusty Burger promotion paralleled a real-life McDonald's scratch-card promotion from the 1984 Olympics that also lost that company money. The promotion was called "If the US Wins, You Win!" and gave away Big Mac hamburger sandwiches for every gold medal, fries for every silver medal, and Coca-Cola beverages for every bronze; like the Krusty Burger promotion, McDonald's lost money. (McDonald's promotion lost money due to employees handing out promotion cards at will instead of with purchases as was intended.)