The 1980 Moscow Olympics Boycott | Flashback | NBC News

The Olympics didn't go as planned in 1980 when dozens of countries boycotted the Games because of certain actions by the Soviet Union.

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The 1980 Moscow Olympics Boycott | Flashback | NBC News

[isprikitikburkabush]

So they boycott the Moscow Olympics because of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan ?wth ohh the irony is strong on this one

[bribay]

Imagine having your life dream destroyed, because some suits want to play games with each other.

[itiswhatitaintanditaintwha]

The Olympics should never be politicized!

[azizt]

The ones who boycotted them are the same ones who are fighting the war today no wonder why they are hypocrites

[georgfriedrichhandel]

Even though I think Carter was not as bad a president as many people have made him out to be, this was one decision he made that I totally disagreed with. These athletes had to make tremendous sacrifices to make it this far. They trained for years just to be able to compete for a few minutes at the Olympic level and then because of some politicians, all their sacrifices were for naught. Such a damn shame!

[fuckyougoogleplus]

Just one of many embarrassments for Jimmy Carter's presidential term.

[GamerKid]

1980:
USSR: Hey I Know We Had Our Differences But What’s Say You Accept My Invite To The Olympics?
USA: Not When Your Stupidly Invading
USSR: Oh Come On
USA: No

1984:
USA: Hey I Know We Had Our Differences But What’s Say You Accept My Invite To The Olympics?
USSR: Well Did You Accept My Invite To The Last Olympics?
USA: …….
USSR: Exactly

[transitny]

The real kicker of it is that Great Britain, arguably the U.S.'s closest ally, sent its athletes. The athletes were given a choice to go or not (as if you'd say no when given that chance?) but it wasn't a hard-line boycott.

[mrhook]

Never understood why USA didn't do what New Zealand did, sent a team of 4 athletes for the Modern Pentathlon and competed under the Olympic flag. Went to Moscow via London, the Russians didn't stop the kiwis, nor would they have stopped any american rebels.

[aero]

My dad was an expected medalist at the 1980 Olympics for soling.

[d.g.]

I wasn't happy with president Carter because of him boycotting the 1980 summer games. Many athletes never live their dream of being in the Olympics.

[pd]

"History doesn't repeat itself but it does rhyme" - John Langdon

[philipbarker]

An interesting video but a couple of unfortunate errors. The British athlete shown was Sue Reeve not Reeves and the still used to illustrate the 1988 Olympics was in fact from Sarajevo Winter Games in 1984.

[stevemcgill]

The American athletes should’ve defied it, better in exile than looking back over your shoulder with regret.

[babawaiz]

I'm hope if Israel is the host of the Olympic, I'm hope many countries boycott the Tel Aviv Olympics due to the conflict with Palestine. And I hope my country, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, & Palestine and also many countries boycotted the Tel Aviv Olympics. Free Palestine, war Israel.

[leolim]

I’m surprise us team are participating on 2018.

[superdom]

It’s not fair that NBC canceled their telecasts

[TheBlueEye]

Brezhnev: O!
Applause
Brezhnev: O!
Applause
Organization: Mr. Brezhnev, that is the Olympic logo, you don't need to read that.

[stevemcgill]

Should’ve taken a leaf out of Bobby Fischer’s book.

[philipbarker]

why is picture of 1984 Sarajevo shown to illustrated the Soviets returning to the Games in 1988?