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Boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games
Document of the Week
1980 US Olympic Trials - Athletes' Opinions on Boycott
"As citizens, it is an easy decision to make—support the president. As athletes, it is a difficult decision."​
American athletes express their reactions to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Most acknowledge that Soviet aggression must be met with force, accepting their obligations as citizens to support President Carter in the struggle against Communism. However, the athletes are also severely disappointed to lose the chance to compete. For these young men and women, years of training to live out their Olympic dreams were sacrificed for the Cold War conflict.
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