Boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games
While the Olympics embody universal values, the games have always been
charged with a nationalist spirit. As countries gather from across the globe, the Olympics
provide an opportune moment for international competition. Thus, the history of the
Olympics is not merely an account of grandiose sporting events; it captures stories of
fierce patriotism, strained foreign relations, and vehicles of political resistance. From the
black power demonstration of 1968 to the killing of Israeli athletes in 1972, the televised
games serve as a vessel for political influence. We will explore one of the most dramatic
political gestures of Olympic history: the American boycott of the 1980 games.
The Cold War era ushered in a cultural competition in every arena of life, and
sports were no exception. American and Soviet athletes were advertised as fundamentally
different. The 1985 film, Rocky IV epitomizes how athletes assumed the symbolic role
of Cold War warriors. By boycotting the Moscow games, the United States denied the
Soviet Union the glory of validating communism on a worldwide stage. An aggressive
shift from the friendly relations of détente, the boycott marked a high point in the global
climate of tension between two diametrically opposed systems. Sixty-two nations joined
the United States in solidarity by forgoing the Moscow games.
The economic and political implications of the boycott were far reaching.
Athletes were asked to sacrifice hard work and lifelong aspirations to support American
democracy in its struggle against Soviet aggression. Sponsors and retailers suffered major
losses, as corporations like Dannon Yogurt launched patriotic marketing campaigns
hinged on the Olympic games. In particular, CBS paid the Soviets eighty-seven million
dollars for the rights to televise the games, and lost this enormous opportunity to
broadcast. President Carter’s embargo on Olympic exports harmed major companies
like Pepsi-Cola. Though incomparable to the mobilization of total war, the Olympic
boycott indicated that Americans were expected to make sacrifices in the struggle against
communism.
Executive Summary: Politics in the 1980 Olympics
The boycott is a controversial event as studied by historians today. It is fascinating, however, that the public was largely in favor of Carter’s decision in 1980. By sharing news coverage of the time, such as television clips and magazine articles, we hope to investigate the public sentiment that surrounded this international event. The media surrounding the boycott shaped attitudes and perceptions of the Cold War, as citizens felt an ever present, dangerous Soviet threat even as late as 1980. An examination of the context of the Cold War conflict, as well as an exploration of Carter’s press releases, testimonies by Olympic athletes, and statements by key stakeholders will allow us to make sense of the American people who supported Carter’s decision. The disruption of the 1980 Olympics, an occasion intended to unite nations worldwide, demonstrates the pervasive nature of the struggle between the superpowers.