Olympic Dream-Wrecker: President Carter Declares 1980 Olympic Boycott

- Very Nice!

Frank Marshall Davis wrote:

$$$$ wrote:

Why do Russia and China even get to host these events to begin with?

Agreed. Countries use the Olympics (and other International events) as propaganda tools. By not boycotting, other countries add legitimacy to the host country.

For example, Nazi Germany was emboldened when countries did not boycott the 1936 Olympics. There were serious discussions about the USA boycotting those Olympics -- you can look it up.

So let's say the USA had boycotted the Olympics. Would this have made a difference? Are you saying that this could have done anything meanigful to prevent later German conquests, World War II, the Holocaust?

Or would it have been a gesture with no real meaning? Would we have lost something but gained nothing in return?

time for another boycott wrote:

The US should also boycott the World Cup in Russia this year.

A US boycott of the 2018 FIFA World Cup wouldn't have much impact, as the US didn't qualify. ?

I think the 1980 boycott is tragic for athletes from small countries, but I feel sure that, if the US had sent athletes they, just like the Russians and East Germans, would have seen it as an opportunity to promote the virtues of their system - and, like them, would have done whatever it took. Probably not a state sponsored system, but systematic turning of blind eyes.

Woodsman wrote:

time for another boycott wrote:

The US should also boycott the World Cup in Russia this year.

A US boycott of the 2018 FIFA World Cup wouldn't have much impact, as the US didn't qualify. ?

I think the 1980 boycott is tragic for athletes from small countries, but I feel sure that, if the US had sent athletes they, just like the Russians and East Germans, would have seen it as an opportunity to promote the virtues of their system - and, like them, would have done whatever it took. Probably not a state sponsored system, but systematic turning of blind eyes.

Well the virtues of our system are, or once were, about inviduality, free but honest competition etc. Their systems was about the brutal suppression of the individual for the collective good - in this case hot housing and force feeding kids with hardcore PEDs in order for the glorious communist state to finish at the top of the medals table.

Coevett wrote:

Well the virtues of our system are, or once were, about inviduality, free but honest competition etc. Their systems was about the brutal suppression of the individual for the collective good - in this case hot housing and force feeding kids with hardcore PEDs in order for the glorious communist state to finish at the top of the medals table.

I'm not suggesting a state sponsored system, but can you really imagine the US coming clean if one of their top athletes had been caught? Plenty of countries have done things that contradict their claimed values because it serves their propaganda interests. I have deep suspicions, for example, that that's why Canadian Ben Johnson was caught, but American Flojo wasn't - 1988 being the last Olympic contest of the Cold War.

Woodsman wrote:

time for another boycott wrote:

The US should also boycott the World Cup in Russia this year.

A US boycott of the 2018 FIFA World Cup wouldn't have much impact, as the US didn't qualify. ?

I think the 1980 boycott is tragic for athletes from small countries, but I feel sure that, if the US had sent athletes they, just like the Russians and East Germans, would have seen it as an opportunity to promote the virtues of their system - and, like them, would have done whatever it took. Probably not a state sponsored system, but systematic turning of blind eyes.

Our Margaret Thatcher also tried to get our sports authorities to boycott the 80 Games.

But our Olympic Committee was made of sterner stuff and resisted the pressure.

Looking back, what idiots the Americans were.

The Soviets had entered Afghanistan at the invitation of the communists government there that was trying to drag Afghanistan into the 21st century and being bitterly opposed by the tribal Islamic radicals.

Predictably the Americans armed the opposing radicals, the Mujahideen,(including a certain Osama bib Laden) to the teeth, defeating the Soviets, the same Mujahideen that metamorphosed into the Taliban - that the USA has been fighting a losing battle against for the last 18 years!

zvcxzvxvxcz wrote:

No, it wasn't.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/opinion/jimmy-carters-unheralded-legacy.html

Add to this the development of AWACS planes and advancing development of other planes that helped prompt the Soviet Union to bankrupt itself in trying to win an arms race.

Also, note that many of the above accomplishments are in the nature of deregulation and removal of price controls, which Republicans should like. The environmental advances we took a long time to really see the fruits of because of subsequent Reagan-Bush budget cuts on renewal energy. Most today see the wisdom of those decisions.

I stand corrected. 95% of his Presidency was a mistake.

- I agree that President Carter made a mistake and it proved itself as "lost symbolism." That said, I wouldn't characterize our campaign in Afghanistan against the Taliban as losing --- can't think of terrorist attacks against our country that have originated from their or Pakistan.

- I don't think we'll see playing politics with sports to much in the future.

Was reading the "Men of Oregon" biography about Bill Bowerman.

Apparently in the 70s, he tried to get athletes reimbursed their expenses for attending Olympic trials but the powers that be refused.

The thing that stopped athletes going off and racing in paid races was the potential to go to the Olympics which at the time were the significant championships. Worlds began in '83 and things like Golden League / Diamond League / Marathon Majors came much later.

When Carter boycotted the Olympics and crushed the hopes of a generation of athletes, they realised that there was no longer any point in trying to retain their amateur status. There was obviously boot money and shamateurism going on but it was all under the table and athletes couldn't fully exploit their financial potential.

Bowerman brokered a compromise that athletes would have winnings/expenses paid into trust funds for when they finished competing.

Once that was done, full-time professionalism came next.

Prefontaine competed in just 2 international championships in his entire career. What were they?

The reason Pre never competed in world xc champs is it interferred with his money making season = US indoor circuit.

OLD SMTC SOB wrote:

Jimmy Carters Publicist wrote:

Jimmy is on record acknowledging this boycott as a mistake in his presidency

His entire presidency was a mistake.

No. He was the conservative that people think Reagan was.

p-tik wrote:

OLD SMTC SOB wrote:

His entire presidency was a mistake.

No. He was the conservative that people think Reagan was.

I don't know what the hell you're on, pal, but please don't take any more tonight.

Tom Donilon would back him up on President Carter's legacy: https://www.thecipherbrief.com/podcasts/former-national-security-advisor-tom-donilon-looks-back-career

So let's sort out the logic in this one, many western countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, ruining the lives of many of their greatest athletes, for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a sh!thole, always has been and always will be. See, it still doesn't make any sense.

The Russians were in Afghanistan in 1980, result an Olympic boycott.

The Brits were in Afghanistan in 2012, result no boycott.

And, you wonder why the Russians are sceptical about the West.

BTW, do any of you know why the Russians went in to Afghanistan?

Well, because of the rise of Muslim extremists in that area.

And, if the West had let the Russians sort out the extremists, maybe the whole terrorism situation the West has suffered may never have happened.

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

So let's sort out the logic in this one, many western countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, ruining the lives of many of their greatest athletes, for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a sh!thole, always has been and always will be. See, it still doesn't make any sense.

And just supposing that the boycott had been 'effective', and resulted in the Red Army withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1980. The war which dragged on until 1989 contributed a lot to the collapse of the Soviet economy and the government and state itself. So the Soviet Union might even still be intact. Meanwhile, Islamists would have seized control of Afghastliland a decade earlier than they did.

CarterTheCretin wrote:

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

So let's sort out the logic in this one, many western countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, ruining the lives of many of their greatest athletes, for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a sh!thole, always has been and always will be. See, it still doesn't make any sense.

And just supposing that the boycott had been 'effective', and resulted in the Red Army withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1980. The war which dragged on until 1989 contributed a lot to the collapse of the Soviet economy and the government and state itself. So the Soviet Union might even still be intact. Meanwhile, Islamists would have seized control of Afghastliland a decade earlier than they did.

The United States were instrumental in driving Russia out of Afghanistan. If they hadn't undermined the Russian's efforts to get rid of Muslim extremists, then who knows were we would be. No Twin Towers attack, no bombings all over Europe.

No US/UK servicemen/women deaths in Afghanistan.

Let's look at the bright side .... it forced Alberto Salazaar to abandon the 10K and get after the marathon at NYC that fall.