The Cold War and the Olympic Games: The 1980 Moscow Olympics Boycott

The Olympics have always been accompanied by political problems, and despite its many attempts, the Olympic movement has never succeeded in separating sports from political issues. One of the primary ways taken in this context is a boycott. The article provides a detailed analysis of the 1980 Moscow Olympics boycott and examines the causes and consequences in various aspects, exploring whether each party to the conflict saw failure or success in this case, and evaluates the attitude of the IOC. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 ended the period of détente, and a new Cold War resumed. While this was the official reason that the United States boycotted the Games, this analysis shows other possible reasons: Carter`s weakening position, and the US administration`s desire to cause a decrease in the propaganda value of the Olympics, which were being held for the first time in a Communist country. On the other hand, the Soviet side saw success in the Games as a sporting event and as a propaganda tool for boasting about the Communist ideology. The fact that the United States is an influential power has been an example to many other countries, and it can be seen that the independence of the National Olympic Committees, as it should be demonstrated according to the Olympic Charter rules, did not take place in practice. The Soviet reaction was a boycott against the Olympics in 1984, and not necessarily the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan as required. The lack of efficiency in achieving a specific goal may indicate that boycotting a sporting event could be an effective strategy if it is part of a more comprehensive general political movement, and not as a means in itself.