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Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980)

Olympic boycotts occur when nations eligible to participate in the Olympic Games refuse to do so in order ...
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Added on 12/01/2003
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14 Reviews

twansalem
08/11/2008

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 3

As I've said in other reviews, boycotting the Olympics tends to come off as nothing more than childishly flipping the bird at the rest of the world, as the Olympics involves much more than just the host country.

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Itz Me Gayle62
08/09/2008

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 1

For 14-17 days, the world comes together. Together being the objective!

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Drummond
08/01/2008

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 3

The Olympics should be an international politics free zone. The boycotts have punished nobody but athletes and fans.

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Loerke
07/31/2008

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 2

The Olympics became a political stunt very early in their history -- recall Hitler's use of them -- and so re-politicizing them only makes explicit what has been part of their legacy all along. When they weren't taking bribes, IOC members throughout the 20th century were busy using the Games to further racism and colonialism. One of my favorite sports columnists, Dave Zirin, has shown that IOC directors like Avery Brundage hijacked the Games in the mid-20th century to further global fascism. The Olympics are really tainted with politics, though probably less than they used to be, because fewer people care these days. So my proposal is that we just not have the Games for a decade or so, then start afresh after all of this has been sorted out. The world didn't have Olympics for 2,000 years, and frankly we could do without them for a while.

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CanadaSucks
07/31/2008

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 3

I hate to say it- but I have a hard time actually forming a total opinion on this one. Part of me thinks that it should be about the games and politics should be completely removed. Then I think that the Olympics are, quite frankly, worthless without some kind of political intrigue that makes them good television. It's a no-win situation for a leader- what if a host nation truly does something appalling. . .what does one do?

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frenchy42
06/14/2005

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 4

A local High School track coach whom I know personally was on the 1980 US Olympic Team. (Randy Wilson, U of Oklahoma). he doesn't speak much of it, but his bitterness at the loss of the opportunity he worked so hard to earn does show. I don't blame him a bit. Just what did Jimmy Carter accomplish with his childish international version of We're going to take our ball and go home.? That's an open-ended question if anyone wants it. Just what did Carter accomplish??

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alpepper
02/04/2005

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 5

I honestly feel that the '80 Boycott was the last straw that killed our Nation's confidence in Jimmy Carter. How could Carter do it after the U.S. Hockey team's triumph. [Then again, I was actually scared that a Red Dawn / AMERIKA scenario was imminent had Carter been re-elected.] I remember going to D.C. in the Summer of 1980 to compete in a Rowing Regetta on the Potomac River. Our crew (Crescent Boat Club of Philly) was pretty good and we were in the feature race against 2 boats from Potomac Boat Club. Before the start, another entrant made its way to the starting line. The boat was made up of rather tall, muscular men and women who were in a very loud and jovial mood (which is kind of strange before a boat race; I was always in knots before the start). My boat raced quite well and finished 2nd out of 4 crews. The Happy boat finished in last. As we returned to the dock, I found out that the additional crew was made up of members of the Boycotted U.S. Olympic team, who were at the White House earlier that day with the President. I think they ended up so pissed off after Carter's bogus assembly, they drank off their frustrations and were rowing under the influence. Though I essentially sucked as a rower, I can always claim I beat an Olympic crew. [By the way, the 1984 Olympics were boycotted, for no other reason than the Soviets saying, You did it to ussky, we'll do it to yousky.

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OneHungryMonst er
08/25/2004

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 3

Boycotting the Olympics because of politics? Pretty stupid.

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VirileVagabond
08/05/2004

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 5

Boycotts of the Olympic Games are foolish and actually run contrary to the very purpose of the event. The modern games are designed to provide a least one venue where people and cultures, represented by their athletes, come together, socialize, and hopefully learn how others live and think. Boycotts, such as those by the Americans and Soviets in 1980 and 1984, or in the form of banning participation by South Africa during apartheid are equally foolish. Those who champion such forms of protest just don't get the big picture.

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StanUzbeck
07/28/2003

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 2

Boycotting an olympic games for political purposes is no worse than hosting them for political purposes. The Berlin games of 1936 were an homage to Nazi ideology and culture, and it outraged Hitler that a black American swept the track events contradicting aryan superiority. The host city and country have a lot of economic and political benefits brought about because of the games, and boycotting is an accepted political tool to express disagreement with a particular regime. If someone thinks that politics has no place in the olympics, they obviously have not been paying attention, because the games are nothing BUT politics.

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Pikamyface
07/09/2003

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 4

Most definitly, if i was an athelete i would be pissed if my country didn't go because some porker in DC said no. We can trace all of our problems back to the treaty of versailles. And do you know where versailles is FRANCE of all places. so every stinking war after the great war, the "war to end all wars" can be traced to the french, what a bunch of women. Let's remember folks that communism is bad, north korea is bad, VANCOUVER 2010. YEAH. SUBMIT

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mcstowy
11/01/2002

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 4

Stupid, every one of them. But not a bad as killing people.

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bob falange
03/02/2002

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 3

The people who organise these boycotts seem to have had no genuine interest in the Olympics as such. Why are these hypocrites allowed to interfere? The sporstmen and women who dedicate years of their lives to prepare for these events have a right to compete. Politicians need to keep their noses out.

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magellan
02/21/2002

Boycotts of Olympics for political purposes (1956,1976,1980) 4

In some perverse way, the mindset that causes governments to boycott Olympics is not far from the mindset used by the terrorists responsible for the massacre in Munich. Taking advantage of the visibility and popularity of the Olympics to make a political statement is unacceptable.

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