The 1980 Summer Olympic Games Boycott

The 1980 Summer Olympic Games have been chosen to be hosted in Moscow, Russia. However, in late December 1979, the Soviet Union looked to Afghanistan, a key location settled in between Asia and the Middle East, to establish key positions in the country. While the Soviet Union Invasion of Afghanistan in December, 1979 did not affect all Olympic competing nations, it proved itself to lead to a bigger situation–the 1980 Olympic Games boycott.

The 1980 summer Olympics, or more formally known as Games of the XXII Olympiad, was held in Moscow in the Soviet Union. Moscow proved to serve as a sufficient location for the Summer Games, proving itself with its size and budget, it was also an opportunity to elicit new jobs into the community and to increase in tourism rates. However, in Christmas 1979, Soviet Union paratroopers landed in Kabal, capital to Afghanistan. The country was already at the grip of war and its monarchy was decreasing in power. The Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Hazifullah Amin, wanted to add a more Western culture into the country and relieve the country of its Muslim tradition. A majority of the country was angered by this because Muslim belief was common. Soon enough, Afghan residents would react by joining the Mujahdeen, a guerrilla force composed of Muslims. The Mujahdeen declared a jihad, a holy war, on the Amin government of which included Russia. The Soviet Union took action on December 27th, 1979 by murdering Amin and appointed Kamal Barbak to lead Afghanistan. Many countries were disapproving of Russia's actions and in their perspective, felt that it was both inappropriate and unnecessary in Russia's involvement.

The United Nations, an international organization to sustain peace, promote social progr...

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...o break the world record in the Games, and Teófilo Stevenson of Cuba was able to win the same division three times. Additionally, Aleksandr Dityatin of Russia won a medal in all of the men’s gymnastics events, earning him the title of being the first athlete to win eight Olympic medals in one game. There was also a notable confrontation between British middle-runners, Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe.

The 1980 Olympics Games in Moscow was supposed to be the usual multi-sport, international event where athletes from all nations come to prove their athletic ability. However, the Soviet Union’s invasion in Afghanistan led the United States to respond by withdrawing from the Olympic Games. As a result, a total of sixty five other countries, did not attend the Olympic Games. Although a number of countries did not participate in the Games, the Games went on as planned.