oregonpackfan
04-12-2008, 09:40 PM
In the article listed below, American 1980 Olympians Alberto Salazar and Mac Wilkins reflect on the USA's boycott of the Olympics held in the Soviet Union(now Russia).
President Carter ordered the American boycott of the 1980 Olympics because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
Salazar was a 10,000 meter runner and Wilkins was a discus thrower. Both men are currently involved in coaching track.
Though both men initially supported the boycott they state it had little effect on the Soviet Union. In the end, the only ones who suffered were the American athletes, many of whom had trained for years to compete in the Olympics.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120797250857670.xml&coll=7&thispage=2
President Carter ordered the American boycott of the 1980 Olympics because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
Salazar was a 10,000 meter runner and Wilkins was a discus thrower. Both men are currently involved in coaching track.
Though both men initially supported the boycott they state it had little effect on the Soviet Union. In the end, the only ones who suffered were the American athletes, many of whom had trained for years to compete in the Olympics.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120797250857670.xml&coll=7&thispage=2