Abstract
The 1980 Olympic Games, scheduled for Moscow, would have been a major political event even without the Afghanistan situation. The desire of Taiwan. Israel and West Berlin to participate was complicated by the fact that Soviet foreign policy excluded diplomatic relations with these entities. Although previous hints at a boycott possibility were not popular, the boycott stimulated by the Afghanistan invasion was strongly supported by the United States populous. The international impact of the boycott might have been greater had White House officials been more knowledgeable of the organization and operation of the Olympic movement and international sport.
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