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Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games
With a thorough exploration of the political climate of the time and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, this book describes the repercussions of Jimmy Carter’s American boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Despite missing the games they had trained relentlessly to compete in, many U.S. athletes went on to achieve remarkable successes in sports and overcame the bitter disappointment of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity dashed by geopolitics.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com
In the summer of 1980, President Jimmy Carter made the choice to boycott the Summer Olympics, which were being held in Moscow, Russia.
After a vote by the USOC (United States Olympic Committee), about 650 athletes' Olympic dreams were gone. The controversy and personal stories from the athletes themselves are gracefully put together by Tom and Jerry Caraccioli.
This unique book gives readers two viewpoints about the controversial 1980 Summer Olympics. Both of the Caraccioli's give the historical background and the reasons for the boycott. Then the personal stories from many 1980 Olympian athletes provides the personal impact this event in history had on real people who had real dreams.
This interesting book is a great read for people who aren't aware of the boycott and the controversies that surrounded the sporting tradition.
In the summer of 1980, President Jimmy Carter made the choice to boycott the Summer Olympics, which were being held in Moscow, Russia.
After a vote by the USOC (United States Olympic Committee), about 650 athletes' Olympic dreams were gone. The controversy and personal stories from the athletes themselves are gracefully put together by Tom and Jerry Caraccioli.
This unique book gives readers two viewpoints about the controversial 1980 Summer Olympics. Both of the Caraccioli's give the historical background and the reasons for the boycott. Then the personal stories from many 1980 Olympian athletes provides the personal impact this event in history had on real people who had real dreams.
This interesting book is a great read for people who aren't aware of the boycott and the controversies that surrounded the sporting tradition.
October 27, 2012
I knew very little about the 1980 Olympic boycott prior to reading this book. The book was informative and kept things interesting by switching back and forth between the history of USSR's relationship with Afghanistan and bios of the U.S. Olympians who weren't able to compete. Was it the most interesting story ever told? Hardly. But it was a story worth telling, and the often forgotten 1980 Olympians needed their story told.
January 10, 2019
Boycott, a great book talking about the story of the U.S. Boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games. Told by the young athletes whose dreams were diminished, by the U.S boycott the Moscow Olympic Games. One of the quotes in the book I found sums up basically the whole boycott. “We must use actions which will achieve results, not symbolic gestures which only vent emotions.”(64) A group of 50 athletes training at the Olympic facilities held a news conference went on to say, this quote and recommended a total economic boycott of the soviet union to use actions and not only vent emotions. Also, the boycott from the U.S. had a ripple effect, and other teams started to also not participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics. It reduced the number of participating nations to 80, the lowest number since 1956, as part of a series of measures to protest against the December 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. When governments were starting not to participate, the Soviet Union began to tell countries if the participant in the games they will pay for the airfare and housing. Some of the nations decided to take them, but the majority did not. Overall, Boycott was a great book to read, and engaging in how you get a short story of Olympic athletes who would have been in the Olympics and could have been a well-known name if they would have gone.
June 1, 2020
I don't know where I find some of these books. The premise was interesting, but it didn't deliver.
June 4, 2013
Review
A dark chapter in the history of the Summer Olympic Games is remembered in this outstanding book that is one part politics, two parts stories from the athletes who did not get the chance to complete against fellow athletes from other countries and a dash of opinion about the United States-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow.
For those who may not know or remember this, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979 during the height of the Cold War. President Jimmy Carter responded with various actions such as cutting off trade with the USSR and other diplomatic measures. In addition, he also requested that the United States Olympic Committee not send athletes to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics to be held in Moscow. They did just that and 1980 became the only year in which the United States failed to send athletes to the Summer Olympics.
The book interviews 30 athletes of various sports who made the Olympic teams in their sports and tells their stories. The athletes came from various places and backgrounds and the stories reflect the variation. Some are still bitter 30 years after the boycott that they were denied the chance to compete over circumstances they could not control. Some backed the boycott fully and understood why it was done. Some addressed it with indifference. The stories also included their lives after their experiences with the Olympic team. .
What I really liked about these stories is that many different sports were represented and not all the athletes were the stars in their games. There was a gymnast who was 13 years old who was not considered ready for international competition yet won a spot on the team. There were two basketball players who were not upset with the decision because for them, the Games were merely a stepping stone on the way to the NBA. (Note: one of these players, Isaiah Thomas, went on to become one of the best point guards in NBA history). There was a wrestler who was very bitter and outspoken about the boycott. These all made for great reading.
A chronological timeline of the decision to boycott the Games was included, starting with the invasion and ending with the opening ceremonies in which the United States and 57 other nations were absent. Some of the nations who decided to participate still protested the invasion in other ways, such as carrying the Olympic flag in the opening ceremony instead of their national flag. This helped the reader not only understand why the boycott was demanded by the President, it also illustrated the actions taken by the Olympic Committee and other organizations leading up to the historic vote for the boycott.
Overall, the book is an outstanding work of research, interviews, writing and recollection. Anyone who enjoys the Olympic Games, reading about political maneuvering to get an action done, or good yarns from years past will enjoy this book.
Did I skim?
I did not fully read and digest the lists included, such as the complete results of the Games after they took place. I did fully read each athlete’s story and the political chapters.
Did I learn something new?
Yes, many things. There are too many to list here since most of the athletes were not known outside of the sport in which they competed. Also, the chapter on the build-up and politics of the Soviet Union’s invasion into Afghanistan was revealing. Finally, a little known fact was revealed that was never told during that year. A ceremony was held at the White House about a month before the Games to honor the US Olympic athletes. A medal was given to each one of them, but many felt it was just a token to try to make them feel better. Later on, it was revealed that this was the Congressional Medal that is the highest honor given to non-military citizens. Why that was not told to the athletes or the press was never fully explained.
Pace of the book:
Excellent. With the format of beginning each chapter on the political actions taking place, then the stories of two athletes before the next chapter, it was the perfect mix of stories and research.
Positives:
There were a lot. I loved everything about this book. The stories, research, history, politics – everything was researched and written well.
Negatives:
I did not believe any part of this book was less than excellent. The closest that could be considered a negative is that in some of the writings on the politics, the authors did let their opinions be known at times. Some readers may not appreciate that, but I felt it helped strengthen the writing.
Do I recommend?
YES! Read this book if you like sports, politics or history.
Book Format Read:
Ebook (Nook)
A dark chapter in the history of the Summer Olympic Games is remembered in this outstanding book that is one part politics, two parts stories from the athletes who did not get the chance to complete against fellow athletes from other countries and a dash of opinion about the United States-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow.
For those who may not know or remember this, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979 during the height of the Cold War. President Jimmy Carter responded with various actions such as cutting off trade with the USSR and other diplomatic measures. In addition, he also requested that the United States Olympic Committee not send athletes to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics to be held in Moscow. They did just that and 1980 became the only year in which the United States failed to send athletes to the Summer Olympics.
The book interviews 30 athletes of various sports who made the Olympic teams in their sports and tells their stories. The athletes came from various places and backgrounds and the stories reflect the variation. Some are still bitter 30 years after the boycott that they were denied the chance to compete over circumstances they could not control. Some backed the boycott fully and understood why it was done. Some addressed it with indifference. The stories also included their lives after their experiences with the Olympic team. .
What I really liked about these stories is that many different sports were represented and not all the athletes were the stars in their games. There was a gymnast who was 13 years old who was not considered ready for international competition yet won a spot on the team. There were two basketball players who were not upset with the decision because for them, the Games were merely a stepping stone on the way to the NBA. (Note: one of these players, Isaiah Thomas, went on to become one of the best point guards in NBA history). There was a wrestler who was very bitter and outspoken about the boycott. These all made for great reading.
A chronological timeline of the decision to boycott the Games was included, starting with the invasion and ending with the opening ceremonies in which the United States and 57 other nations were absent. Some of the nations who decided to participate still protested the invasion in other ways, such as carrying the Olympic flag in the opening ceremony instead of their national flag. This helped the reader not only understand why the boycott was demanded by the President, it also illustrated the actions taken by the Olympic Committee and other organizations leading up to the historic vote for the boycott.
Overall, the book is an outstanding work of research, interviews, writing and recollection. Anyone who enjoys the Olympic Games, reading about political maneuvering to get an action done, or good yarns from years past will enjoy this book.
Did I skim?
I did not fully read and digest the lists included, such as the complete results of the Games after they took place. I did fully read each athlete’s story and the political chapters.
Did I learn something new?
Yes, many things. There are too many to list here since most of the athletes were not known outside of the sport in which they competed. Also, the chapter on the build-up and politics of the Soviet Union’s invasion into Afghanistan was revealing. Finally, a little known fact was revealed that was never told during that year. A ceremony was held at the White House about a month before the Games to honor the US Olympic athletes. A medal was given to each one of them, but many felt it was just a token to try to make them feel better. Later on, it was revealed that this was the Congressional Medal that is the highest honor given to non-military citizens. Why that was not told to the athletes or the press was never fully explained.
Pace of the book:
Excellent. With the format of beginning each chapter on the political actions taking place, then the stories of two athletes before the next chapter, it was the perfect mix of stories and research.
Positives:
There were a lot. I loved everything about this book. The stories, research, history, politics – everything was researched and written well.
Negatives:
I did not believe any part of this book was less than excellent. The closest that could be considered a negative is that in some of the writings on the politics, the authors did let their opinions be known at times. Some readers may not appreciate that, but I felt it helped strengthen the writing.
Do I recommend?
YES! Read this book if you like sports, politics or history.
Book Format Read:
Ebook (Nook)
February 20, 2010
When should politics and athletics mix. Never may seem like the right answer but it is not realistic. These portraits remind me of just how fleeting some opportunities can be. It was wrong to use the games this way. Sorry Mr Mondale I don't buy your argument and from what I read here, neither do the athletes.
August 10, 2012
This book mixes short profiles of American athletes from the 1980 summer Olympic team while explaining the U.S.-led boycott. As you read, you feel sorry for the athletes whose dreams were stolen by geo-politics. The book needs more from the Soviet perspective and more details about those Moscow Games. But it is a nice read and provides good insight into the American athletes.
February 19, 2010
Well-researched, fascinating stories about athletes who never had the chance to fulfill their Olympic dreams...inspiring and heartbreaking.
Read
July 30, 2011Good take on the 1980 Olympics, what was going on politically, with chapters on individual athletes, who missed out on the pinnacle of their sport.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews