The 1980 Moscow Olympics: A Day-By-Day History

Although the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, the Games went on. NBC held the rights to air the Olympics, but the stateside coverage was reduced to mere minutes each day. The Moscow Olympics essentially occurred without anyone in the United States knowing or caring. As a result, the participating countries saw their accomplishments, records, and scores--their entire experience at the Games--forgotten. This history attempts to address this situation, presenting a closer look at the competitions, events, and athletes of the Games, recording each medalist’s results. It also tells many untold stories of the Games, including a food fight in the Olympic Village, a pirated TV signal in Florida, the arrest of the rainbow-wigged John 3:16 activist, and the two Jimmy Carters. This book demonstrates that the 1980 Summer Games, despite the U.S. boycott, were truly unforgettable.

Tommy A. Phillips lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.