MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES - 1980 Moscow Olympiad
 
                       

The Games of the XXII Olympiad held in Moscow and opened by President Leonid Brezhnev in the Lenin Stadium were profoundly influenced by politics. More than 50 countries announced their boycott and protest against the December 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and among them were: United States of America, Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, Norway, Israel, Japan, Turkey and Kenya. Thus, the result was that only 80 nations participated in Moscow, the lowest since 1958. Aleksandr Dityatin won eight medals, one in every men's gymnastics event, super-heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson became the first boxer to win the same division three times, Gerd Wessig became the first male high jumper to break the world record at

the Olympics and swimmer Vladimir Salnikov broke the 15 minute barrier for the 1,500m. In adramatic confrontation, runners Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe split the 800 and 1,500m. Before the beginning of the Moscow Games, during the meeting of the International Olympic Commitee, Juan Antonio Samaranch is elected president.


 
 
 
     

Opening date:
19th July 1980

Closing date:
3rd August 1980

Nations: 80
Sports: 21
Events: 203
Athletes: 5 179
Men: 4 064
Women:
1 115

Candidate cities: Los Angeles