What if the United States did not boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics

[ejpsan]

What if President Carter did not call for a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow or if the USOC decided to send a team to march under the Olympic Flag? IOTL the Soviets were not good hosts and the Russian spectators without the Americans being there they were jeering the Poles. Also the Soviets were accused by many observers to be cheating and to making conditions bad for non USSR competitors.

 

[Orville_third]

The US would look better than the USSR.
Ted Turner would not organize the Goodwill Games.

 

[ramones1986]

It will be a sure-fire ratings boost for NBC

 

[Tammany Tiger]

It will be a sure-fire ratings boost for NBC

Imagine the ratings for the next two Olympiads. In 1984, NBC stirs the pot with a not-so-subtle "They beat us there, but now we get them at home" message. Team USA wins. Four years later, NBC hypes the Seoul Olympics as the rubber match with the Soviets. And since there's no Soviet Union in 1992, the 1980-88 era becomes the Golden Age of the Olympic Games.

 

[WCDouglas]

Imagine the ratings for the next two Olympiads. In 1984, NBC stirs the pot with a not-so-subtle (snipped)QUOTE]

With regards, to Russian crowd reactions to events and other teams, remember "Ordinary" Russians didn't get tickets. They also sent alot of Moscow's population south to "resorts," during the games. As for treatment, USA is likely treated well. Russian's were fascinated by Americans, and Americans, unlike, the client states, were considered equals.

One note, a Warsaw Pact (read Soviet) boycott of LA is still VERY possible (actually HIGHLY likely is closer). While the Moscow boycott made a good excuse, even without it, the games in LA scared the Soviets, namely too easy for defections (and the Reagan administration wasn't the Carter Administration, no one was going to be handed back ...). FTR, Lake Placid was a small, isolated location and the Winter team was small, making it easier to keep watch on everyone.

I suspect, if the US goes to Moscow, in 84, the Soviet's make the excuse of "safety" and STI or end a "reduced" team.
See this TL (https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=248660)

 

[Zajir]

Imagine the ratings for the next two Olympiads. In 1984, NBC stirs the pot with a not-so-subtle (snipped)QUOTE]

With regards, to Russian crowd reactions to events and other teams, remember "Ordinary" Russians didn't get tickets. They also sent alot of Moscow's population south to "resorts," during the games. As for treatment, USA is likely treated well. Russian's were fascinated by Americans, and Americans, unlike, the client states, were considered equals.

One note, a Warsaw Pact (read Soviet) boycott of LA is still VERY possible (actually HIGHLY likely is closer). While the Moscow boycott made a good excuse, even without it, the games in LA scared the Soviets, namely too easy for defections (and the Reagan administration wasn't the Carter Administration, no one was going to be handed back ...). FTR, Lake Placid was a small, isolated location and the Winter team was small, making it easier to keep watch on everyone.

I suspect, if the US goes to Moscow, in 84, the Soviet's make the excuse of "safety" and STI or end a "reduced" team.
See this TL (https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=248660)

I don't think that defections would be a big problem, Romania participated at the 1984 Olympics and did not suffer from defections during the games.

 

[Alex Richards]

I don't think that defections would be a big problem, Romania participated at the 1984 Olympics and did not suffer from defections during the games.

To be fair, there weren't many defections from Romania in general- AFAIK the Ceausescu Regime was somewhat lighter in touch compared to other Pact members and the economy was doing well until the new policies of the mid 80s.

 

[WCDouglas]

I don't think that defections would be a big problem, Romania participated at the 1984 Olympics and did not suffer from defections during the games.

Maybe, but the key is the Soviet Government, leadership and KGB did believe (all the time!), and whether justified or just Soviet paranoia or an actual risk, it was a major part of the decision whenever the Soviet leadership allowed anyone to travel to the west.

OTL, the Soviet's were looking at using cruise ships anchored out for their (and Warsaw Pact) teams, rather than the Olympic village (better access/egress control). As well as an army of KGB (very likely more than the US would allow), another possible excuse , "the evil capitalists will not allow the peacefull Soviet people to provide 10 cultural advisors to assist each glorius Soviet Team member..."