The Modern Olympics

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1980 -- Moscow, USSR
5,326 athletes, 81 nations

The 1980 Olympics were the first Games held in an Eastern Bloc country. The Cold War was still alive and the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan. American President Jimmy Carter called for a boycott of the Games by Western countries. Many athletes from these countries were upset and angered that their chance at Olympic glory was being taken away.

Sixty-one countries, including Canada, decided to boycott Moscow's Games. Eighty-one others, including Afghanistan, attended.

Canadian Highlights: Canada did not participate in these Games.