The United States decision to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games had no impact on the Soviet policy in Afghanistan due to the fact the the Russian troops didn't withdraw until about a decade after everything happened. The boycott did however ruin the respect and admiration that the Olympic Games had. The boycott also was not the first time that the Cold War interfered with international sports. In 1973 the Soviet Union also refused to play Chile in the soccer World Cup because of the overthrow and death that occurred earlier that year to Chile's president.
(More Future Significance of the Olympic Games)
Adolf Hitler also used the Olympic Games as an Aryan showcase in 1936 and caused several different boycotts to occur. The boycotts that occurred in both the 1970's and the 1980's threatened to kill the Olympic Game movement as a whole but thankfully didn't end the Olympics and the games continued to become more and more successful each and every continuing year. But then in 2008 the Olympic Games were scheduled to be placed in Beijing where once again, the boycott returned. Protesters tried to once again, use the Olympic Games in Beijing as a political platform. So as you can see, the Boycotts that have occurred in the past have significantly change the Olympic Games as we know it. The Olympics used to always be free of politics but now we never know when another boycott is going to occur nor will we ever know when we can peacefully have Olympic Games without being interrupted by political issues.
(More Future Significance of the Olympic Games)
Adolf Hitler also used the Olympic Games as an Aryan showcase in 1936 and caused several different boycotts to occur. The boycotts that occurred in both the 1970's and the 1980's threatened to kill the Olympic Game movement as a whole but thankfully didn't end the Olympics and the games continued to become more and more successful each and every continuing year. But then in 2008 the Olympic Games were scheduled to be placed in Beijing where once again, the boycott returned. Protesters tried to once again, use the Olympic Games in Beijing as a political platform. So as you can see, the Boycotts that have occurred in the past have significantly change the Olympic Games as we know it. The Olympics used to always be free of politics but now we never know when another boycott is going to occur nor will we ever know when we can peacefully have Olympic Games without being interrupted by political issues.