In protest against the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games, which was held in Moscow. Over 60 nations supported the US boycott. The olympics are a global event, which the Soviet Union was hoping to use in order to showcase communism to the huge audience around the world. The boycott reflected the influence that the USA had in international affairs. Some countries did not prevent their athletes from going, but discouraged them to do so. However, American athletes were threatened with the loss of their passports if they attempted to travel to Moscow.
The boycott was so effective that with many of the best athletes staying away, some events at the Moscow Games were made to look second-rate. The Soviet Union was extremely angry that its chance to showcase communism had been undermined and relations with the USA deteriorated further.
This was a significant moment in the 'second cold war'. Relations were so poor that four years later, when it was the USA's turn to hold the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, the Soviet Union led a boycott of the games, which was joined by 15 communist countries.
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