Olympic Games, 1980.

Rights Information
Year
1980
Reference
25772
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1980
Reference
25772
Media type
Audio
Categories
Documentary radio programs
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:30:59
Credits
RNZ Collection
Radio New Zealand. National Programme (estab. 1964, closed 1986), Broadcaster

'Olympic Preview' is a radio sports documentary on the lead up to the Moscow Olympic Games of 1980. It includes comments on the political issues surrounding the games.

A boycott of the Moscow games was led by the United States, in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

The programme opens with a recording from the closing of the previous Olympic Games in Montreal, 1976. This is followed by comments from various (mostly unidentified) people on the politics of the Moscow games, and the impact on the athletes.

At the time of recording, with five days to go before the opening ceremony, around 27 countries were boycotting the games and 85 countries still participating, including Britain. Some sports such as hockey, rowing, swimming and athletics were hit particularly hard by the low numbers of competitors.