The Olympics

After the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Summer Games, it only made sense that the Soviet Union boycott the 1984 Summer Games, right? Right.

Fourteen nations from around the globe did not send athletes to the Summer Games of the XXIII Olympiad held in Los Angeles, California. From July 28th through August 12th, cheering crowds of nearly 100,000 watched as medals were awarded for 221 events, including two new ones -- synchronized swimming (which had a beautiful parody write-up on "Saturday Night Live") and rhythmic gymnastics. Tennis and basketball were also on display as "exhibition" sports but no medals were awarded.

Memorable moments were Carl Lewis' speed garnering him four gold medals, Edwin Moses hurdling to victory in the 400-m race, diver Greg Louganis taking the gold in the springboard and platform events, Mary Decker and Zola Budd colliding on the track, and the future Queen of Wheaties, Mary Lou Retton, doing her stuff.

The Games of the XIV Winter Olympics, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, went off without a single problem (i.e. no political intervention). Vucko, the official mascot of the Olympics, was on hand to welcome the 1,500+ athletes from 49 countries. The Games ran from February 7th through the 19th.

The 1984 Summer Games The 1984 Winter Games







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