Australian competitors in controversial 1980 Moscow Olympics to be recognised

Australia Broadcast Center

4 days ago

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will today formally acknowledge 121 athletes who defied government opposition to compete under a neutral flag at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
The athletes were among over 5,000 competitors from 80 countries who participated in the Games.
According to the International Olympic Committee between 45 and 50 nations boycotted the Games in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The Australians who chose to go faced a financial and public backlash amid then-prime minister Malcolm Fraser's call to join the boycott.
They returned with nine medals — two gold, two silver and five bronze — but there were no parades, no fanfare and no official recognition.
The prime minister and opposition leader will today recognise the 1980 Australian Olympic Team and acknowledge other athletes pressured into not going.
Michelle Ford was 18 when she competed in Moscow, winning gold in the 800-metre freestyle and bronze in the 200-metre butterfly.
She said the government put on a negative media campaign to stop the athletes from going.
"All the athletes that decided not to go were given a pat on the back, a thank you letter from the government, and a financial reward for not going," Ms Ford said.
"We were being treated as traitors. We were given death threats. We were nearly banished from this country.
"At the 800-metre freestyle, at lunch time, I open my fan mail … and I get a letter saying that if I stand on those blocks to represent I would be un-Australian and I'd be a traitor. That really touched me."
Rob de Castella AO MBE, then a 23-year-old marathon runner who finished 10th in Moscow, said the athletes were met with more attacks upon their return.
"I remember one prominent radio journalist down in Melbourne calling us traitors and saying how we were competing while the Russians were killing Afghan babies," said the four-time Olympian and former director of the Australian Institute of Sport.
"Horrible, disgraceful, despicable comments targeting young, talented Australians."
Around 50 Moscow Olympians and their families are in Canberra today for this recognition which Mr de Castella called "an important statement".
"It is an important acknowledgement that the prime minister and the government, and Australia, is making to acknowledge the mistakes of the past," he said.
Pam Westendorf, who represented Australia in rowing, said the gesture may come too late for some, with many traumatised by the vilification for competing.
"Part of the reason I'm going up to is to see some of those people that I haven't seen for such a long time, and I suppose to talk about those times," Ms Westendorf said.
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said the athletes who could not join the Australian contingent are also part of the team.
"My thoughts also go to those athletes who qualified and were selected but did not attend the Games, many due to decisions made by national sporting organisations under the pressure of the day," he said.
"The devastation those athletes experienced is real, and for many it remains so today.
"So we acknowledge them as selected team members and victims of the political environment of that time."