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Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Emma McKeon and other Aussie olympic greats left in angry silence
Emma McKeon was among the Aussie Olympic legends who were left visibly dismayed by a speech by Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. The athletes had gathered at Parliament House in Canberra to see 121 members of Australia's 1980 Olympic team finally get formally welcomed home. They were denied such a welcome after they defied calls to boycott the Moscow Games due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. While Anthony Albanese's speech praising the team was warmly received, Ley's effort appeared to have the opposite effect. Though she acknowledged the athletes in the chamber and said they should not have been subject to personal attacks, she also gave credit to those who abided by the boycott including sprinter Raelene Boyle and swimmer Tracey Wickham. 'For many Afghan Australians who emigrated here and are now part of our Australian family ... this boycott mattered,' she told the House of Representatives. 'The decision made by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to support the US-led boycott was the right one - and history has judged it so. That decision - correct as it was - takes nothing away from the Australians who did compete.' The Olympians sitting in the public gallery greeted her words with stony faces, with some gasping during parts of the address. None applauded at its conclusion, and many of the team members told News Corp they were 'furious' over Ley's 'tone-deaf' remarks and accused her of politicising the event. Ron McKeon, the father of retired swimming superstar and Australia's most decorated Olympian, Emma, was one of the 1980 competitors. Emma said she had been inspired by her dad, also a swimmer, and wanted to attend Thursday's ceremony to belatedly honour his Olympic participation. 'Dad coached me growing up but never really spoke much about his Olympic experiences,' Emma McKeon said. 'I couldn't imagine going through that - not having the ongoing support of the country - it would have been a huge struggle. I'm so proud of him.' The boycott was the largest in Olympic history, with 45 countries pulling out of the Games as part of the long-running Cold War, leaving just 80 to compete. Though many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany took part in a full boycott, Australia supported the boycott in principle but allowed athletes to make up their own mind on whether to participate. Many of the young sports stars were angry at copping backlash for defying the government's stance, even while the then Liberal government continued to trade with the Soviet Union. After most Olympic Games, Australia has celebrated its triumphs and welcomed its athletes back with open arms. Albanese acknowledged their participation and their pain in his speech. 'When you choose to wear the green and gold, you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,' he told parliament. 'Yet the returning athletes were met only by cold silence or cruel comments. Today, we fix that... you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation.' Decathlete Peter Hadfield was subjected to death threats and being spat on after he chose to compete in Moscow. He had previously won the Australian championship in 1976 but was not selected for that year's Olympics in Montreal. 'When the boycott was called in 1980, it looked like I was going to miss out on my second Olympics in a row,' he said. 'I was offered a bribe of almost my entire yearly salary not to go. There was death threats, we were called 'traitors' in the media, family members were spat on.'
The Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Australian Olympians from 1980 Moscow Games finally recognised
Australian Olympians who competed at the 1980 Moscow Games have finally been recognised for their efforts 45 years later. The 1980 games have been a black spot on the Olympic record. Seven months before they were set to be held, the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan causing many countries to boycott the games. Although Australia never formally boycotted the event, public sentiment against Australian attendance was widespread. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser urged the Australian Olympic Federation (now the Australian Olympic Committee) to support the boycott and even offered athletes $6000 each as incentive not to compete. Some teams, including the entire Australian hockey and equestrian teams, withdrew completely, but in the end the Australian Olympic Federation narrowly voted against withdrawing from the games — six votes to five. Ultimately, just 121 of the original 273 athletes made it to the Games — quietly and with little fanfare — they were snuck in and out of the country in an unmarked plane and out of uniform. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Sussan Ley officially recognised the athletes participation and subsequent treatment in an address to parliament. 'When you were chosen to wear the green and gold you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,' the Prime Minister said. 'And on your return you should be welcomed home and celebrated for the inspiration you have brought to the next generation of Australian athletes. 'Yet 45 years ago, the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan cast a dark shadow over what should have been your shining moment. 'As nations around the world grappled with the boycott, Australia's athletes — some still only teenagers — were placed in an incredibly difficult position. 'One hundred and twenty-one Australians chose to compete under the Olympic flag. Others chose to join the boycott. Some who had won selection never even had the chance to choose because their sport made the decision for them.' Mr Albanese said upon their return athletes were met with 'cold silence or cruel comments'. 'Today, we fix that. Today, on the 45th anniversary, we recognise all that you have achieved and acknowledge all that you have overcome. 'Take pride in both. You are Olympians. You are Australians and you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation. Welcome to parliament and welcome home.' Robert got his start as an Editorial Assistant at the Daily Telegraph in 2024 before entering the Newscorp cadet program. With a background in history and law Robert has a passion for politics and crime reporting as well as telling meaningful stories. NewsWire The home where Erin Patterson served her notorious mushroom lunch that left three of her relatives dead is now subject to a restraining order. NewsWire Developer and former Melbourne Storm player Tye Alroe has died while exercising at a Gold Coast gym.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australian Olympians from 1980 Moscow Games finally recognised
Australian Olympians who competed at the 1980 Moscow Games have finally been recognised for their efforts 45 years later. The 1980 games have been a black spot on the Olympic record. Seven months before they were set to be held, the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan causing many countries to boycott the games. Although Australia never formally boycotted the event, public sentiment against Australian attendance was widespread. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser urged the Australian Olympic Federation (now the Australian Olympic Committee) to support the boycott and even offered athletes $6000 each as incentive not to compete. Some teams, including the entire Australian hockey and equestrian teams, withdrew completely, but in the end the Australian Olympic Federation narrowly voted against withdrawing from the games — six votes to five. Ultimately, just 121 of the original 273 athletes made it to the Games — quietly and with little fanfare — they were snuck in and out of the country in an unmarked plane and out of uniform. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Sussan Ley officially recognised the athletes participation and subsequent treatment in an address to parliament. 'When you were chosen to wear the green and gold you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,' the Prime Minister said. 'And on your return you should be welcomed home and celebrated for the inspiration you have brought to the next generation of Australian athletes. 'Yet 45 years ago, the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan cast a dark shadow over what should have been your shining moment. 'As nations around the world grappled with the boycott, Australia's athletes — some still only teenagers — were placed in an incredibly difficult position. 'One hundred and twenty-one Australians chose to compete under the Olympic flag. Others chose to join the boycott. Some who had won selection never even had the chance to choose because their sport made the decision for them.' Mr Albanese said upon their return athletes were met with 'cold silence or cruel comments'. 'Today, we fix that. Today, on the 45th anniversary, we recognise all that you have achieved and acknowledge all that you have overcome. 'Take pride in both. You are Olympians. You are Australians and you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation. Welcome to parliament and welcome home.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Australian Parliament finally honors Olympians who defied boycott of 1980 Moscow Games
CANBERRA, Australia — A wait of 45 years ended when a group of Olympians who defied pressure to boycott the 1980 Moscow Games were recognized in the Australian Parliament on Wednesday for their contribution to sports. Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman said the recognition acknowledged 'the courage and resilience of the Olympians who faced intense public pressure not to compete, and the enduring hurt and pain many of them still feel.'
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia's 1980 Moscow Olympians ‘labeled as traitors'. Now they're finally being recognised
Australian Olympians who were called traitors and faced death threats will be recognised by the prime minister, 45 years after they defied the government and competed in the controversial 1980 Moscow Games. The team of 96 men and 25 women went to the Soviet Union-hosted Games in the face of the Australian government's support for a US-led boycott over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Australia won two gold medals, two silver and five bronze at the Games but the athletes did not receive the welcoming reception typically granted to Olympians upon their return. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Lobbying from team members and the Australian Olympic Committee has now secured Anthony Albanese's agreement to acknowledge athlete's participation and subsequent treatment in a parliamentary address. Peter Hadfield, a decathlete at the Moscow Games, said the team felt abandoned by the Australian public after the government, led by Malcolm Fraser, called for athletes to avoid attending. 'Young athletes, people in their teens and early 20s, were either directly receiving death threats or being labeled as traitors,' he said. 'There's a fair bit of emotional hurt every time the Games comes around – it's a reminder every four years about that lack of recognition.' The athletes' experience was a far cry from that of the 2024 Olympians returning from Paris, who received a heroes' welcome from crowds of fans when they landed in Sydney. The 1980 team will receive the first formal acknowledgment of their participation and pain when prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and opposition leader, Sussan Ley, address parliament on 30 July. Nearly 40 of the Olympians are expected to attend with their families, though some have died and others declined invitations due to the ongoing anguish, Hadfield said. 'We were hoping that recognition would help to heal some of those mental scars, and I'm sure it will, but there are some that still couldn't bring themselves,' he said. 'There was a young swimmer in the team who just said, 'I'm just not completely over the whole situation, so sorry, I won't be able to attend'. This is 45 years later. That's how strongly it's been felt.' Australia was among 80 nations to participate in the Moscow Games, alongside Great Britain, Ireland, France and New Zealand, while US president Jimmy Carter's call for a boycott saw 59 countries withdraw. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Public pressure saw Australia's hockey and equestrian team withdraw and other athletes step down, while the final team barely had the Olympic governing body's support, after five of its 11 board members voted against attending. The Olympians felt betrayed by the Fraser government singling them out as a diplomatic weapon despite Australia's continued trade and cultural ties with the Soviet government, Hadfield said. 'We were the only people being asked to make a sacrifice to show Australia's revulsion across the Soviet Union's invasion … Their hypocrisy hurt a lot.' 'We basically had to sneak out of the country, like thieves in the night: we were told don't wear uniform, we went out in small groups, there was no media event, there was no applause.' The federal government recognition, announced on the 45th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics' opening ceremony, is the result of a year of lobbying from athletes and the AOC. Hadfield said he and fellow athletes Michelle Ford and Max Metzker worked to gain the AOC's support for recognition, after the 1980 team's 2024 reunion before the Paris Olympics. Mark Arbib, a former Labor sports minister who was appointed chief executive of the AOC in April, helped secure government support for recognition.
