The 1980 Moscow Games reflected a turbulent time where international sport and politics collided.
After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Eve in 1979, United States President Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games that were scheduled for the following July. Pressure mounted around the world for Western nations to follow suit.
In New Zealand the issue reached epic proportions and touched public, private and sporting sectors alike. On 8 May 1980, the New Zealand Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (NZOCGA, today known as the NZOC) met and voted to accept the Soviet Unions invitation to attend the Games. Soon after the New Zealand Cabinet reached a decision that had devastating effects on the New Zealand team.
Cabinet had agreed that the games team would be considered divorced from the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow, that payments to the NZOCGA would be reconsidered and that no special leave to attend the games for public servants would be granted.
Meanwhile public opinion against the games mounted and sporting federations began to withdraw. Reasons varied; Equestrian cited protest at Russian intervention in Afghanistan, Hockey because of lack of competition, Rowing as lack of annual leave made attendance impossible.
The decisions were not clear cut. Sailors wrote to their Federation protesting against the decision to withdraw and the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association President, Bill Main, expressed concern that amateur sportsmen were bearing the brunt of the attitudes and feelings towards to Russians over their invasion of Afghanistan.
While the NZOCGA continued to deliberate, government pressure mounted. President Carter wrote to New Zealands then Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, asking New Zealand take further steps to get athletes to not attend the games. Muldoon called the issue of attendance a matter of high government policy. Minister of Recreation and Sport Alan Highet called on athletes to think beyond [their] own hopes and ambitionsany athletes who did go to the Olympic Games would be letting New Zealand down.
On the 29th of May the NZOCGA decided that no sponsor or government funds would be used to send a team to the Olympic Games and finally on the fourth of June the NZOCGA agreed that the decision to accept the invitation to attend the games would be rescinded and that the association would withdraw from the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
Clearly its not much of an investment for sponsors, quipped Muldoon at the news.
Intimidation of athletes was reported. The Chairman of the Athletics Assocciation Ces Blazey authorised the withdrawal of the athletics team but Association Secretary Mr I Boyd said the association remained firmly opposed to the boycott. But because of intimidation of competitors, which is affecting their preparations for the games, the reduction in the size of the New Zealand team and the long term financial implications to the organisation of athletics in New Zealand if the team goes to Moscow, the NZAAA has decided very reluctantly to withdraw its section from the Olympics team, he said. Swimmer Rebecca Perrott withdrew in the best interests of New Zealand while her father noted his daughter had been under pressure.
The New Zealand Rowing Association was also opposed to the boycott but nonetheless withdrew its team. New Zealand Rowing firmly believes that the Olympic boycott is a wrong method of settling a political dispute and adheres to the firm belief that participation in the Olympics would do far more good for the peace of the world than the steps that have been forced upon them, they said in a statement. Muldoon conversely believed athletes would, in time, put things into perspective.
A team of just four athletes and four officials remained. Led by Sir Tay Wilson, the original Chef de Mission, the team included Ian Ferguson, Alan Thompson, Geoff Walker and Brian Newth. Public pressure was strong and Newth reported receiving abusive letters and phone calls including a letter written in blood.
On 19 July 1980 five members of the team walked into the Olympiyskiy behind a black flag with white rings and fern (NZOCGA logo). The New Zealand flag did not fly at Moscow.
Athletes:
Ian Ferguson (K1 500, K1 1000)
Alan Thompson (K2 500, K2 1000)
Geoff Walker (K2 500, K 2 1000)
Brian Newth (Modern Pentathlon)
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