Cheers at last for Olympians who defied Moscow boycott
Death threats, Spittle and Bribes selected to represent Australia at the Moscow Olympics and followed Peter Hadfield.
The Decathlon contestant was one of the 121 members of the Australian Olympic team, which challenged the calls for boycotting the 1980 games despite the enormous public pressure of the Soviet Union after the Afghan occupation.
Mr. Hadfield had previously won the Australian championship in 1976, but he was not elected for the Olympics of that year in Montreal.
“When the boycott was called in 1980, AAP said, I would like to miss my second Olympics,” AAP said.
“A bribe was offered for almost all my annual salary to avoid going.
“There were threats of death, the media called ‘traitors’, family members spit.”
Michelle Ford was only 17 years old when he won one of the two gold medals of Australia at the Moscow Olympics.
Former swimmer AAP, “In the event of threats in our team, in our lives, we were told to secretly enter the country – it is very difficult for a young person to take it,” he said.
“I didn’t even vote.”
However, on Wednesday, about 50 years after the games, the Olympic team was once recognized by the Prime Minister.
Although this has brought a little relief and verification, it does not erase the past for many.
The boycott was the largest in the Olympic history, only 80 countries competed in the games after entering 45.
Although many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany, have been involved in a full boycott, he chose to support the Australian action, but allowed the athletes to make a final call as to whether they would participate.
Nevertheless, many of the young sports stars thought that they had to react from Australia’s protest, while Malcolm Fraser’s liberal government continued to trade with the Soviet Union.
After most Olympic games, Australia celebrated their victories and welcomed their athletes with open arms.
Prime Minister Anthony accepted his participation and pain on Wednesday.
“When you choose to wear green and gold, you should have difficulty knowing that the whole nation is with you,” he said to Parliament.
“Nevertheless, the athletes returned were greeted only with cold silence or brutal interpretations.
“Today we fix this… You have won your place in the history of the game and our nation.”
Mr. Albania’s address was met with emotion, while the opposition leader Sussan Ley hit a different chord.
Although he said that they should not accept the athletes in the room and not to be subjected to personal attacks, Sprinter Raelene Boyle and swimmer Tracey Wickham gave loans to those who were connected to the boycotts.
The House of Representatives said, “For many Afghan Australians who migrated here and are now a part of our Australian family,… This boycott is important,” he said.
“Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was the right to support the US-led boycott-led boycott-and History tried it.
“This decision – as it is – it does not take anything from the Australians who compete.”
Olympians, sitting in the public gallery, remained breathtaking in some parts of the address.
As a result, none of them were applauded.
Ron McKkeon, father of Olympian Emma McKkeon, the most fancy Olympian Emma McKkeon in Australia, was one of the 1980 rivals.
He and his family used the opportunity to celebrate their success as a source of inspiration for their Olympic journeys.
Mc My father coached to grow, but never talked about the Olympic experiences, Mc said McKEON.
Um I couldn’t imagine that I was going through the ongoing support of the country – this would be a great struggle.
I am proud of him.
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