Shattered Hopes: Canada's Boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games

On December 27, 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, a distant land unknown to most Canadians. A crucial fall-out was the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, which Canada eventually joined, forcing 212 Canadian athletes to shelve their Olympic dreams, some temporarily, many forever. For the athletes, there was and is sadness at a missed opportunity to excel on the Olympic stage and disappointment that their sacrifice was but a token response, still largely unacknowledged. As well, Canadian youth were robbed of a generation of role models, with important implications on Canada’s international performances for many years. Shattered Hopes is an oral history of key players, including 8 decision makers, 5 national team coaches, 2 senior administrators, 2 Canadian team personnel, and 24 of Canada’s best Olympic athletes.