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A banner at the 1980 Moscow Olympics referring to the British government's request that Team GB should boycott the Games

A question relating to the 1980 Moscow Olympics - who were Britain's five gold medallists from the Games?

Answers as always a bit lower down, but first a quick look at the boycotts that have hit past Olympics, as they did the Games of 28 year ago.

In ancient Greece warring tribes used to suspend their disagreements to take part in the Olympic Games.

But for the modern version of events, the opposite seems to be true with nations dropping out at the first threat of war.

The first noticeable boycott happened at the when Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon pulled out because of the Suez Crisis, while the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland objected to the Soviet invasion of Hungary and withdrew.

The People's Republic of China also boycotted as they opposed Taiwan's participation under the name Formosa.

in 1976, in protest at New Zealand's rugby tour of South Africa,.

In 1980 the protest followed the and, depending on which source you believe, between 60 and 65 nations withdrew.

The United States led the boycott after their call for the International Olympic Committee

But the to send a team to Moscow, stating: "We believe sport should be a bridge, and not a destroyer."

Britain was one of 15 teams, though, that protested in its own way by marching into the opening ceremony behind the Olympic flag, and having the Olympic flag raised and Olympic hymn played at medal ceremonies.

The other nations that chose this route of protest were, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Spain and Switzerland.

And when a Swiss, Danish and French cyclist finished first, second and third respectively in the 4000m individual pursuit, a medals ceremony took place without any national flags or anthems for the first time.

In 1984, 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies decided not to take part in the Games in Los Angeles. The USSR cited security concerns and cited "chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria being whipped up in the United States", although many believed the move was simply revenge for trhe events of four years previously.

Soviet troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan until nine years after the Moscow Games, so is the Olympic boycott an effective form of protest?

How did you do with Britain's gold medallists in Moscow?

Allan Wells in the 100m, Steve Ovett in the 800m, Sebastian Coe in the 1500m, Daley Thompson in the decathlon and Duncan Goodhew in the 100m breastroke are the names you were looking for.

Peter Scrivener is a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport Journalist. Our should answer any questions you have.


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