Written by identical twins Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli, Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games ($25.95, New Chapter Press) chronicles the stories of 18 elite American athletes who trained thousands of hours for their once-in-a-lifetime chance at Olympic glory in Moscow only to become pawns in a political Cold War chess match between superpowers. The book also outlines the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that led to the boycott, efforts by a group of athletes to overturn the boycott by legal means, and the entire 1980 team eventually receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award which is bestowed by the United States Congress.
Vice President Walter F. Mondale, who spoke on behalf of the boycott prior to the USOC’s April 12, 1980 vote to officially boycott the Games, wrote the Foreword for the book. Mondale apologizes to all the athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete calling them, “warriors in our country’s defense of freedom.” Other political figures featured in the book include Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko, U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brezezinski, Soviet journalist Vladimir Pozner, USOC President Robert Kane, USOC Executive Director F. Don Miller, U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Olympic rower Anita DeFrantz, Afghan President Hafizullah Amin among others.
Among those endorsing the book include CBS Sports commentator Dick Enberg, who states, “Boycott uniquely and poignantly captures the impact of American athletes denied the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games. Nearly three decades later, I continue to appreciate and understand their heartbreak and anger. Thanks to the authors, we are reminded of their brave, but painful sacrifice. This book, then, becomes their belated, but deserved Olympic salute.“ Said Anita DeFrantz, President of LA84 Foundation, member of the International Olympic Committee and USOC Board member, “The boycott of 1980 was a stunning experience because I thought in our country, the individuals had the right to make their choices in sport. It is reassuring that the Caracciolis decided to tackle this story about America and American athletes in a challenging time.“
Unlike athletes like Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Brian Clay, Kerri Walsh, Kim Probst and others, athletes featured in the book did not have a chance to compete on the grand stage. Athletes featured in the book are: Don Paige (Athletics) Philadelphia, Pa. / Bahama, N.C.; Glenn Mills (Swimming) Ridgeville, Ohio / Chester, Md. ; Gwen Gardner (Athletics) Los Angeles, Calif; Gene Mills (Wrestling) Pompton Lakes, N.J. / Liverpool, N.Y. ; Craig Beardsley (Swimming) New York, N.Y. / Chatham, N.J. ; Sue Walsh (Swimming) Hamburg, N.Y. / Durham, N.C.; Bill Hanzlik (Basketball)
Boycott is published by New Chapter Press – also the publisher of The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer and The Bud Collins History of Tennis by Bud Collins. Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.newchapterpressmedia.com)
