Pawns in a political chess match

As the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter’s one term in office (1977-1981) was hectic. A lot was going on in the world, and if you were an athlete, his boycott of the Moscow 1980 Olympic is a memory that’s hard to shake.

The decision was later deemed a mistake, with memories of that period surfacing again with Carter’s passing on December 29, 2024. John Bertrand, a member of the 1980 US Olympic team who won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics, shares this thought:

“I’m compelled to look back on a key moment in his presidency that had a profound and, frankly, frustrating impact on my life as an American athlete. In 1980, Carter’s decision to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games—ostensibly to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan—effectively nullified years of my hard work and training.

“While Carter’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts are undisputed, the boycott left many of us athletes feeling like pawns in a political chess match, our ambitions, and dreams overshadowed by an administration’s geopolitical stance. His recent passing brings mixed emotions—on the one hand, sadness for the loss of a historical figure; on the other, lingering disappointment at how one decision upended the aspirations of so many.”

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program*:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Venue: Long Beach, CA
Dates: July 21-August 6

* World Sailing voted to keep the Paris 2024 Sailing Program for Los Angeles 2028, but the program is not final until the IOC approves all events, which usually occurs between December 2024 and January 2025. At that time, the IOC will also confirm the quota for sailing and how many medals.