In 1956, boycotting sport was a no-holds-barred act

Le Regard Libre N° 82 - Yves Di Cristino

Between China in February and Qatar in November, the world of sport has probably never seen such timid attempts to boycott major events in over six decades. The United States may have skipped the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, but few remember 1956, a year so special in every respect. And it also concerns us, as the Swiss Confederation, like seven other nations, proudly decided to boycott the Melbourne Olympics. As for the reasons, they go in all directions.

The United States' stab at the 1980 Moscow Olympics has a ring to it. Regarded as a strong political act by some, though grossly disproportionate by others, President Carter's decision regularly resurfaces. The p