Story: Government and sport

New Zealand Olympic team, Moscow, 1980

New Zealand Olympic team, Moscow, 1980

New Zealand's tiny team marches in the opening ceremony at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The team's small size was due to the New Zealand government pressuring athletes to withdraw from the games in protest against the Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan in December 1979. Most did withdraw. However, three canoeists and a modern pentathlete, Brian Newth, attended. Marching here are (from left) John Grant (canoeing manager), John Clark (modern pentathlon manager), Alan Thompson (canoeist) and Tay Wilson (chef de mission). They march behind Newth, who carries the flag of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association rather than the New Zealand flag.

Using this item

New Zealand Olympic Museum – He Pataka Taumahekeheke, New Zealand Olympic Committee

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

David Green, 'Government and sport - Politics of sport', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/41721/new-zealand-olympic-team-moscow-1980 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by David Green, published 5 Sep 2013