Chapter 12 - Carter versus Killanin

Summary

The boycott seemed to be over. The positions of most national Olympic committees were made clear several days before the formal deadline, and while these battles took place largely in public, Carter and Killanin worked behind the scenes to gain an advantage before the public climax. These efforts brought about the only face-to-face meeting of these two presidents and also, more importantly, showed the limitations of both men’s leadership.

While various factions battled across the planet, the IOC Executive Board met in Switzerland. The big issue it faced during three days of talks was should it penalize the American Olympians. According to Killanin, Carter’s boycott was “a clear case of political interference and, unless the USOC rebuffed it, we could move towards taking action against the committee, and that in turn would affect the Los Angeles Games in 1984.” Killanin, though, realized such an action would be counterproductive. Having the Olympics in Los Angeles without the United States being allowed to compete was a recipe for disaster. “I am doing all I can to protect the USOC,” he warned Kane.