The boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics

The Olympic Games are the world's biggest sporting event. This interest inevitably leads to an incredible amount of media attention. In the run-up to the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the possibility of a boycott was the main topic of discussion. This major sporting event became a matter of international politics due to the threat posed by the USA. The Swiss media, too, turned their attention to the Olympic Games and the possible absence of Swiss athletes at an early stage. The analysis of this debate is the subject of this study. By examining several major Swiss newspapers, the aim is to identify trends in the media discourse. To what extent could international sport be separated from politics? Did the media view Switzerland's neutrality as being jeopardised by the Olympic Games? Were the political parties and newspapers in agreement on the boycott issue, or were differing positions evident?