Soviet Union at the 1980 Summer Olympics in the context of "1980 Summer Olympics"

⭐ In the context of the 1980 Summer Olympics, the Moscow Games are historically distinguished as the first to be held in a country with what defining characteristic?

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⭐ Core Definition: Soviet Union at the 1980 Summer Olympics

The Soviet Union (USSR) was the host nation of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 489 competitors, 340 men and 149 women, took part in 202 events in 23 sports.

The Soviet Union won a record 80 gold medals (although since surpassed by the United States), and their 195 total medals are the second best result in history.

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👉 Soviet Union at the 1980 Summer Olympics in the context of 1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics (Russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, romanizedLetniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially branded as Moscow 1980 (Москва 1980, Moskva 1980), were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russia. The games were the first to be staged in an Eastern Bloc country, as well as the first Olympic Games and only Summer Olympics to be held in a Slavic language-speaking country. They were also the only Summer Olympic Games to be held in a self-proclaimed communist country until the 2008 Summer Olympics held in China. These were the final Olympic Games under the IOC Presidency of Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin before he was succeeded by Juan Antonio Samaranch shortly afterward.

Eighty nations were represented at the Moscow Games, the smallest number since 1956. Led by the United States, 66 countries boycotted the games entirely, because of the Soviet–Afghan War. Several alternative events were held outside of the Soviet Union. Some athletes from some of the boycotting countries (not included in the list of 66 countries that boycotted the games entirely) participated in the games under the Olympic Flag. The Soviet Union later boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The Soviet Union won the most gold and overall medals, with the USSR and East Germany winning 127 out of 203 available golds.

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