Not surprisingly, with the 1984 Olympics being held in Los Angeles, the government of the USSR responded with a revenge boycott.

Although the Soviets were noticeably unsuccessful in convincing other nations to join their action - more countries attended than ever before - those nations that did stay at home accounted for 58% of the gold medals in 1976.

Among the sports that lost most of their medal contenders were weightlifting, wrestling gymnastics, women's swimming, football, handball, modern pentathlon and women's track and field.

Nevertheless, the 1984 Games, the first since 1896 to be staged without government financing, were very successful.

Good feeling prevailed to such an extent that at the Opening Ceremony the athletes broke ranks to join in spontaneous dancing, such celebration usually being reserved for the Closing Ceremony.