Sports diplomacy during the Cold War: international competitions as soft power (1947-1991)

1. Truman Doctrine frames Cold War competition

   Mar 12, 1947Labels: Truman Doctrine, United States, Greece &

   • Miller Center

2. USSR debuts at Helsinki Summer Olympics

   Jul 1, 1952Labels: Soviet Union, Helsinki Olympics

   • Britannica

3. Hungary–USSR “Blood in the Water” match

   Dec 6, 1956Labels: Hungary, Soviet Union, Melbourne Olympics

   • Britannica
   • Smithsonian

4. U.S.–Soviet exchange agreement expands contacts

   Jan 27, 1958Labels: Lacy Zarubin, United States, Soviet Union

   • Lacy Zarubin
   • Kitchen Debate

5. IOC reverses South Africa Olympic invitation

   Apr 1, 1968Labels: International Olympic, South Africa

   • SAHO

6. U.S. table tennis team visits China

   Apr 10, 1971Labels: Ping-pong diplomacy, United States, China

   • State Dept
   • HISTORY

7. Canada–USSR Summit Series opens in Montreal

   Sep 2, 1972Labels: Summit Series, Canada, Soviet Union

   • Parks Canada

8. African-led boycott hits Montreal Olympics

   Jul 17, 1976Labels: Montreal Olympics, African states

   • Montreal 1976
   • All Blacks tour

9. U.S. hockey defeats USSR at Lake Placid

   Feb 22, 1980Labels: Lake Placid, United States

   • Britannica
   • HISTORY

10. U.S. announces boycott of Moscow Olympics

    Mar 21, 1980Labels: U S, Moscow Olympics

    • HISTORY
    • Britannica

11. USSR announces boycott of Los Angeles Olympics

    May 8, 1984Labels: USSR boycott, Los Angeles

    • 1984 boycott

12. Friendship Games provide Eastern Bloc alternative

    Jul 2, 1984Labels: Friendship Games, Soviet Union

    • Friendship Games
    • UPI Archives

13. Berlin Wall falls, shifting sports politics

    Nov 9, 1989Labels: Berlin Wall, East Germany

    • Berlin Wall

14. Soviet Union formally dissolves

    Dec 26, 1991Labels: Soviet Union, Dissolution

    • Dissolution
    • Britannica