List of Olympic Games boycotts

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Olympic Games

Main topics

* Bids
* Boycotts
* Ceremonies
* Charter
* Host cities
* IFs
* IOC
* Medal
* Medal tables
* Medalists
* NOCs
* Olympism
* Pierre de Coubertin medal
* Scandals and controversies
* Sports
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Games

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* Ancient
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* v
* t
* e

The Olympic Games is a major international multi-sport event.

South Africa were not invited to the 1964 Games, while its invitation to the 1968 Games was withdrawn after several other African countries threatened to boycott the Games due to apartheid. South Africa would not be permitted to return to the Olympics until 1992.

Rhodesia was also prevented from entering the 1972 Summer Olympics when its invitation was withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee following protests by other African countries.

Possibly the most famous Olympic boycotts occurred in 1980 and 1984, due to the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

In 2021, several nations announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics to protest against Chinese mistreatment of the Uyghur population, thus prohibiting many government officials from attending the games in an official capacity, while still permitting athletes to compete.[1] Later, India joined the boycott over China's decision to choose Qi Fabao, a regimental commander in the People's Liberation Army, as a torchbearer for the event.[2][3]

## List of full boycotts of an Olympic Games or full non-attendance[edit]

Olympiad  | Year  | Host Country  | Host City  | Boycotting countries

|
|
|
|

List  | Map
XI | 1936  | Germany  | Berlin  |

1. Ireland (IAAF ruling on ineligibility of Northern Ireland athletes)[4]
2. Spain (withdrew due to Spanish Civil War)

XVI | 1956  | Australia | Melbourne |

1. Egypt
2. Iraq
3. Lebanon
4. Netherlands
5. Cambodia
6. Spain
7. Switzerland
8. People's Republic of China

XVIII | 1964  | Japan | Tokyo |

1. North Korea
2. Indonesia
3. People's Republic of China

XXI | 1976  | Canada | Montreal |

1. Algeria
2. Benin
3. Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
4. Cameroon
5. Central African Republic
6. Chad
7. PR Congo
8. Egypt
9. Ethiopia
10. Gabon
11. Gambia
12. Ghana
13. Guyana
14. Iraq
15. Kenya
16. Libya
17. Lesotho
18. Madagascar
19. Malawi
20. Mali
21. Morocco
22. Niger
23. Nigeria
24. Republic of China
25. Somalia
26. Sri Lanka
27. Sudan
28. Swaziland
29. Tanzania
30. Togo
31. Tunisia
32. Uganda
33. Upper Volta
34. Zambia

XXII | 1980  | Soviet Union | Moscow |

1. Albania (no reason given)
2. Antigua and Barbuda
3. Argentina
4. The Bahamas
5. Bahrain
6. Bangladesh
7. Barbados
8. British Honduras
9. Bermuda
10. Bolivia
11. Canada
12. Cayman Islands
13. Central African Republic
14. Chad
15. Chile
16. China
17. Egypt
18. El Salvador
19. Fiji
20. Gabon
21. Gambia
22. Ghana
23. Haiti
24. Honduras
25. Hong Kong
26. Indonesia
27. Iran
28. Israel
29. Ivory Coast
30. Japan
31. Kenya
32. South Korea
33. Liberia
34. Liechtenstein
35. Malawi
36. Malaysia
37. Mauritania
38. Monaco
39. Mauritius
40. Morocco
41. Netherlands Antilles
42. Niger
43. North Yemen
44. Norway
45. Pakistan
46. Panama
47. Papua New Guinea
48. Paraguay
49. Philippines
50. Qatar
51. Saudi Arabia
52. Singapore
53. Somalia
54. Sudan
55. Suriname
56. Swaziland
57. Chinese Taipei / Taiwan (protesting the Nagoya Resolution designating it as "Chinese Taipei")
58. Thailand
59. Togo
60. Tunisia
61. Turkey
62. United Arab Emirates
63. United States
64. United States Virgin Islands
65. Uruguay
66. West Germany
67. Zaire

XXIII | 1984  | United States | Los Angeles |

1. Soviet Union
2. Bulgaria
3. East Germany
4. Mongolia
5. Vietnam
6. Laos
7. Czechoslovakia
8. Afghanistan
9. Hungary
10. Poland
11. Cuba
12. South Yemen
13. North Korea
14. Ethiopia
15. Angola
16. Albania (no reason given)
17. Iran
18. Burkina Faso
19. Libya

XXIV | 1988  | South Korea | Seoul |

1. Ethiopia (did not respond to invitation)
2. Nicaragua (financial)
3. Madagascar (financial)
4. Cuba
5. Albania (did not respond to invitation)
6. North Korea
7. Seychelles (did not respond to invitation)

## List of COVID-19 pandemic non-attendance of government officials or diplomatic boycotts of the Olympic Games[edit]

* Countries that due to COVID-19 concerns or diplomatic boycotts did not send official delegations to the Games, however athletes were permitted to participate.

Games  | Year  | Host Country  | Host City  | Boycotting countries

|
|
|
|

List  | Map
XXXII Olympic Summer Olympics | 2020  | Japan | Tokyo |

1. North Korea (medical)[5]

XXIV Olympic Winter Games | 2022  | China | Beijing |

1. Lithuania[6]
2. United States[7]
3. Australia[8]
4. United Kingdom[9]
5. Canada[10]
6. Kosovo[11]
7. Belgium[12]
8. Estonia[13]
9. Taiwan[14]
10. Denmark[15]
11. India[16]

Note: During the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia, due to Russia's annexation of Crimea and the violation of the Olympic Truce, the United States and United Kingdom diplomatically boycotted the event, and the entire Ukrainian delegation except for their flagbearer boycotted the opening ceremony.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Australia joins US diplomatic boycott". BBC News. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
2. ^ "India announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics". The Hindu. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
3. ^ "India launches last-minute diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over Chinese soldier".
4. ^

* O'Sullivan, Patrick T. (Spring 1998). "Ireland & the Olympic Games". History Ireland. 6 (1). Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
* Krüger, Arnd; William J. Murray (2003). The Nazi Olympics: sport, politics and appeasement in the 1930s. University of Illinois Press. p. 230\. ISBN 0-252-02815-5.

5. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: North Korea to skip Games over Covid-19 fears". BBC News. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
6. ^ "Lithuania confirms diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics". ANI News. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
7. ^ Allie Malloy and Kate Sullivan. "White House announces US diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
8. ^ "Australia joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics". ABC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
9. ^ "UK 'effectively' plans a diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics, joining the United States, Australia and Lithuania". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
10. ^ Tasker, John Paul (8 December 2021). "Trudeau announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics". CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
11. ^ "Kosovo boycotts Beijing Winter Olympics". Alsat News. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
12. ^ "Which Countries Are Boycotting China's Winter Olympics? Full List". Newsweek. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
13. ^ "Estonian government officials in no mood to attend Beijing Olympics". Baltic News Network. 18 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
14. ^ "Taiwan to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics: source". taipeitimes.com. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
15. ^ "Denmark to join diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics over human rights". Reuters. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
16. ^ IndiaToday, Geeta Mohan 3rd Feb'22. "Indian diplomats to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics after China makes Galwan PLA soldier torchbearer". IndiaToday. Retrieved 3 February 2022.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

* v
* t
* e

Olympic Games scandals and controversies

By year|

* 1988 (winter)
* 2008 (summer)
* 2010 (winter)
* 2012 (summer)
* 2014 (winter)
* 2016 (summer)
* 2018 (winter)
* 2020 (summer)
* 2022 (winter)
* 2024 (summer)

Boycotts|

* 1936
* 1956
* 1964
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 2022

Alternative
competitions|

* People's Olympiad (1936)
* Games of the New Emerging Forces (1963)
* Liberty Bell Classic (1980)
* Friendship Games (1984)
* Goodwill Games (1986–2001)
* World Friendship Games (2024)

Events|

* Football match between Peru and Austria (1936)
* "Blood in the Water" water polo match (1956)
* Tlatelolco massacre (1968)
* Black Power salute (1968)
* Munich massacre (1972)
* Basketball gold medal match controversy (1972)
* Black Power salute (1972)
* Kozakiewicz's gesture (1980)
* Centennial Olympic Park bombing (1996)
* Winter Olympic bid scandal (1998)
* Figure-skating judging scandal (2002)
* Underage gymnasts controversy (2008)
* Death of Nodar Kumaritashvili (2010)
* One minute of silence campaign (2012)
* LGBT rights protests (2014)
* Sochi Ladies' singles judging controversy (2014)
* Russian doping scandal (2015–present)
* Ireland Summer Olympics ticket scandal (2016)
* Lochtegate (2016)
* Rule 40 (2016)
* Attempted repatriation of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya (2021)
* COVID-19 cases at Tokyo 2020 (2021)
* COVID-19 cases at Beijing 2022 (2022)

* List of stripped Olympic medals
* Doping at the Olympic Games
* Apartheid-era South Africa and the Olympics

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