New York, NY, July 20, 2010 -- The 30-year anniversary of the U.S. boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympic Games is July 19 – August 3. The United States, led by President Jimmy Carter, boycotted the Games in the U.S.S.R. in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the previous December.
This chapter in American history – as well as profiles of American athletes who lost their one and only chance to compete in the Olympics, are featured in the book BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Written by identical twins Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli, BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games ($25.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com ) chronicles the stories of 18 elite American athletes who trained thousands of hours for their once-in-a-lifetime chance at Olympic glory in Moscow only to become pawns in a political Cold War chess match between superpowers. The book also outlines the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that began on December 27, 1979 that led to the boycott, efforts by a group of athletes to overturn the boycott by legal means, and the entire 1980 team eventually receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award which is bestowed by the United States Congress.
Athletes featured in the book are: Don Paige (Athletics) Philadelphia, Pa. / Bahama, N.C.; Glenn Mills (Swimming) Ridgeville, Ohio / Chester, Md. ; Gwen Gardner (Athletics) Los Angeles, Calif.; Gene Mills (Wrestling) Pompton Lakes, N.J. / Liverpool, N.Y. ; Craig Beardsley (Swimming) New York, N.Y. / Chatham, N.J. ; Sue Walsh (Swimming) Hamburg, N.Y. / Durham, N.C.; Bill Hanzlik (Basketball) Beloit, Wisc., / Denver, Colo.; Amy Koopman (Gymnastics) Arlington Heights, Ill.; Isiah Thomas (Basketball) Chicago, Ill. / New York, N.Y.; Carol Blazejowski (Basketball) Fairview, N.J.; Luci Collins (Gymnastics) Inglewood, Calif.; David Kimes (Shooting) Monterey Park, Calif. / La Palma, Calif.; Brian Gust (Wrestling) Lakeville, Minn.; Lisa Buese (Swimming) Louisville, Ky. / Palo Alto, Calif.; Linda Cornelius Waltman (Athletics) Ft. Worth, Texas / Boerne, Texas; Thomas Schuler (Cycling) Birmingham, Mich. / Wauwatosa, Wisc.; Ron Galimore (Gymnastics) Ames, Iowa / Indianapolis, Ind.; Debbie Landreth (Volleyball) El Segundo, Calif. / Granger, Ind.
Vice President Walter F. Mondale, who spoke on behalf of the boycott prior to the USOC’s April 12, 1980 vote to officially boycott the Games, wrote the Foreword for the book. Mondale apologizes to all the athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete calling them, "warriors in our country’s defense of freedom."
Boycott is published by New Chapter Press – also the publisher of The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer, The Bud Collins History of Tennis by Bud Collins, The Lennon Prophecy by Joe Niezgoda, The Education of a Tennis Player by Rod Laver and Bud Collins, Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog by Susan Anson, The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle by Stewart Wolpin, People’s Choice Cancun – Travel Survey Guidebook by Eric Rabinowitz, Weekend Warriors: The Men of Professional Lacrosse by Jack McDermott, Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, Tennis Made Easy by Kelly Gunterman, How To Sell Your Screenplay by Carl Sautter among others. Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press is an independent publisher of books and part of the Independent Publishers Group. More information can be found at www.NewChapterMedia.com.
Contact:
Randy Walker
New Chapter Press Media
New York, NY 10065
917 770 0843
Rwalker@NewChapterMedia.com
http://www.NewChapterMedia.com
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