History of the Games


Origin and History...
The Modern Olympic Games
The Olympic Principles and Traditions
Politics and the Olympics
Olympic Controversies
The Olympics in Photos





The Olympics in Photos


Photo: © AP Wide World
In 1980 the Winter Games came to the United States for the third time, hosted again by Lake Placid, N.Y. America's Eric Heiden was the most decorated athlete, with a sweep of all five speed-skating gold medals, all in Olympic record times. The U.S. men's ice hockey team (above) won the gold medal in one of the most memorable upsets in Olympic annals.