[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING THE 1980 OLYMPIC MEDICAL STAFF

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                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2013

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide 
long-overdue recognition for a group of Americans who were denied the 
opportunity and honor of representing our country at the 1980 Olympic 
Games: the U.S. Olympic medical staff.
  In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the United 
States led a global effort to boycott the 1980 summer Olympic Games in 
Moscow. Sixty-five nations participated in the boycott, in an 
unprecedented display of international solidarity against Communist 
aggression.
  Today, we look back at the 1980 Olympic boycott as a dramatic and 
triumphant moment in Cold War history. For the members of the U.S. 
Olympic team, however, it also represented a foregone opportunity to 
fulfill a once-in-a-lifetime dream of representing their country at the 
pinnacle of international athletic competition.
  In recognition of the hard work, determination, and sacrifice of our 
Olympic athletes, the 96th Congress commissioned gold-plated medals to 
be minted for each member of the team. In July of 1980, Congress held a 
ceremony on the East Front Steps to hand-deliver the medals; more than 
450 Olympic athletes were in attendance, as was President Jimmy Carter.
  During the 110th Congress, it was brought to the attention of 
Congress that, because of a clerical interpretation, these Americans 
were not listed as recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal by the 
Clerk of the House. In response, former Representative Todd Tiahrt 
worked with the Clerk's office and the U.S. Olympic Committee to 
officially recognize the members of the 1980 Summer U.S. Olympic Team 
as recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal.
  Unfortunately, this was not the only oversight on the part of 
Congress. Our athletes were not the only Americans affected by our 
government's decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Games; our Olympic 
medical and training personnel also lost the chance to represent their 
country on the world stage. Like our Olympic athletes, these medical 
and training professionals were leaders in their fields selected 
specifically for this honor, but they were never properly recognized 
for their contributions and their sacrifice.
  As a small and belated gesture of gratitude, I stand here today, 33 
years later, to recognize the following members of the 1980 U.S. 
Olympic medical staff for their service to our country: Physicians Tony 
Daly, Roy Bergman, Jerry Patmont, Doug Shaw, and Tim Taft (of my home 
State of North Carolina); and Athletic Trainers Bob Beeten, Sherry 
Babagian, Dave Blanchard, Tina Bonci, Chuck Demers, Tim Kerin, Mike 
Linkovich, Bob Moore, Al Ortolani, Tony Russo, Larry Standifer, Gail 
Weldon, and Troy Young.

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