Playing games between the superpowers

The Chinese Olympic Committee was recognized by the International Olympic Committee in November 1979. Following the reinstatement, between 1980 and 1984, the People's Republic of China (PRC) sent athletes to participate in the 1980 Lake Placid, the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic Winter Games, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, while boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. This study investigated the Chinese participation in the Olympic Games and the development of Chinese national sport between 1980 and 1984, and attempts to respond to the question why the PRC chose the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games instead of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games as the debut of the Chinese athletes on the global sport stage. The research revealed that between 1980 and 1984, Chinese national sport served the national interests of the PRC and was deeply influenced by the changing international political environment. The PRC government made the decision to participate in the 1984 Olympic Games as well as to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in order to realize its diplomatic strategies and maximize its national interests.