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Those who define themselves by a specific adversary have always acknowledged the bond. A faded photograph from 1962: at a Soviet-American track-and-field championship in Palo Alto, Calif., Siberian High Jumper Valeriy Brumel sprang past Bostonian John Thomas for his world record of 7 ft. 5 in. The American crowd cheered without reservation. Thomas hugged and pounded Brumel. On impulse, Valeriy and Tennessee Long Jumper Ralph Boston took a lap around the stadium to unreserved applause. Only the audience has changed.
Neither side of the sporting world is respected by the other any more, or taken at its word. Many Westerners figure the Soviets fear Olympic drug testing and mass defections, or perhaps just decline to finish second again (as they did in Sarajevo last winter) to the G.D.R. Athletes are joining in the worn discussion of a permanent site in Greece, neglecting to consider who pays for pools and stadiums in use two weeks every four years. "Treat it like a sanctuary, as they did in Olympia," Diver Greg Louganis urges. "It was the Greek's form of worship. Why not bring it back as that?" But John Naber disagrees: "The Games are a social and cultural exchange, a big party. You don't want the party to be held in the same home every time."
As usual, the competitors are rallying. "I wasn't going to the Olympics just to beat the Russians," said U.S. Gymnast Mary Lou Retton. "I was going because it has always been my dream." A good and brave line is managed by Lorraine Moller, the marathoner from New Zealand, who reasons, "They will be the only Olympics I might ever "know. Would you cancel your birthday party because a few relatives won't show?" American Gymnast Mitch Gaylord believes, "They will still be the Olympic Games. There's nothing bigger than that." As Naber says, "There are still five rings and gods on clouds throwing lightning bolts." When Alberto Salazar and others ask, "Will children grow up dreaming of the Olympics any more?" Naber answers, "I'm afraid they will."
— ByTom Callahan. Reported by Melissa Ludtke/Los Angeles and John Moody/Bonn, with other bureaus