The Red Army: The Power Of Sport During The Cold War

The Summit Series was a hockey series between the Soviet Union and Canada. This series was during the Cold War in September 1972. The Soviet Union and Canada were considered enemies during the Cold War because Canada was on N.A.T.O and U.S.S.R. was on the Warsaw side. The Summit Series was also known as the “Super Series”. The one thing different with the Summit series compared to other international tournaments, is that Canada was allowed to have players from the National Hockey League. This was also controversial because no players from the World Hockey Association (a competitor league against the NHL) were allowed to play in international tournaments. This affected the great Bobby Hull from playing in the Super Series. The Summit Series was also good for the Soviet Union because they could see how their international hockey team, the “Red Army”, would match up against the pros instead of amateur competition.

Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau brought up the idea to Soviet Primer Alexi Kosygni , while he was visiting Canada . Trudeau proposed that Canada's best players would play Russia's best players in a series of friendly games (Rutley), hoping it would relieve some tension between the USA and USSR in there conflict in trying to prove that one's country should be the "super power" nation (Vancouver Island University). The Series was to only played between the Canadians and Russians nobody else because it was based on two nations facing off for the hockey supreme title (CBC Sports). It created a propaganda of Democracy vs. Communism Cold War according to hockey historians who have examine the event . ( Marsh ) After the lost to the Canadians, the USSR made Canada its sport enemy . Even to this day, Russia, has no respect towards Canada in playing them in IIHF Juniors ,IIHF Worlds or Olympics . For example, during both IIHF Gold Medal games in 2015, Canada beat Russia and after shaking with team Canada the Russians would leave the ice ,not staying for the Canadian anthem, which is a lack of respect towards Canada. To conclude , sports played a crucial role in the cold war , providing Russia a reason to hate Canada because of the fact that they've never been beaten before in hockey

Sometimes it is easy to forget the game played on frozen ponds and backyard rinks, and get lost in the overwhelming professional sport known as hockey. However, we strive to remember that hockey became Canada's game because it made our never-ending winter months more bearable . The game gradually became a sport, then an entertainment industry. It seems like the lockout was one of the biggest news stories of the year. Part of the amazing nature of the game is that it's origins are fairly vague. However, we always remember that hockey is our game. It may not be our official sport, like lacrosse is, but hockey is what Canada seems to be most well-known for, and it continues to have immense influence on our free society, with its unique style

After World War II, the United States and the Soviets, considerably the two greatest superpowers of that time went from allies to enemies as we entered the era of the Cold war. During this period of time, there were critical turning points that proved vital in the revitalization of the American vitality. One of these pivotal moments derived from the outcome of the 1980 Winter Olympic games. The USA hockey teams defeat over the Soviets boosted the spirits of the American soldiers, as well as the American people. On the contrary, the Soviet Union saw their power dwindle after their major defeat in the Winter Olympic games. This critical shift made way for the downfall of the Soviets reign as a major superpower. To further recognize the Winter Olympic games as an imperative turning point in the Cold War, one must educate oneself on previous history.

Why is it that when I picture Canada I am able to see snow falling, the night setting, with teenagers, children, and adults walking towards a rink with their the laces of their skates tied together and thrown over their shoulders, all getting ready to play the great Canadian game. What is it that makes hockey so profoundly important to Canadian identity, and a representative of our country? To start off, all across the country, on frozen backyard ponds, community rinks and state-of-the-art arenas Canadians are playing hockey which is Canada’s national sport. I believe that hockey is a representation of Canada because, the maple leaf, a familiar Canadian emblem, is found on Canadian hockey jerseys, and major chains selling our favourite food, donuts, were started by hockey greats Tim Horton and Eddie Shack.

During the Cold war, tensions were high between the US and the USSR. The two countries always wanted to show that they were the most dominant. One of the ways that the USSR showed dominance was through the Olympics and ice hockey. The hockey game between the US and the USSR during the 1980 Winter Olympics was a turning point in the Cold War. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) was said to be the best of all the teams in Olympic hockey. The 1980 Olympic hockey game between the US and the USSR was a significant turning point in the Cold War and also reflected the tension of it.

“There was a prejudicial feeling toward American players that the 1980 Winter Olympics helped to turn around,” adds ESPN analyst Bill Clement, a Canadian who was playing in the NHL in 1980. “Before then, the criticism of American players was that they weren't tough enough, couldn't score when they had to, and couldn't win big games for you or with you. That mentality began to change after 1980.”

Synopsis: When the USSR hockey team took on the United States in the 1980 Olympics, more than just a gold medal was on the line. Probably one of the most political games in history, this particular game symbolized one of many “battles” of the Cold War. In the, movie Miracle, this story of the underdog is told over, with a strong focus on American coach Herb Brooks and his relationship with his team. The movie highlights the extremely hard work done by the team and the demanding Coach Brooks unrelenting passion to win no matter what. The crux of the movie lies within the game with the Soviet union and those stomach wrenching moments before the game even started, as players knew that at this point it was make it or break it.

When Team USA beat the Soviet in 1980 it was important for the US hockey world because that team was seeded seventh entering the game against the Soviet Union. During the 1980 Olympic run the average was 22 and all the players were that year were both amateur and college players and the Soviet’s team was mainly professional and experienced players. This win gave coach Herb Brooks a place in history because he did something no other USA coach has done for the last twenty years and that is beat Russia, and he was named sportsman of the year in 1990.

For many decades, writers and authors have accused the American influence on Canada as one of the reasons why Canada is losing its heritage, with one major aspect being the game of hockey. The institutionalization of American Culture began to take root in Canada during the late 1920’s and 1930s as technological advances, specifically the invention of the radio, allowed Canadians to enjoy American entertainment. American stations were much more reliable than Canadian ones, causing American sporting stations such as NBC and CBS to become extremely popular in Canada (Gruneau et al, 1993). As Canada was becoming intertwined with the United States (U.S.), it was becoming less of a satellite of Britain, which made it tremendously difficult for Canada’s elite to protect British ideals such as self-improvement and participating in sport for the game’s sake. (Gruneau et al, 1993). In the early 1940’s, after the great depression forced many franchises to dismantle, the National Hockey League (NHL) was left with six teams, which made up the famous “original six.” At this time, America had a strong influence on the game, as four of the original six teams were based in the United States, and all of the players in league were paid in American dollars (Gruneau et al, 1993). By the early 1960’s, televised sports were emerging in North America, and NHL players were becoming mainstream stars. Inspired by this, along with the threat of the NHL losing its television contract to the Western

The 1980 Olympic hockey game between the Soviet Union and the United States known as the miracle on ice is the most incredible moments in recent American history due to the significance. The United States was truly an underdog kind of like David and goliath, because no one expected the United States to win against the soviets. The time in history is also important as the game took place during the height of the cold war and these two nations that could break into nuclear war at anytime had to face each other in a hockey game. This rivalry between the two countries transferred on to the game and the result was amazing, at least for the United States.

The Cold War was a time of great stress and friction, especially between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the two superpowers of the War, it was only natural that they would seek support from other nations in a variety of ways. In this paper, I will be specifically looking at the Soviet Union and how they used sports politically. The entirety of my paper is on how they used I will do this by analysing the examples of sport diplomacy, hockey, and basketball. The Soviet Union used these things as a way to gain political support and take popularity away from the United States.

Talented Hockey players have two major development options that, they can choose from. They can get paid to play or they can go the college route. College Hockey is popular but it’s not as popular as College Basketball or Hockey. The sports unique developmental model, set’s it apart from Football and Basketball. Soccer is in a similar situation.

As tensions continued to augment profoundly throughout the latter half of the Cold War period, they brought forth a movement from a previous bipolar conflicting course, to one of a more multipolar nature. These tensions were now not only restricted to the Soviet Union and United states, but amongst multiple other nations of the globe. It became a general consensus that a notion of ‘peace’ was sought globally, hence, the emergence of détente. The nature of this idea in the short term conveyed itself to be an act of change for the conflicting nations, however, in the long term it proved to be a blatant continuity, ultimately acting as a ‘mechanism for domestic fortification’ which prompted a more divisive tone. It became apparent that by the prime 1970’s Cold War countries were now seeking a state of relaxation in political and international tension, détente, through measures of diplomacy and negotiation. Actions, influences and treaties such as the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the establishment of SALT 1, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 and the Shanghai Communique of 1972 evidently help reinforce that the concept of détente brought a period focused on lessening the tensions of international relations and ultimately achieve political relation for the future of the Cold War, although the success and impact of this era is abhorred by many historians who have concluded that détente didn’t activate any positive changes to the cold war, and was conclusively a failure.

The continuous victories of Soviet Russia and East Germany were no accident. Their governments took great care to build excellent training facilities and fund sports clubs to train their athletes. The states would pick out promising students and put them under extensive training in state-operated training bases and specialized sports schools. Local schools would have intense rivalry for spots in these training bases. Youths under these programs would then be channeled towards the sports which suited them best. These training programs would be based upon a universal standard for the players that must be achieved. At the same time, they were also trained to be athletic “ambassadors” for their countries, brainwashed to sing praise of the country at their international games. Another reason for this brainwashing is the possibility of them being influenced by their capitalist western opponents. Athletes that ran away were forgotten, erased from the history