In your timeline did the 1996 Olympics occur.

[Adm.Lee]

I am reminded that in Suvorov's books on the GRU and Spetsnaz, that many Soviet team athletes were also Spetsnaz operatives. Given that background info (if you believe Suvorov, some do not), I could see a lot of Soviet athletes "defecting" after Atlanta (causing the Soviets to rumble and bluster a lot), after which the athletes disappear into American society. And then pop up to do some sabotage and assassinations once in a while.

[pmulcahy11b]

I am reminded that in Suvorov's books on the GRU and Spetsnaz, that many Soviet team athletes were also Spetsnaz operatives. Given that background info (if you believe Suvorov, some do not), I could see a lot of Soviet athletes "defecting" after Atlanta (causing the Soviets to rumble and bluster a lot), after which the athletes disappear into American society. And then pop up to do some sabotage and assassinations once in a while.

That's interesting -- I used to have, in the civilian vehicles section I once had on my site, how a vehicle was used by Spetsnaz operatives to get into and attack Microsoft after they managed to plant a worm in part of the Soviet air defense system.

[Legbreaker]

More likely Microstuffed would plant a worm in their own software than anyone elses....

[chrono117]

I'm going to tone down the tensions leading up to 1999 in my game's timeline for entertainment purposes. I'm even going to have the Eurovision Song Contest going on - appropriately enough in Stockholm - up to 2000.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

You can't be serious In the middle of a nuclear war Not in my campaign it wouldn't, no way.

But it would not be in the middle of a nuclear war. 1996 the war was only just beginning, too early to throw nukes around.

And on another point, the bit about Australian military forces being in Korea or anywhere else. Wasn't that retroactively added by later material written by fans Although some of those books are accepted as canon, they were written many years after the close of GDW.

My point being, a Referee could easily have the Olympics happen without much disruption because the war was barely started .

[Rainbow Six]

But it would not be in the middle of a nuclear war. 1996 the war was only just beginning, too early to throw nukes around.

And on another point, the bit about Australian military forces being in Korea or anywhere else. Wasn't that retroactively added by later material written by fans Although some of those books are accepted as canon, they were written many years after the close of GDW.

My point being, a Referee could easily have the Olympics happen without much disruption because the war was barely started .

I think Targan was replying to Leg's speculation about whether the 1998 Commonwealth Games would have taken place

FWIW I totally agree that the 1996 Olympics would have taken place (I can't see any good reason why they would not have as the War was confined to the Chinese and the Russians at that point, albeit maybe with a Soviet led boycott).

The 1998 Commonwealth Games would be a non starter through I think.

The prospect of the Eurovision Song Contest continuing is....interesting IIRC the first time Bosnia entered Sarajevo was still under siege and when the they called in their votes and did the traditional 'Hello enter Host City name here, this is Sarajevo calling' the whole place burst into cheers and applause. Or maybe that's apocryphal. It was a long time ago.

And pretty sure you're right about Australian participation in Korea being a relatively new thing. Unless I'm mistaken it's first mentioned in Rae's Korean Sourcebook, which only came out in the last couple of years (Rae can probably confirm).

[Legbreaker]

I know one thing for sure - the 2000 Olympics wouldn't have happened

Oh I don't know...
We knew Sydney had the Olympics well before any hostilities broke out anywhere, and Australia hasn't been nuked. Could be the government of the day saw a PR opportunity and ran it anyway, albeit SEVERELY scaled back with most "international" athletes already residents of Australia or it's near neighbours.
Might even have a small French team show up and a few from Africa and South America (one hell of a big effort to get there though with near zero likelihood of a return trip).

Yes, I am half joking...but only half.

[Targan]

Just Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands Yeah I could see Australia running that kind of Olympics... if only to win all the medals and stick it to the Kiwis... again. Unless of course rugby was included at the Olympics that year. We know who would win that gold medal

[Legbreaker]

Hey, it's not Australia's fault nobody turned up! Travel arrangements were their responsibility!

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Hey, the US has embassies and consulates and military personnel and expats and the works in countries all over the world - they might have had some participants in an Australian Olympics of 2000. Hell if anything there might be more of a chance for them to form a team and at least try. Something for both their own morale and to maybe filter home and raise spirits there.

[Legbreaker]

Hey, the US has embassies and consulates and military personnel and expats...

That's who I was thinking "athletes" might be drawn from. Same for many other nations, possibly including various Pact countries.