Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country to participate in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. For all other members of the Eastern European communist bloc, the slogan was boycott.
Historians have attributed this Romanian participation in the American games to the political calculations of power in Bucharest. Romania, however, was highly appreciated for coming to Los Angeles despite the boycott by the Soviets and their allies. With a total of 53 medals including 20 gold, Romania has won its sporting bet. “ But not his political bet ” tempers Adrian Cioroianu.