August 6, 1984

Rafer Johnson, who also graced the 1960 cover, lit the torch in Los Angeles. In light of the Soviet-led boycott, Kenny Moore's story read: "Only the athletes save the Olympic Games. Each Olympiad, winter and summer, the months before the competition are rancid with boycott, eligibility squabbles, drug accusation and plain, adrenaline-fired suspicion. The suddenly the flame is kindled, and it becomes the athletes' obligation to somehow redeem the whole Olympic movement by virtue of their performances."

Photograph by Ronald C. Modra