In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics in Moscow over Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. The U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement Wednesday that it strongly opposes the idea that a boycott is in the country's best interest.
"If there are any lessons to be learned from the American boycott of 1980, it is that Olympic boycotts do not work," said committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky. "Our boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games did not contribute to a successful resolution of the underlying conflict. It did, however, deprive hundreds of American athletes, all whom had completely dedicated themselves to representing our nation at the Olympic Games, of the opportunity of a lifetime."
Snowden's fate has roiled already tense U.S.-Russian relations.
At the White House, spokesman Jay Carney said he wouldn't speculate on any boycott of the Olympics, but added that the U.S. agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Snowden's case need not and should not harm U.S.-Russian relations.
"It's a broad and important relationship," Carney said. "We want to continue to see that relationship strengthened."
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Associated Press writers Josh Lederman and Eddie Pells contributed to this report.
