For most athletes, competing in the Olympics is not simply a competition, but a dream come true. More than an athletic contest, the Games are an event of friendship and goodwill among nations and individuals.

That's why the Carter Administration's decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympic games in Moscow may forever haunt those affected by it.

Yesterday morning, the United States Olympic Academy presented a panel discussion on the boycott. Speakers were Nelson Ledsky, one of the officials in charge of the boycott; Herb Weinberg, Director of Olympic Research for ABC Radio Network Sports; and Rusty Wilson, a Ph.D candidate from Ohio State University who has spent the last eight years researching the boycott.

Of the panelists, Ledsky alone spoke in favor of the boycott.

There is no question that the decision of the United States and 64 other countries (to boycott the Olympics) was the first link in a long chain leading to the decision of 1988 to get out (of Afghanistan)," Ledsky said.

After this statement, which predictably roused the ire of the audience, Ledsky proceeded to back up his opinion. He cited the lack of success of the games, the enormous amount of money lost by the Russians and the fact that the Russian leaders had to explain to their citizens why the western world was not in attendence as positive effects of the boycott.

He did, however, admit that the boycott was only a small part of the methods used to pressure the Russians to withdraw from Afghanistan.

We didn't think the boycott alone could get them out," he said.

Weinberg, the next speaker, said that the Olympic Games should not be used as a means of political persuasion.

During a race it is common for a runner to look over his shoulder and see a competitor," he said. But (1980's) runners see the President of the United States gaining on them."

Weinberg commented on the appalling lack of national understanding on the part of the American public about the true purpose of the Olympic games. He said that because Americans are usually professional sport fans, they fail to appreciate the Olympics.

He told the story of an American reporter who, at a Lake Placid news conference, asked Olympic officials why they scheduled the games in a Communist country.

Weinberg then said that the media lacks qualified writers to cover the Olympics. Since the Olympics are in preparation year round, they should be covered year round, not just every four years when they are in the limelight.

He attributed the 90 percent public acceptance of the boycott to the ignorance of the press and public.

Boycotts always work, but on the wrong people -- the athletes, not the self-serving politicians.

The Olympics are a force for peace in the world; in 1980, they were an instrument of war," Weinberg said.

Wilson contested that the United States government acted behind the scenes to force the athletes and corporate sponsors into supporting the boycott.

In April, 1980, Carter met with 140 probable Olympic athletes, telling them that the decision had already been made and that they definately would not compete in Moscow.

According to Wilson, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance let it be known behind the scenes that if the athletes had voted to participate, they could have attended the Games.

The national water polo team was to have left for an important international tournament in Asia on April 6. Upon arriving at the airport, the coaches discovered that the $15,000 for transportation had not been paid.

Travel expenses had not been paid because the United States government told the sponsors to suspend funds to Olympic teams. Wilson said that the subtle threats included the possibilities of IRS audits and cuts in tax waivers.

Ledsky contested this point, saying that since 90 percent of the public backed the boycott, companies would not have been responding to their customers if they had provided the teams with funds.

A comment by a table tennis repesentative in the audience summed up the Academy's position: They should stop making the athletes act like politicians and have the politicans act like sportsmen."