1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

Postcard US-2776584 to Belarus was a 13-cent stamped postal postcard issued by USPS, featuring a runner with an Olympics torch, for the 23rd Summer Olympic Games which opened in Los Angeles, CA 30 years ago on July 28, 1984.

In retaliation to the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, 14 countries including the Soviet Union, Cuba and East Germany boycotted the 1984 Summer Games. Iran and Libya also boycotted for different reasons.

The Olympic Committee led by Peter Ueberroth imposed financial constraints on the games budget by using existing facilities as much as possible. As a result, the 1984 Summer Olympics became the first financially successful modern Olympic Games. Some of the profits were used to endow a foundation to promote youth sports in Southern California, educate coaches, and maintain a sports library.

Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games previously in 1932.

13th Winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid, NY

Outgoing postcard US-2814046 to the United Kingdom was a 14-cent stamped postal postcard, issued by USPS, for the 13th Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY from February 13 to February 24, 1980. A FDC on sale at SportStamps shows the first-day-of-issue date as January 15, 1980.

According to Wikepedia and Akdart.COM, the domestic postcard rate was 10 cents between May 29, 1978 and March 22, 1981. Therefore, I am curious why the postage on the card was 14 cents rather than 10 cents. Yet, there was indeed a 10-cent stamped postal postcard for the 22nd Summer Olympic Games in Moscow during the same period. If you know the reason, please leave your comments below.