1976 Press Photo Russian Olympic Committee threatened to leave Canada

Montreal: Vitali Smirnov, Vice Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee, threatened to pack up, go home, and "break off sports relations with Canada," unless the Canadian government returned a 17-year-old diver, Sergie Nemtsanov, who defected earlier this week. Smirnov said the Russians believe the diver was kidnapped. On the left is A. Dalladrn, Russian reporter; A. Zhigalov, interpreter; V. Smirnov; A. Mashyakov, member of the committee organizing the 1980 games.

Photo measures 10.5 x 8.5 inches. Photo is dated 07-30-1976.

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