Ira was excited to be one of the creative directors to work on the 1984 Olympics' campaign. He had now idea how exciting until 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies, including the Soviet Union, Cuba and East Germany refused to participate in the 1984 Olympics. Even though the USSR announced its intentions on May 8, 1984, citing security concerns and claiming that "chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria were being whipped up in the United States, Ira saw it as revenge for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, enforced by President Jimmy Carter, in response to the 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.
Ira and Michael had many passionate discussions about all the political drama. And there was so much going on with 140 participating Nations, 6,829 athletes, 221 events in 23 sports all at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum between July 28th and August 12th.
Ira would not have been able to continue living peacefully with Michael had he not brought him to meet President Ronald Reagan when he officially opened the Games. It was an incredible moment that passed in 15 seconds, but had a lifelong memory.
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