Can You Beat This Olympic Trivia Quiz?

August 7, 2024

Are you worthy of a gold medal when it comes to trivia about the Olympic Games? Find out with this 10-question quiz from our Big 80s Trivia hosts – Steve Spears and Brad Williams.

1. Name the 1981 movie that won four Oscars for its story of British athletes Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams in the 1924 Olympic Games.

1. “Running Brave”
2. “Personal Best”
3. “16 Days of Glory”
4. “Chariots of Fire”

2. Which of the following countries did NOT host either a Summer or Winter Olympic Games in the ’80s?

1. Soviet Union
2. South Korea
3. Norway
4. Yugoslavia

3. Who did the United States defeat in the Gold Medal hockey game in Lake Placid?

1. East Germany
2. Soviet Union
3. Sweden
4. Finland

4. Which ABC sportscaster had the iconic phrase “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” during the “Miracle on Ice” game?

1. Al Michaels
2. Howard Cosell
3. Jim McKay
4. Frank Gifford

5. “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” – recorded for the 1984 Summer Olympics – was so popular that it won a Grammy. Who composed it?

1. John Williams
2. Ennio Morricone
3. James Horner
4. Alan Silvestri

6. Which Olympic Games served as the final time the U.S. would field an all-amateur basketball team?

1. 1980
2. 1984
3. 1986
4. 1988

7. Name the 1986 movie about a football player-turned-gymnast who seeks to join the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team.

1. “The Cutting Edge”
2. “American Anthem”
3. “Cool Runnings”
4. “Without Limits”

8. Which female gymnast – known as “America’s sweetheart” – took home five medals in 1984?

1. Nadia Comăneci
2. Lindsey Vonn
3. Mary-Lou Retton
4. Bonnie Blair

9. Which of the following is NOT an event introduced in the Olympics during the 1984 Games in Los Angeles?

1. Windsurfing
2. Synchronized swimming
3. Women’s softball
4. Rhythmic gymnastics

10. The 1993 movie “Cool Runnings” is loosely based on the Jamaican bobsleigh team’s debut in which Olympic Games?

1. 1980 Lake Placid
2. 1988 Calgary
3. 1984 Sarajevo
4. 1992 Albertville

1. D. “Chariots of Fire” was nominated for seven Oscars, winning four including one for the soundtrack by Vangelis.
2. C. Norway hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics but none in the 1980s.
3. D. Finland was the opponent in the Gold Medal Game. The U.S. defeated the Soviet Union – “The Miracle on Ice” – in the semifinals.
4. A. Al Michaels delivered the famous line to a stunned American audience watching on TV.
5. A. John Williams won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition, sharing the award with Randy Newman who won for “The Natural.”
6. D. The 1988 men’s basketball team – all amateurs – won the bronze medal in South Korea. In 1992, we saw the debut of the “Dream Team.”
7. B. “American Anthem” starred Mitch Gaylord, who actually was on the men’s Olympic gymnastics team in 1984.
8. C. Mary-Lou Retton would go on to make cameos in “Scrooged” and “Knots Landing” after her Olympic success.
9. C. Women’s softball wasn’t an Olympic event until the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
10. B. Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, which featured the debut of Jamaica’s team.

Want more 80s trivia fun? Nowhere else on the planet delivers the 80s awesomeness and unforgettable moments than The 80s Cruise! This year’s cruise is selling quickly, so don’t wait. Get onboard!