ABSTRACT
The Cold War is generally dated from 1947 to 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved. It was very much an ideological and economic battle over what system was better: United States style socialism with communist mythology and a planned economy. There were several proxy hot wars during this time, but it mostly surrounded aligning other countries to one or the other side. After 1952, the USSR dominated the Games except for 1964 and 1968, when the Soviet government reduced support for sport, and the support for professional coaches declined. China competed in the Olympic Games as the Republic of China between 1932 and 1948. In 1952, they competed as the Peoples Republic of China after the Chinese civil war. In the Winter Olympic Games since 1952, the USSR/Russia/Unified Team total is 123 gold and 308 overall medals, putting this amalgam of national identities in overall first place in both categories.
