The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power (443)

I speak with Bruce Berglund, the author of The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power, which is a fascinating journey through the world of Soviet sports and its intricate ties to politics as a means of soft power and national pride. We learn how the Soviets achieved strategic advantage through women's sports, the abuse of amateur status, the controversial topic of doping and how sports science revolutionised the performance of athletes. Listeners will also hear about the iconic "Miracle on Ice" ice hockey game in 1980, where the U.S. amateur team defeated the seasoned Soviet professionals, and how this event was perceived on both sides of the Cold War divide. Buy the book here and support the podcast Episode extras here Go to or use code COLDWARDEAL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation, You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter/X ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power (443) is an episode from Cold War Conversations by Ian Sanders.

This episode is 61:34 long.

This episode was published on Feb 14, 2026.

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