Jun 05, 2018
Dr Harry Blutstein
The Cold War Games

Over the last three years, Dr Harry Blutstein has been combing through ASIO files and archives from Hungary, Russia and the US.  From declassified documents Dr Blutstein tells previously unknown Cold War stories about the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, showing that show they were anything but 'friendly.' As well as these, Dr Blutstein re-tells the 'Blood in the Water' semi-final between the USSR and Hungary, showing how the violence was politically motivated.

His book on these events, Cold War Games, was described by The Age as "highly informed and entertaining, capturing the subterranean tensions running through the Games."

Dr Blutstein is an adjunct professor at RMIT University and has a BSc, BA in history and a PhD. Since 1972, he has worked on and off as a freelance journalist, with feature articles and opinion pieces appearing in Australian newspapers and magazines '.

Chair:  David Rush