United States vs. Iran

The grudge: “Death to America” has been a familiar catchphrase on Tehran’s streets ever since the CIA helped remove the democratically elected Mohammad Mossadeq in the 1950s. Iran returned the favor by storming the U.S. Embassy and seizing 52 hostages during the 1979 revolution that overthrew the shah, a close U.S. ally. Given President George W. Bush’s 2002 “Axis of Evil” speech, Iranian meddling in Iraq, and the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, relations haven’t improved much since.

The competitors: Daniel McCormick (blue) of the United States and Iran’s Mohammed Reza Rodaki (white) squared off in men’s over-100-kg judo on Aug. 15.

The result: Rodaki pinned McCormick for the victory, something we can probably expect to hear about from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soon.

Croatia vs. Serbia

The grudge: Having resented Serbian rule since the founding of Yugoslavia in 1929, Croatia was the first state to break away from Belgrade in 1991. The ensuing Serbo-Croatian war was a precursor to the war in Bosnia, which the Croats entered on the side of the Bosnian Muslims. The Dayton Peace Accords ended years of war and ethnic strife in 1995, but the rancor still lingers.

The competitors: The two countries met in the pool in the preliminary round of men’s water polo on Aug. 12.

The result: Croatia’s Samir Barac (celebrating above) scored three goals, and the Croats downed the Serbs 11-8.

Italy vs. Tunisia

The grudge: This legendary rivalry dates back to the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome. The Italians also hoped to colonize Tunisia before the French swooped in during the late 19th century. Italian troops also fought under Nazi Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in Tunisia during World War II.

The competitors: Italy’s Vincenzo Picardi (red) fought Walid Cherif of Tunisia (blue) in the men’s flyweight (51-kg) boxing quarterfinals on Aug. 20.

The result: Picardi kept Rome’s legacy alive, defeating Cherif 7-5.

Czech Republic vs. Slovakia vs. Russia

The grudge: The Czech Republic and Slovakia split, albeit amicably, in 1993. Russia cut oil supplies to the Czech Republic in July—ostensibly for technical reasons—but many analysts suspect it was due to a missile defense deal with the United States.

The competitors: The three countries met in the men’s double canoe final on Aug. 15.

The result: Slovakia won the gold, the Czech Republic earned silver, and Russia took bronze.

France vs. Algeria

The grudge: Colonized by the French in 1830, the Algerians waged a long and brutal war for independence that lasted from 1954 to 1962. The French have since admitted practicing widespread torture during the conflict.

The competitors: Algeria’s Amar Benikhlef (white) and France’s Yves-Matthieu Dafreville (blue) sparred in the men’s middleweight judo semifinal on Aug. 13.

The result: Benikhlef avenged his countrymen and pinned Dafreville, eventually winning a silver medal.

Ethiopia vs. Eritrea

The grudge: Eritrea fought a 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia before the two peacefully separated in 1993. Since then, the two have often sparred on border issues and went to war again from 1998 to 2000.

The competitors: Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse (left) and Haile Gebrselassie (right) of Ethiopia raced in the men’s 10,000-meter final on Aug. 17.

The result: Tadesse’s time of 27:05.11 was good for fifth place, edging Gebrselassie’s disappointing sixth-place finish, with 27:06.68.

South Korea vs. Japan

The grudge: Japan invaded Korea in the 16th century, but much of the recent tension relates to the Japanese government’s refusal to apologize fully for its use of “comfort women”—Korean sex slaves for Japanese troops—during World War II. The two also dispute uninhabited islets in the Sea of Japan, known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.

The competitors: The South Korean (red) and Japanese (blue) teams faced off in the qualifying round of women’s field hockey on Aug. 20.

The result: South Korea won 2-1.

The United States vs. Cuba

The grudge: Take your pick—U.S. “imperialism,” Fidel’s revolution, the embargo, Bay of Pigs, the missile crisis …

The competitors: The two teams met on the baseball diamond in the preliminary round on Aug. 15.

The result: Despite hitting American Taylor Teagarden (above) with a pitch, Cuba’s Pedro Luis Lazo closed out the game for a 5-4 Cuban victory in extra innings. The two teams meet again in the semifinals Friday.

Russia vs. Georgia

The grudge: Russia invaded former-Soviet-state-cum-Western-ally Georgia earlier this month, ostensibly to protect its citizens in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. After finally agreeing to a cease-fire, Russian troops still haven’t pulled out of Georgia proper and are setting up a “buffer zone” despite protestations from NATO.

The competitors: Georgia’s Andrezza Chagas and Cristine Santanna hit the sand against Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalia Uryadova of Russia in beach volleyball on Aug. 13.

The result: The Georgians (above) won revenge for their country in three sets. The Russians, however, complained after the match that the two Georgians were actually Brazilians who had only recently obtained Georgian passports to play in the Olympics.

Russia vs. Ukraine

The grudge: After Russia flexed its muscles in Georgia, some fear that Ukraine—whose Orange Revolution in 2004 brought a pro-Western government to power against Moscow’s wishes—may be next on the Kremlin’s hit list.

The competitors: Russia’s Mavlet Batirov (blue) met Ukraine’s Vasyl Fedoryshyn (red) on the mat in the men’s 60-kg freestyle gold medal match.

The result: Sure to make Putin proud, Batirov won the first two periods of the best-of-three match to take the gold.