Seems to me that also in "Agenda For Murder" (or was it "Identity Crisis"), there's mention of a country dropping out of the Olympics, which sounded like it was supposed to be a topical reference. But I don't remember whether that was a "real"-life event, or just something that happened in Columbo-World.
That country was China and it is from Identity Crisis. But Agenda For Murder happens to be one of my favorite episodes too. Patrick McGoohan does a great job of playing Oscar Finch.
I agree with anyone who didn't go for the Ted Bundy reference. You don't have to be touchy about true murder stories to feel that they don't belong anywhere in a Columbo episode.