Olympics and Politics

There is a thread discussing cycling fans spitting on Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

The people who spit are morons. Someone said they were not even French.

This is a non-issue in my opinion.

Why not just enjoy watching the display of athletic ability by some great athletes and leave the politics out of it.

Can we even hope to do that for the Olympics? If not, things will get very ugly in a few weeks.

I for one am feeling apprehensive for this year's games and not just for security reasons. Anyone else?

Well you would like to think that good healthy athletic competition would be the
outcome of this year's Olympic Games, but there will be some political sidebars, no doubt, as long as it doesn't become violent, it would be acceptable, IE: booing, jeering etc, while this might not be in the spirit of the games, I can see where this would happen, but the spitting or any physical contact situations would be going overboard in my book.

I expect that this probably wouldn't happen to the US athletes since 400 Special Forces soldiers will be there for security.

Well many of the reactions in this thread make it clear to me that most people feel that the Olympics are an occasion to cheer for their country and nothing else.

As if the country an athlete was born in makes a difference in their performance or natural talent.

The Olympics seem to have become nothing more than a "Nationalist" forum and advertising springboard where the athletes compete for corporate sponsorship dollars.

A sad state of affairs indeed.

spelling

[edit on 7/23/2004 by Gools]

Another thing that bothered me was some ideas or helping hints given to American athletes which was that if they won any event not to show American flags or cheer to much cuz people may not like that. What!!! That makes me so angry they say nothing to other athletes but they tell Americans not to cheer to much If I was a n athlete I would take two American flags to show not just one... srry but this really angers me.

WestPoint 23

Thank you very much for demonstrating my point to everyone on the board!

Gosh that was nice of you!

Although Nationalism is part of the games, I try to look at it as a display of athletic superiority of individuals and I really love it when athletes from small often unknown countries rise to the global athletic challenge, it is more important to me to see the athletes undying spirit to do one's best and push their bodies to the limit.

Sure, I look at medal totals and hope the US does well, but I like seeing the little guy do well and root for all of the participants to perform to the best of their ability.

I remember one Olympics where there was one runner I believe who was running the marathon and while he ended up finishing near the end of the field, this man fulfilled his goal of competing in and completing the marathon in the Olympics, shouldn't this be what these games are all about?

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
... but I like seeing the little guy do well and root for all of the participants to perform to the best of their ability.

Yeah that is much better in my opinion than watching the clear favorite put a beat down on everyone else. I like it when its close.

I remember one Olympics where there was one runner I believe who was running the marathon and while he ended up finishing near the end of the field, this man fulfilled his goal of competing in and completing the marathon in the Olympics, shouldn't this be what these games are all about?

That happened here in Montreal in 76. They made a movie about it but I forget the title.

Yeah and I remember the fans were cheering for this guy like he won the race, now that is what the spirit of the games is all about.

Bumping this thread up in case it was missed.

No one other than JacKatMtn has any opinion about the upcoming Olympics and the current political situation in the world?

The Olympics and politics are inseperable by their very nature. Nationalistic pride is part of the games themselves...indeed it is part of the flavor of this event.

Places (nations) around the world compete for the privilage to hiold the games. Big $$$ is at stake as well as Prestige.

I would be less interested in the games from a sports angle as I am with the added flavor of seeing the different worlds people compete.
Do other nations citizens know the names of foriegn sports people?
NO, the games are more about rooting for the home team than reaching the actual pinnacle of sports.

Aren't the Olympic games about representing your country im sorry if its against the law to be exited and show your countries flag Sure if the little guy wins im happy for them but don't boo or be upset if the US wins that is total BS.

Well the big show starts tomorrow.

I for one think this will not be without "incidents", be they political, security or nationalism.