Olympic Controversies Essay Example For Students

Olympic Controversies Essay The most important thing at the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the important thing about life is not to conquer but to struggle well. The words spoken by Pierre de Coubertin, father of the Modern Summer Olympic Games. Baron Pierre de Coubertin may have intended for the new Olympic Games to be a period of concord in which all differences of status, religion, politics and race would be forgotten but unfortunately as the Games have progressed, so too have the political overtones associated with them. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, by reviving the ancient Olympic Games hoped that competition in sports would lead to a new international friendship and better cooperation amongst the nations, whilst also allowing athletes to be exposed to different values than those of their own. It is with misfortune that the Olympic Games have taken an unexpected turn and are used time and time again as another measurement for the ultimate victory, the ultimate dominance, the ultimate triumph on the world stage. In the commotion of the promotion of the Olympic Games, it is often forgotten that the original principles of the games included that individuals were to be contested against one another, and that countries played no part. In fact, in the first Olympiads, there were no formal teams of nations, rather an assortment of individuals who came to Athens on their own expense for their own purposes. As the Olympic Games progressed, it became more and more apparent for participating nations that it was an excellent opportunity to promote their country. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Olympic Games is relayed to countries all over the world, exposing it onto a world audience. Even before technological advances of television, the Olympic Games were used by the countries to elevate themselves amongst one another. Even in the first Olympiad of 1896 in Athens, the realisation of the chance or promotion was evident, the Greek royal family of George I used the games as a device to build its power. In addition, when television was initially introduced, the prospect of exposure was heightened. Although television was first used to transmit images from one country to another in the Summer Olympic Games of 1960 in Rome, it was further intensified in 1964 in Tokyo. The mayor of Tokyo announced that without the Olympics, Japan would not have risen to its high position so fast. Nowadays, it is obvious that television and the Olympic games intertwine with each other, all scheduling of events and ceremonies are processed with television in mind, athletes now wear numbers not only on the front and back of their uniforms, but on the side as well to provide for the television audience. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, similarly are now used to publicise the host countries accomplishments, and to reveal the countries culturally elements. In 1932 the Olympic Games in Los Angeles overcame the problematic times of depression, and what was to become known as the Hollywood Extravaganza set the tone for the world. The tone was that Los Angeles was now on the map as a city of power and prestige, and that the Olympics was a vehicle that publicized and promoted its site as no other sporting event could. The notion of cultural publicity has become increasingly popular- Gershwins music in Los Angeles in 1984, a taekwondo display in Seoul in 1988, flamechuo in Barcelona in 1992- have become increasingly prominent. Indeed, smaller nations realised that victory in the Olympic Games would lead to a lifting of their stature. In 1928, smaller nations were able to distinguish themselves. For example, the soccer gold medal was known by Uruguay; Argentina and New Zealand won gold medals in boxing; India was won the gold for field hockey, Ireland won the hammer throw, and the small nation of Haiti won a silver medal. This recognition of the games for exposure has paved the way for significant funding for the athletic development in many countries. In Romania, they are seeking to gain a national identity and thereby further political integration through its sports champions Unsurprisingly, as the Olympics are a contest between the nations, it is understandable that nationalism plays a colossal role. Medal tallies, the victory stand where the playing of nations anthem, coupled with the display of their flag, provokes emotions of nationalism, which can lead to passionate acts that often result in violence. Also, the mentality that one nation is more deserving, or has more authority over another is heated up in moments of nationalism. Take for example 1900 in Paris, France; the opening ceremony was scheduled for a Sunday, however the Americans refused to participate, the date was then changed to July 14, a Saturday, which coincidentally was Bastille Day, an important day for the French. Although the opening ceremony was to be on a Saturday, the actual competition was to begin the following day, a Sunday. Once again many Americans refused to compete. Another influence upon the Olympics is the issue of flags and anthems. As time passes and governments change in various countries, so to do their symbols and songs. In 1908, London England, in the opening ceremony the officials from Britain neglected to display the flags of America and Sweden around the stadium. When the Americans matched past the reviewing stand containing King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, they carried their own small flags and Martin Sheridan, the standard- bearer refused to lower the U.S flag saying this flag dips to no earthly king. The tradition of not dipping the flag continues. Also in London, the Finns refused to carry the Russian flag, and chose not to carry a flag at all. The Irish were also required to march under the flag of Great Britain. Fifty years later and disputes concerning flags continued. In 1956 Melbourne Australia, the flag of Taiwan was accidentally raised over their camp, mainland China then withdrew from the games. The Hungarians also demonstrated over their requirement to compete under the communist flag, they retaliated by taking down the flag that flew over their camp, tore off the Communist symbol and sent up the flag Olympic free Hungary. In 1976, in Montreal, there were various demonstrations staged by the Ukrainians against the Soviets, by the burning of the flag outside the Olympic village. After the events of the games in Moscow Soviet Union in 1980 where sixteen of the eighty-one teams refused to carry their national flags, many critics objected to flags being raised and anthems played, stating that these nationalistic symbols only increased the political nature of the games. Attempts made by officials have been futile in providing that the Olympic Games be free from the events of war. To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Thesis Many in the United States read the Soviet Olympic triumph as a sign that America was weak. An American Legion spokesman announced we should stress victory, not merely participating. In the Olympics and international meets, only the winners are honoured. This statement totally contradicted Pierre de Coubertin quote about what the Olympics should have been about. In 1980 when Moscow was selected over Los Angeles as host of the Olympic Games, the Americans had no choice but to cooperate. However in 1979 Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. President Jimmy Carter was outraged and declared that the if the Soviets had not withdraw their troops then the Americans would not be taking part in the Moscow Olympics. This added to another element of the Olympic Games- protest by boycott. The United States also placed extreme pressure to other nations to boycott the Moscow games, by the time the games began sixty two nations were missing. In 1956 when Hungary was being attacked by the Soviet Union, and there was a calling for the Olympic Games to be cancelled, to no avail, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands withdrew. And in 1976 in Montreal, the United States threatened a boycott if Taiwan was excluded, as Taiwan was not permitted to compete under the flag or name of the Republic of China, but they recognised the Peoples Republic of China (Communist China).In 1964, during the Tokyo Games, the South African delegation was banned from the Games for their racial policies of Apartheid. In 1968, when South Africa was allowed to compete in the Mexico City Olympiad, many nations from Africa as well as those from the Third World and also the Soviet Union, and many black athletes from America threatened to boycott. The IOC then decided to ban the South Africans once again from the Olympics. In 1972, Munich several African nations again threatened to boycott the Olympics if Rhodesia, ruled by whites was allowed to compete. The IOC barred them from the Olympics. In 1976, Montreal the Apartheid issue also involved New Zealand. New Zealand had sent a rugby team to compete with South Africa in 1976. many African nations insisted that New Zealand be banned from the Montreal Games for competing against South Africa who practised Apartheid. The IOC refused, claiming that rugby was not an Olympic sport and New Zealand did not practise apartheid. In response, two days before the games were scheduled to begin, 24 African nations and their supporters withdrew from the Montreal Games. Some African athletes paid for their own way to compete, hoping to compete under the Olympic flag, the IOC refused to allow them to compete. The issue of apartheid and South Africa is not the first time in which the IOC has acted as arbitrators. In 1924, the IOC banned Russia from competition in the Paris Olympics for they had undergone a communist revolution and in 1952during the Helsinki Games, the IOC rejected East Germany as a participate although allowed West Germany to participate. Red China and Taiwan were both allowed to participate. In 1956 in Melbourne after Egypt, backed by the Russia tried to gain control of the Suez Canal, a long time free passage way of oil to Western Europe, Israel, Great Britain and France united to keep the Canal open. Both the Soviet Union and the United states supported a cease-fire order by the United Nations. Egypt then demanded that Israel, Great Britain and France be banned from the Melbourne Games. The IOC refused. Egypt, along with Iraq and Lebanon boycotted. Reminiscent of the Olympic Games being used as a platform to elevate stature and prominence on the world stage, the Olympics have given way to opportunitys to making political statements. Indeed in 1936, during the Berlin Games Hitler say the Olympics as a way of making a political statement. Nazi flags flew over every building Berlin. However the Jewish quarters were not allowed to display the German Flag due to the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 denying Jews the permission to display the flag. Prior to the games in Mexico 1968, many students took the occasion to protest that the money spent on the Olympics could be better spent on things that would help the people and improve the quality of life. Also in Mexico, one of the most controversial events where the Olympics, in this case the victory stand was once again used for a political stand. After finishing first and third in the 200 metre run, Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood on the podium to receive their gold and bronze medals. As the American anthem was played, they raised their black-gloved fists in a Black-Power salute. Carlos explaining that he wanted to let the world now that blacks were not some kind of work horse who can perform and then can be thrown some peanuts and say good boy, good boy. When Tommie and I got on the stand, we werent alone. We knew that everyone was watching at home was upon that stand, we knew we werent alone. We wanted to let the world know the problems about black people, and we did out thing and stepped down. We believe we were right. Wed do it again tomorrow. However, both men were consequently suspended from the games and expelled from the Olympic village. In 1972, undoubtedly the worse event throughout the Olympic history is the moment when eight Arab terrorists, representing the Black-September guerrilla group broke into the quarters of the Israeli team taking them hostage. In total, nine of the Israeli terrorists and three terrorists were killed. Perhaps if the Olympic Games were staged on a neutral site, the Olympic Games would be taken away from the realm of politics, preventing many of the massacres and boycotts that have happened over the years. No doubt a neutral site would save millions of dollars for host countries. However Pierre de Coubertins vision was for an Olympic movement that could be shared with every nation from all walks of life. It is unfortunate that the Olympics have become associated with politics and will continue to do so as long as it is exposed to the world audience. The freer the Olympic Games become from world politics, the more capability the games can achieve for friendly competition, international friendship, and better cooperation between the nations of the world.