Ever since its inception in 1896, the Modern Olympics has hosted an invisible sport: politics. The Olympics calls for “a halt to all conflicts … [and to] strive towards a more peaceful world,” but politics soon spoiled its biennial message. “As the Olympics continue to dissolve into … a political competition … they no longer … justify the time and trouble,” Dave Anderson, Pulitzer Prize winner for his sports column, wrote in the New York Times in 1984. The Olympic spirit has routinely been used as an outlet for political agendas. With political and Olympic ambitions intersected, the great international sports festivity negatively affects all nations involved. World leaders frequently use the Olympic arena as a stage for international …show more content…
Boycotting has been used throughout history as an instrument for foreign policy. “For any Olympics to be a true Olympics, all the world’s nations should be represented,” said Anderson. “Not … those … on one side or the other of political barbed wire.” As a result of boycott, the essence of the games—competition—diminished. At the 1980 Olympics where the United States decided to stay home, the Soviet Union swept 195 medals—the largest won in history—followed by the United States in 1984 with 174 medals, when, by no surprise, the Soviets decided to miss. Ironically, the spirit of the Olympics turned cold alongside the Cold War. “[The domination as a result of boycott] diminished any accomplishments in working hard,” said Al Oerter, a four-time Olympic gold-medal winner. The Olympic Games quickly turned into a game for politicians, not the athletes. James Montague, the 2009 Best New Writer, wrote in CNN that Carter’s idea of a “good, non-military way of protesting the invasion” was not effective, with the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan lasting another eight years. The 1976 boycott was not effective either; the South African apartheid regime survived another eighteen years. Boycotting did more damage at home than it did away: it proved horrible for the Olympic movement and for athletes like Don Paige, a renowned track runner, who was left to watch the race he knew he could win. The Olympics also experiences political terrorism, which
The video on “the Hidden History of the Olympic Games” provides intriguing revelations that the Olympic Games are driven by astonishing propaganda associated with international rivalry and social struggles (Poulton, 2012). The video clarifies that Olympic Games have preserved the colonial strategies and operations in most host nations and cities by the organizing bodies (Poulton, 2012). This has caused the production of unique ceremonies and symbolisms while supporting the encroachment of thieving indigenous lands in host colonies. For instance, Germany used the event to advocate the myth of Aryan racial dominance and physical prowess in the 1936 Berlin games. The German artists emerged to idealize athletes through sculptures and significant forms with muscle tones and physically fit features (Mason, 2012). The significance of the Munich massacre is that retribution is harshly critical in political agendas. This caused a loss of potential athlete skills where about 11 athletes were demised. A rivalry was triggered from the occasion even though the authorities were informed of terror attacks (Mason, 2012).
The olympics were shaped due to social reasons. Document 1’s author, Pierre de Coubertin, who is the founder of the modern Olympics, is a reliable asset to pursuing ideal peace with many other countries. The reason why he wants peace is because he wants to have the “disappearance of war” to be “utopians” which shows that he believes that the olympics one of the best answers to his goal. Similarly, in document 6, the Soviet Union’s Olympic organizing Committee also want to take part with “peace, democracy, and social progress.” This shows how more and more countries, even those with bad ties with others,
Most people think of the Olympics as just a way for the world to join together and athletically compete but hidden behind the curtain of glory and valor, natives suffer through poverty from the unbalanced economy that is correlated with the hosting of the Olympic games. CNN and other news channels manage to capture the fantastics of the games, but always seem to avoid the discrepancies within the host nation. Why should the innocent suffer at the expense of international entertainment and competition? The Olympic games not only harms the economic stability of its host nations, but also demoralize the natives of the country by weighing pointless entertainment
The present-day Olympics are more focused on individual athletes than nations. The media focuses more on the athletes’ achievements in terms of records broken, while the athletes’ focus on the monetary prizes to be won
From the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 the games have been the essence of how sports can directly affect politics. “The Olympic Games are arguably the most popular multi-sporting event in the world. As of 2010, twenty-three Nations and thirty-nine separate cities have hosted the Olympics since its revival in 1896” (Saum 8). The 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games has been labeled as a “case study”, examining the relationship between sports and politics, and how they affect each other. Some argue that the United States purposely boycotted the 1980 Olympics as a low risked protest against the Soviet Union’s invasion into Afghanistan, and also displaying the success of both capitalism and socialism. At the end of the 1984 Olympic Games the United States came out victorious with a more economically successful Olympic Games then the Soviet Union’s, who held the 1980 Olympic Games. Thus, concluding the triumph of Capitalism over socialism.
However, at the time of the Olympics, the world’s reaction was not as cut and dry as it is today. In both the political and public worlds, the attitude was one of shock and horror. The Secretary General of the United Nations said that while the event was, on its own, one that was terrible, it was made worse by infringing on the idea that the Olympic Games
The Summer and Winter Olympic Games alike provide an opportunity for countries to display their athletic prowess and national strengths. However, these competitions are often tainted with the corrupt seeds of politics. A wide variety of dangerous and damaging political power plays make an appearance in each Olympic gathering. In the beginning the Games were designed to be a truce period, but they are beginning to lose this component. Also, in every Games since the beginning of the modern Olympics, there has been some form of political activity present. Granted, the Olympics can be used to repair international relations through global partnerships; however, this should be the only instance where the Olympics are used as such. Also it is incredibly unjust to rob athletes of their Olympic dream if their team was to boycott the Games. In order to make the Olympics an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the athletes and spectators alike, the Games should be enjoyed from the athletic perspective alone, without coverage of the political action involved. In short, the Olympics are a rich, cultural tradition that should not be corrupted by politics.
These games are suppose to be about goodwill and the world coming together to celebrate athletes. Sadly, these Olympics will be remembered for Brazil claiming that one of their citizens were the first to fly under power (in Paris) and all the stories of people robbed. The las Russia Olympics are remembered for having camera's in all athletes rooms. This takes a lot of the meaning away from what I consider a meaningful experience for the world.
The Olympic Games in 1972, is another event that you can see how sports and politics intersected throughout history. At this Olympic, hosted by Germany for the first time after the Nazi regime, eight PLO terrorists attacked the Israel delegation, kidnapping and killing nine of the Israeli team members. The motive of the attack was the terrorists hope for releasing several hundred Palestinians prisoners, and few German terrorists as well. The German authorities and the local police were in charge of the negotiation with the terrorist, after refusing an assistant from the Israel government. By the end of the event, there were nine Israelis, five terrorists and one police officers dead. This event shows how the Palestinian organizations tried
Initially these concepts seem counterintuitive: having a sense of peaceful unity and a passion to protest or evoke change. It could be assumed they just counteract each other completely. However, in order to achieve the unified spirit that the ancient Greeks set forth, there must be those warriors of justice knowledgeable enough to assure that this unity is in check, and not left as a glazed over utopian ideal. As countries unite in spirit for the Olympic games, this can open the doors for change, even in a political standpoint. But, at the same time, there are instances this change must be initiated first to achieve this ideal unity within all countries. By achieving this balance, the Olympic game are able to thrive, live on, and impact the globe beyond medal
There are two different eras in Olympic history. One is the origin of the Games in the ancient times when it was held in Greece. The other is the modern era when Pierre de Coubertin revived them. Different issues dominated the Olympics in the different eras. Religion was emphasized during the Olympics in Ancient Greece. On the other hand, it is politics that have dominated the modern Olympics. Despite the International Olympic Confederation’s or as it is generally known, the IOC, best efforts to keep politics out of the Olympics, there have been many instances throughout several Olympic Games in which politics has transcended the Olympics.
Every two years, millions of people around the world turn on their TV sets and watch the greatest athletes in the world compete for the greatest achievement any athlete can reach… The bronze, silver, and gold medals of the summer and winter Olympics. Those millions of people cheer mostly for their country and wear their favorite athlete’s jersey. They plan parties for their favorite events and make memories with every game. With all the hustle and bustle, people don’t stop to think about how the Olympics affect the town, city, state, and even world around it. How does it benefit? What does it cause? What does it leave behind? Who does it impact? So many questions can be thought up about how the Olympics impact the world. The two most
The Olympic Games is considered as the biggest sporting event across the globe that attracts a huge number of participants and viewed by billions of people across the globe. The games not only generate a great deal of enthusiasm worldwide but it also creates a platform for people from various cultures and nationalities to interact. The modern Olympic Games were founded in 1896 with high expectations that they may assist in uniting countries of the world in understanding and peace. These expectations have formed the basis of the notion that the Olympic Games are still the best platform or opportunity for the entire world to be united as one. However, the realization of these expectations has been hindered by the international politics that have relatively never been distanced from the surface. There are various Olympic Games that have been held in different cities across the globe that have generated much politics rather than excitement associated with the games themselves. Despite of the seeming inability to keep the international politics from the surface of these games, they still provide the best opportunity for the unity of the entire world.
Originally an entirely amateur competition the Olympics have developed into a unique opportunity for media exposure for athletes who would otherwise never have a chance to attain national or international fame. The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world and for their political leaders the opportunity to polish their
The Olympics have always been a special world tradition. More than just sports, its an event with such influence and spirit that it can unify an entire world of contrasting people. In its beginnings, the event was regarded so holy that even military threats and ongoing wars would be suspended for its duration. However, the cancellation of three (including 2 consecutive) Games demonstrated that as international politics and dispute increased, the importance and significance of the Olympics decreased. Additionally, the Games were economically proving to be too great a risk, especially after the financial disaster that was Montreal 1976. The Olympics were becoming a dying legend, and if not for the success of Los Angeles 1984 and head organizer Peter Ueberroth’s ingenious ideas, it’s possible the Olympics may not have existed today.