Exploring How the Olympic Ideal Has Been Undermined by Social and Political Protest
In attempting to answer the question I will cover the following points
firstly defining the key terms. I will then give a brief historical
overview of the issue of how the Olympic Games has been used by
nations and groups to make political statements.Using examples from
the Olympic games I will discuss how the Olympic ideal has been
undermined by social and political protest. To conclude I will review
the current issue of politics and the Olympics and where I think it
will go in the future.
The Olympic ideal is amateurism, playing for the love of sport not for
the money. This is what De Coubertin believed the Olympics should be
about, also he believed the Olympics should be used to bring countries
out of war with each other and bring them together. When talking about
the Olympics and protests that have gone on in the Olympics, there are
a few terms that come up. A non-systematic protest is a protest that
is taken out by a social group. For example Tommy Smith and John
Carlos with the gloved salute to represent 'Black Power' in Mexico
1968. Another term is a systematic protest which is a protest
demonstrated by a nation as a whole. For example the mass boycott in
Moscow 1980. This took place because of the USSR's invasion of
Afghanistan in 1979, the USA did not approve of this so boycotted the
games. Reconciliation is where you make up for something that has
happened in the past. An example of this is the awarding of the 1964
games to Tokyo to heal old wounds following the bombing of Horishima
on the 6th August 1945. Recognition is where you recognise someones
achievements. For example the entry of East Germany as an independant
state and its success in Munich 1972. Propaganda is the organised
dissemination of information to assist or damge political cause. An
example of this is in Berlin 1936 where Hitler tried to use the games
to promote his super race.
The rules that govern Olympic Games clearly indicate that no political propaganda and their demonstrations are not allowed in the Games. However, Olympics Games have faced political wars over the years. Governments fight one another for a chance to host the games. Some governments have used their chance to host to Olympic Games to advance their political and sometimes personal agendas. Hosting the Games should benefit the citizens and athletes economically. However, not all governments are concerned with benefits to their nationals when fighting for their chance to host the games. The games have become a stage for nations to prove their might and stability to other nations at the expense of their citizens. This
The controversy in Berlin Olympic Games was that the some of the Jews excluded from the Olympic team were actually world class athletes. The athletes left Germany, along with other Jewish athletes, to resume their sports careers abroad.The Nazis also disqualified Gypsies.The Olympics were intended to be an exercise in goodwill among all nations emphasizing racial equality in the area of sports competition. But the Nazis thought that only the Aryans should participate in the Olympics games to represent Germany.Then after that controversy then the committee of the Games wanted to move the Olympic Games to another country.This was because usually the U.S. got the most medals because they sent the most athletes.
...n countries. This affected the games by shaping how people viewed the games and the peace they would bring. An information guide provided to members of the press uses a similar ideal (Doc #6) the Soviet Union had a bad reputation since they were communists and it was looked down upon. The Olympic organizing committee wanted the Soviet Union to appear as if they were peaceful and democratic as propaganda. Ali Kabir (Doc #10) a sports writer for the Internet edition of English-language Pakistani newspaper deals with the feeling of a newly created nation might have towards proving to the world that they are just as competent as the nation that they had gotten their independence from. A good additional document would be a poster for the Olympics. This would be helpful because it would promote the Olympics that were trying to create unity and peace throughout the nations.
that rules would be abided by and so the games were to be held in
ABSTRACT: The purity of the Olympics has been smeared by scandal, corruption, boycotts, political disputes and even acts of terrorism. Sadly, politics have taken control of the Olympics and turned it into a political and money-making extravaganza. Olympic boycotts became a way for countries to protest each other. Hitler tried to use the Games to prove his belief of racial superiority. Wars interfered with the Olympics. Bloodshed even covered the Olympics, in the 1972 Munich Games where terrorists killed eleven Israeli Olympic members. Unfortunately, throughout Olympic history, politics have overshadowed the true focus of the Games. They were "intended to unite the countries of the world through friendly competition" not segregate them through politics (Siggers 1).
Theme: Many events of The Nazi Olympics surround this sporting festival to make it one of the controversial events in sport history. Not only does Mandell cover the 1936 Olympic Games themselves but he gives insight to the history of the modern games, participation by the United States, the role of the games in the Nazi propaganda efforts and portrays heroes and key figures. Mandell wrote about the intersection of sport and politics and how world leaders set the agenda, not the athletes. The Nazi’s used the 1936 Olympic Games as a way to reinforce their political and racial goals. Although they were founded as part of a vision of world peace, the 1936 games became a stage for political disputes. The Nazi Olympics takes an in depth look at the efforts the Germans made to show the rest of the world that they had again become a powerful nation under the leader of Adolf Hitler. The events that followed the games in Germany, mainly the Holocaust and World War II overshadowed the Berlin games. However, it is very important to note that a world gathering like the Olympics took place in a country that was in the process of eliminating an entire race of people. The games were a huge success in regards to the Nazi regime, they were able to fool the world and prove to Germany that they were a peaceful and stable nation.
Since the first Olympic Games in 1896 winning the Olympics meant more than just a medal, it showed the power that the winning country possesses. Although the Olympics are meant to show peaceful amiability between all counties, geopolitics is still a factor in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee President states “sport can only contribute to development and peace if it’s not used as a stage for political contest, have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of athletes.” Many historians ask if geopolitics was a factor in the Olympics during the Cold War era. The answer isn’t an opinion; geopolitics has never been absent in the Olympics and that is especially true for the Cold War. The Cold War was a battle for political power that will dominates the rest of the world. The idea that this was a battle for power explains the arms race, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Logically, this need to upstage the opposing super power leaked into international sports competition. With all this competition whirling around during the Cold War, the Olympics became a literal race against communism or democracy. As geopolitics played such a major role in the Olympics during the Cold War era, athletes’ fates were ultimately altered.
A seemingly non-emotional, non-verbal, non-violent protest over racism was met with a great deal of negativity at the Olympic Games. Because of the location of their “protest” over racial inequality, many people did not agree with what they were doing. It was not considered socially acceptable to let their opinion on the matters of race play a part of the “opinion-free” Olympic Games. Instantly, the audience at the game did not like their way of letting the people know of their beliefs as the crowd went silent. As John Carlos stated in his book, “There’s something awful about hearing fifty thousand people go silent, like being in the eye of a hurricane. Then, as the national anthem played in full force, the calm before the storm ended and the ‘boos’ started coming down” (Carlos 121).
...ns, calling them “even more human than before” (“Party”). Though most believed the Games signaled the continuation of peace, some feared it would further stimulate the power and cruelty previously seen in the Nazi nation. Just days after the final ceremonies, Jewish persecution was continued and extended. Less then three years later, a “hospitable” Germany invaded Poland and unleashed a war that ended many of the young lives that had competed on the athletic field (“Olympics”).
Modern Day Olympics are a huge tradition that sweeps the screens of televisions across the world. Competitors take the arena with uniforms that dawn their countries colors and designs that are meant to resemble their designated flag. For months the news is centered around the games; the preparation, the athletes, and of course the competition. Countries aren 't obsessed, they are inspired and full of pride seeing athletes from their country compete and show their incredible skill. This tradition dates back to ancient Greece where the games began. Tony Perrottet writes about the traditions of the ancient game in his book The Naked Olympics.
Politics is the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. The Olympic Games is an event held every 4 years, which includes a variety of sport activities in which different countries compete against one another. “Sport is frequently a tool of diplomacy. By sending delegations of athletes abroad, states can establish a first basis for diplomatic relations or can more effectively maintain such relations” (Espy 3). One might think that politics and the Olympics have nothing to do with each other, but in fact they do have a lot in common. How did politics affect the Olympic Games in 1936, 1968 and 1972?
The Olympic Games plays a significant role in the world. The relationship between it and host countries is important to investigate for comprehending cultural studies. According to Xu and Kirby (2008), the Olympic Games has a considerable impact on the expression of national identity. For example, London applied this approach to promote its national identity. This can be discovered from the BBC video called James Bond escorts The Queen to the opening ceremony in 2012 (2012): an amiable identity is perceived by the audience through presenting corgi at Buckingham Palace. Moreover, China is no exception. There is an image about the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics, it shows a spectacular drumming performance. In addition, an article about
"Politics has come to be considered not only inappropriate in the arena of sports, but actually antithetical to it," Zirin says. "We want so much to see sports solely as an arena of play, not seriousness. But here's the thing, this can cheapen not only the greatness and relevance of sports to us as a society, but also the courage of the athletes" (The Nation). The pursuit of fame, wealth and status can blind the human conscious, which is why it is important for us to encourage athletes to speak their minds. As a nation, we should not silence the athletes, because it is the truly courageous athletes who have the audacity to stand up when it’s not popular. Sports should be used as a platform for a certain kind of politics: militarism, nationalism. There is a rich tradition of resistance to politics in sports, but their actions have been integral to country’s struggle for racial and gender equality; sports are a safe place to discuss these difficult topics.
They affect politics, money, and businesses. It is often said that sport and politics are two aspects of our society that have nothing in common. Yet the history of the Olympic movement has provided several examples of how they influence one another, directly and indirectly. An example of sports affecting political directly is after years of boycotting, the Olympics in Barcelona brought together athletes form around the world. This problem was about Nelson Mandela and the racial discrimination. The most recent incident is the Russians getting banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics. The Russian government was helping the teams cheat by providing performance enhancing drugs, then the government covering it up from them. The Olympic Committee found out and ejected them form the upcoming
Introduction Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerce and politics. Well-known throughout the world the games have been used to promote understanding and friendship among nations, but have also been a hotbed of political disputes and boycotts. The Olympic games started thousands of years ago and lasted over a millennium.. The symbolic power of the Games lived on after their demise, and came to life again as the modern Olympic Games being revived in the last century. Both the modern and Ancient Olympics have close similarities in there purpose and in there problems.