Boycott Olympics? (3 Viewers)

[geauxboy]

Yes, they are. They always have been.

Well, I do understand that it's representative of each country, but it doesn't make/change laws. Sure, it might be a nation vs nation thing, but I'm not sure to what degree it's actually political. For the most part, no politicians are competing. Just athletes that are caught in the middle of the politicians that make it political propaganda.

 

[Hoyasaint]

Well, I do understand that it's representative of each country, but it doesn't make/change laws. Sure, it might be a nation vs nation thing, but I'm not sure to what degree it's actually political. For the most part, no politicians are competing. Just athletes that are caught in the middle of the politicians that make it political propaganda.

The IOC is about as political as it comes, the athletes know exactly what they are dealing with before they sign up for the olympics. Just like major college athletes are well aware of what their programs true interests are before signing on.

An old but informative article, which shows the IOC seeks to change plenty of things across the globe.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/07/14/t16_18.php?page=1

 

[hammernnails]

Only boycott the events where bombs are going to go off...

 

[LSSpam]

Well, I do understand that it's representative of each country, but it doesn't make/change laws. Sure, it might be a nation vs nation thing, but I'm not sure to what degree it's actually political. For the most part, no politicians are competing. Just athletes that are caught in the middle of the politicians that make it political propaganda.

Host nations have used the Olympics as a showcase for their own agendas almost since the beginning (Berlin Germany, 1936). And nations have boycotted it in response beginning shortly there after.

 

[geauxboy]

Host nations have used the Olympics as a showcase for their own agendas almost since the beginning (Berlin Germany, 1936). And nations have boycotted it in response beginning shortly there after.

Yeah! Y'all are dead on. I guess I am more thinking of the athletes than the bozos who have their finger on the button and turning what was supposed to be a sporting event into propaganda. Can't they keep their politics silent for just one minute and let people represent the human race instead of borders and flag colors ripe with their own agenda (that serves NO good at all)?

 

[thewyrm]

I say no, only because I think the only person it punishes is our own athletes.

 

[Hoyasaint]

let people represent the human race instead of borders and flag colors ripe with their own agenda

So the atheletes which compete for a specific country, and are recognized with medals tallied under each country and the various national anthems of the winners are played at a ceremony are in representation of the human race instead of borders and flags?

Perhaps I misunderstood the post, but it certainly seemed you were seriously pushing that point.

I think ideally I think the olympics would represent the sport, the love of the game, and the atheletes. It doesn't and it never will. Do you think for one second USA's win over Russian in hockey would have meant near as much as it did had the political atmosphere been different from what it was? Wrong. Those guys acknowledge what that win meant to them and to Americans in the context of the day.

 

[bclemms]

Boycotting the opening ceremonies wont do anything. If we are going to boycott something we should start with Chinese imports and it will have a much greater impact.

 

[LSSpam]

I think ideally I think the olympics would represent the sport, the love of the game, and the atheletes. It doesn't and it never will. Do you think for one second USA's win over Russian in hockey would have meant near as much as it did had the political atmosphere been different from what it was? Wrong. Those guys acknowledge what that win meant to them and to Americans in the context of the day.

Not me, i'm a fan of nationalism. I like the idea of them competing for national honor, of us flying our flag and playing our national anthem. You noted it yourself, it means something. To big countries and small countries. I think it's healthy.

What I disagree with is the IOC allowing the ceremonies to be hijacked by nations for their political agenda. Host it in China? Really? Boy I just knew that would go well.

 

[COsaintsfan]

Boycotting the opening ceremonies wont do anything. If we are going to boycott something we should start with Chinese imports and it will have a much greater impact.

Yep. Stop buying stuff that says Made in China.

It is hard. My wife and I have been attempting to do this for six months or so and it is near impossible, especially with a 10 year old daughter who wants every plastic horse and pokemon trinket available. I wish people would pay more attention.

 

[Bishop]

I think China's backing of the Sudanese government should be brought to the forefront during the Olympics, but I'm not a big fan of interrupting the pageantry of the games. I'm sure their environmental record will speak for itself.

 

[geauxboy]

So the atheletes which compete for a specific country, and are recognized with medals tallied under each country and the various national anthems of the winners are played at a ceremony are in representation of the human race instead of borders and flags?

Perhaps I misunderstood the post, but it certainly seemed you were seriously pushing that point.

I think ideally I think the olympics would represent the sport, the love of the game, and the atheletes. It doesn't and it never will. Do you think for one second USA's win over Russian in hockey would have meant near as much as it did had the political atmosphere been different from what it was? Wrong. Those guys acknowledge what that win meant to them and to Americans in the context of the day.

Well, for the most part, it's athlete(s) against athlete(s). True, it is also nation against nation. There is nothing wrong with that as long as it stays on a sporting, good natured premise, which it appears it does not. Good, wholesome competitive sports is fine, but it's tainted by all this political influence that spoils the good natured side of it all.

Since it is more of a nation vs nation thing, does it really tell anyone which country is better than another in the most important of issues? Does the performance of Jessie Owens make any other country shy away from starting a war with us because he beat all those other countries by simply running faster than the rest? Does it make a case for our politics or choice of government and who's is better? Does that have any bearing on who would beat who in a war or politics? If not, then why is it political and why are countries boycotting other countries since it really has absolutely no bearing on anything. All countries have wronged. Why use the Olympics to bring out all the bad issues? That's not the stage for it IMO.

The USA beats Russia in hockey. So what? It was a great moment in USA sports, I surely agree to that. The chinese gymnast tore everyone a new one in the 80's. We win some, we lose some. That's it. Nothing more. It surely doesn't state which country is better than another in any relevant manner.

It doesn't prove anything political, but it does show which country is better at swimming/shot put/long jump/uneven bars/etc in that particualr Olympics. Just 4 years of gloating and prestige. I understand this has been turned into propaganda, but I find it ridiculous that we can't even have an international sporting event without creating tensions for senseless reasons.

 

[Hoyasaint]

Does the performance of Jessie Owens make any other country shy away from starting a war with us because he beat all those other countries by simply running faster than the rest? Does it make a case for our politics or choice of government and who's is better?

I'm only addressing this little part because it pretty much answers the rest. Host countries have used the Olympics to show the world how great they are. In fact, this goes much further than just the olympics. Every sporting event the world over, from a pro game to a sandlot game is to used to demostrate not just the athlete's superiority over those they best, but the school's or neighborhood's or side of the street's, etc's superiority over the other. Used not just by the athlete's, but by all members of that group. So the thought that countries would use the superiority of their runners and shot putters as proof of the greatness of Americans over the Russians. And if we lose of few of those, well they can have that individual medal, but we'll win more over all so take that. The question isn't really why it becomes political. Its human nature.

As far as Jesse Owens making a case for our politics and choice of government. You bet your bottom dollar it did. Nothing really ****** Hitler off quite like Jesse coming in and spanking the Germans, which was a major blow to the myth of Aryan Superiority. Of course this was underscored with the irony of the racism such characters felt back home. The victories of Jewish competitors accomplished the same. Not only did these prove that Jews and blacks could compete equally with the 'superior' race but beat them as well.

So in that case, there are very important points made in sports all the time, not just the olympics. Think of Jackie Robinson, Chuck Cooper, Kenny Washington, and the thousands of other athletes who shattered notions that women, blacks, jews, etc couldn't do the things that white men could do. Why is that? Because not much is more respected (rightly or wrongly) than the accomplishments on the field. Not one of those pioneers would claim they were just beating the other guy. They were proving they and those of their heritage/gender/religion could do it too.

Sports will always mean more than just you v. me if anyone else knows about it. Hell just look at this entire board and the non-stop smack that goes down between Saints and XXXXX fans. Your city sucks, your fans suck, your women are ugly. Just the way it is and always will be.

/TenParagraphreSponse

 

[MSUSousaphone]

Not me, i'm a fan of nationalism. I like the idea of them competing for national honor, of us flying our flag and playing our national anthem. You noted it yourself, it means something. To big countries and small countries. I think it's healthy.

What I disagree with is the IOC allowing the ceremonies to be hijacked by nations for their political agenda. Host it in China? Really? Boy I just knew that would go well.

I went to the USMNT vs Mexico game last month, and the atmosphere for that friendly was actually more electric than the Saints/Eagles game in the 2006 playoffs (I was there, too). I went with 9 friends, some of which have been really tired of all the national news going on with the war and stuff, but on our way back home, everyone was an American flag and chanting patriotic songs. I've never felt such pride for our nation....and we were jobbed in that game, too.

The national thing adds so much to the games its unreal.....and our soccer team actually has a decent chance of going far this year.....

 

[Complex Kid]

I think we should boycott just for this!

Sit-down protests trigger Beijing bathroom renovation - Yahoo! News

"Some 500,000 overseas visitors are expected in Beijing during the August 8-24 Games but the only toilets available for the public and the media at many top venues like the National Aquatic Centre, known as the Water Cube, are squat toilets that are widespread in China but unfamiliar to westerners."