Olympic Hubris

Alternate titles: Olympic Arrogance; Stupid Political Stunt.

You may have heard of the Olympic Judo fighter, from Iran I believe, who bowed out of the games because his first opponent was from Israel, and Iran and Israel have a relationship best described as nonexistent. [Hint: Iran doesn't recognize Israel the same way protestants don't recognize the Pope or two Mormons don't recognize each other in a liquor store. Badum-bum!]

Anyway, that sort of thing pisses me off. I'm of the ever so humble opinion that the Olympic Games should focus exclusively on sport. You should not be there push whatever political/religious agenda you may have. This is a golden opportunity for nations to set aside differences and just play some games. Who cares what the state of the world may be? You're here to prove your worth, not against a nation, but against another human, to see who has the fire, the spark, the desire to win.

In other words, put up or shut up.

Stunts (and yes I feel it was a stunt) like this only cheapen the ideal that the games stand for. What's the point of competing if every Tom Dick and Harry brings his social baggage with him to the match? I can't compete with him: he eats pork; or him: he doesn't believe in Baby Jesus; or her: she thinks women are allowed to have an opinion; or these guys: they're pro-life; et cetera ad naseum.

So what if he hails from a country you and your government don't officially endorse? He's still real, so fight him. Don't punk out because you'll look good to the folks back home.

Yes I know that the United States, under President Carter, boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because we didn't like Russian soldiers in Afghanistan. [An aside about Carter's decision to boycott: I do like the idea of a permanent home for the games, even if that idea does trample, somewhat, the international spirit of the games.] I don't think it's better just because my side was the one doing the boycotting. It was stupid stunt (even more stupid because it was publicly endorsed) just like this one. Hell, We went to the 1936 Berlin games when Hitler was running Germany. Did Jesse Owens bow out when it was revealed that he would be racing Nazis? No, he came to compete and compete he did, winning four gold medals.

My point is, this guy pissed me off.