“Olympism”.
Andrew Bartlett dissects for us the official goals of the “Olympic movement”:
* “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”
* “The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”
* “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
* “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”
But sport has nothing to do with politics, does it? Thorpey said so. And a gaggle of superannuated IOC bureaucrats/marketing men. (They all appear to be men. What’s with that?)
Andrew goes on to detail the fact that human rights abuses in China go far beyond Tibet. It’s a great post. Go read!
Incidentally, I suspect the Chinese government’s turnaround on talks with a “representative of the Dalai Lama” is purely a response to a belated realisation that the “sacred torch”, the “flame attendants” and all the “loyal Chinese students” have been a massive pr disaster for them. I hope not, but when the Chinese leadership makes lying an art form, it’s hard not to be cynical.
I’m glad Andrew Bartlett made so much of the situation of Hu Jia.
There is a very good ITN report about him here:
http://chinastudies.blip.tv/file/309056/
“human rights abuses…far beyond Tibet”… How true is that!
Kim and all:
Maybe it’s time ordinary people around the world reclaimed sport for their own enjoyment …. and left “sport[?]” to those stupid enough to obey the wishes of political powers, commercial interests and the entertainment industry.
Last night’s SBS-TV Insight program on poker machine addiction showed where local sports teams have gone. We have seen good rugged contact sports turned into thug-and-thump; what’s next …. the brutality of Rollerball or a return of the gladiators? And then there’s the Olympics.
Anyone for a pleasant afternoon with a tennis ball, a flat bit of wood and a cardboard box in the backyard with a few neighbours?
Thanks for this post Kim. It was nice to read Andrew’s level headed explanation of what is happening in China. I didn’t realise the extent of the internal displacement taking place in order to create nice new shiny olympic venues.
While I find human rights abuses anywhere, including China and Austalia,abhorrent as per usual, I won’t be watching the Olympics. Sure, in 2000 I watched Kathy Freeman, but that was all, and it wasn’t because it was sport. It was because, vicariously, I really admired her.(Somehow, I dont think Freeman thinks sport and politics don’t mix – remember that inspiring lap with the Aboeiginal flsag at the Commonwealth Games -I did see that, on the news.
But basically, like those athletes who are so spineless they always mouth sport and politics don’t mix, the Olympics are boring, boring, boring. I’ll get more than enough of them on the nightly news.
When people (usually they’re hopeful athletes) parrot that question, I always think of Jesse Owens.
It’s not just for the Olympics. It’s much more universal than that. It’s why their highways and railways etc are built as they are. No unnecessary twist and turns. It’s a no contest when it comes to social needs versus individual rights.
A town planner’s dream.
“Olympism!” It’s as teeth-jarring as most things (except the actual events) about the modern Olympics including “Olympic Spirit”.
Civil Rights? Spirit of Friendship? The Olympics? Yeah. Right. “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” The Olympics? You’ve got to be kidding! “Sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” Don’t make me laugh!
The Olympic spirit as “promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”? Just as in Ancient Greece, perhaps? Nothing about the Olympics as WarGames? Intense state rivalry?
Every time the Olympic Games are held in August, I recall the massacre, by Xerses’ Persians, of Leonidas’s small Greek force at Thermopylæ (Aug 11 480BC; Gregorian Calendar) and the “religious restrictions” and other “religious” excuses that left 300 Spartans, their 900 Helots and 700 Thespians other Greeks (but not many) 400 Theban hostages and a Malian Greek traitor, Ephilates, facing and army of hundreds of thousands Persians. What was “religious” excuse for the absence of most of the other Greeks, especially Athenians? Guess!
Which Greek state’s citizens won most of the events at almost every Olympics? Not at 480 BC’s they didn’t!
Mind you, Thermopylæ was pay-back for the Battle of Marathon, at which c7-9,000 Athenians & Platæan hoplites, outnumbered about 6/7 to 1 by Perians, pulled off a stunning (but not decisive) victory, leaving Athenian herald called (depending on the source) Pheidippides, or Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles, to run to Athens, and (depending etc) proclaim the Victory/ warn the Athenians of further attack. The Spartan excuse for being absent was …? The need to attend to “religious” celebrations!
Until 1936, the Modern Olympics reflected late Victorian-Era idealism. From 1936 onwards, they more closely reflect the original Olympics, especially those held during the Greeks’ intense state rivalry that would eventually lead to the Peloponnesian War, Macedonian Ascendancy & defeat by Rome – which continued to hold the Games, any games – Circuses (very apt)!
The Olympics are great sporting spectacles. Enjoy the opening & closing ceremonies, the competition, the great triumphs (especially Oz triumphs)- the full Circus. Just forget the chunderously pious “Olympism” and remember, during all the hype, glory and defeat, the “Olympic Spirit” that left Leonidas and his men “hung out to dry” at Thermopylæ.
‘ “extent of the internal displacement taking place in order to create nice new shiny olympic venues.”
It’s not just for the Olympics. It’s much more universal than that. It’s why their highways and railways etc are built as they are. No unnecessary twist and turns. It’s a no contest when it comes to social needs versus individual rights.
A town planner’s dream.’
Not just town planners, engineers too, probably anyone who likes designing ‘big’ things. I have a hazy recollections that many, many people have to move because of some of the enormous dam projects. Whole towns and villages are going/gone(?) under the water. I hope somebody knows want I’m referring to and can provide more details.
btw, the morning TV programmes were reporting the Chinese have banned the importatrion of Vegemite to the Olymnpic Games. Looks like they finally woke up what makes our athletes so good. Wonder if they’ll tell the IOC.
Bahahahahaha!!!
Olympic host nations are chosen for political and economic reasons only.
Name one host nation that hadn’t had an economic boom in the 5-10 years leading up to their being chosen to host the Olympics – it’s a chance to show off to the world how far you’ve come and gee look now we can afford to do this… It’s a publicity stunt on a grand scale and justified by the usual mix of political inclusiveness and a dose of the warm and fuzzy’s.
China would have seen all this coming and made the decision that they could weather the storm. China only cares about the Chinese, and the Chinese will see a perfect games that the world supports wholeheartedly – because that is all that will make it past the Great FireWall of China.
But then again, as someone who doesn’t actually see the point of sport, doesn’t watch any or support any teams and would happily see the end of AFL, I could be biased
Absolutely Tony, #11. This is why the big competition to host the games. The big chance to prove that you’re a ‘World City’