The Government Strikes Back

Before the Olympics can take place, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) must choose a country that will host the games. It is an expensive endeavor to host these games, but the benefits severely outweigh the costs. The money brought it from all the tourists and fans usually pays for any stadiums or upgrades done and still produces profit. It also gives a country the chance to showcase itself and its culture. So what does this mean for the Olympics?

Competition for hosting the Olympics is almost as fierce as the games themselves. And for many years, there have been whispers (and even screams) that the bidding process is corrupt. The IOC members each get a vote for which host nominee they prefer. Committee members, like anyone else, can be bribed. And who bribes these people? Ding Ding Ding!! You got it! Governments!

Leave it to the governments to put another shadow on these noble-intentioned games. This journal article outlines the bidding process and ways that governments screw with the process. It also details how these scandals have led the IOC to makes reforms in itself. Even now, these reforms are under question. Do they really lower the effects of corruption on the bidding process? Should the IOC be completely replaced by a more isolated committee.

This is just sad, people! Why can't we just all play together nicely? The athletes at the games play fair (mostly). Why can't governments play fair too? Well, I'll tell you why. Government's are greedy. They want what is best for their country and it does not matter what anyone else needs or wants. It does not matter if another country is best suited to host the games. This trait is not always a bad thing. It helps a country further itself in the world. But when it comes to friendly, athletic competition, it is a little over-kill. A country should work to be better so it deserves to host the games, just as an athlete practices and works out so he or she can succeed in the games. Its an internal change, not external.

Overcoming Olympic Sized Odds

Brian McKeever has only 10% of his vision. This ten percent is completely peripheral. His dream: compete in the Olympics. He has competed in the Paralympics multiple times and has had great success. He was scheduled to compete in in Vancouver this year; however, the Canadian Olympic Team Committee decided to take him off the national team. This article from Sports Illustrated lightly touches on his heartache and how he is able to achieve athletic greatness despite his handicap.

McKeever presents us with an excellent example of what it takes to be successful today. He has refused to let his virtual blindness take over his life and dictate to him what he can and cannot do. As an athlete, I know how important it is to have all your physical abilities. I'm sure all of you can understand too. Not only does McKeever live, he thrives in competition. What would his motivation be without the Olympics? Sure, he kicks ass in the Paralympics. But after so many victories, there are two options: move to the next level, or stop competing. The Olympics provide that next level for athletes world wide, impaired or not.

The Olympics bring people together. They bring ALL kinds of people together. They motivate people to be better. McKeever does not use his handicap as a crutch. It's just another obstacle to overcome, just like sore muscles after a hard workout. You go, Brian McKeever. Show 'em how it's done.

So Much Tension, and It Didn't Even Matter

In 1936, the Olympic games were held in Berlin, Germany. For those of us not on top of our history facts, this is when Hitler was in power. Hitler only allowed members of the Aryan race to compete for the German team. This, of course, was to demonstrate his idea of racial supremacy. He showed, however, two faces to the world. While he discriminated against any races not his own, he also exhibited political prowess (that could easily be mistaken for tolerance).

This page gives an overall summery of the 1936 Olympic games. It brings up interesting facts that provide interesting discussion based in politics, psychology, and morality.

Politically, Hitler knew the world would not accept his views of racial supremacy as part of the Olympic games. The point of the games is to bring us all together as equals, even though everyone is competing against the others. Knowing he would get in trouble with the Olympic committee, and possibly other nations, Hitler instigated "clean up" programs. This included removing anti-Jew signs and other propaganda from the city. He also did not uphold visitors to the country to his laws pertaining to race, religion, or sexual orientation. This is NOT tolerance. This is a politically genius move to keep him out of trouble with nations he could not defeat.

During the Parade of the Athletes, all of the Olympic competitors march into a stadium normally organized by country. They always pass the leader of the host nation, in this case Hitler. Countries debated whether the athletes should give Hitler the Nazi salute or the Olympic salute, both being very similar. Some countries gave the Nazi salute, even goose-stepped into the arena. Some athletes put their hand over their heart in show of respect for the host nation's leader. Some gave the Olympic salute. The countries in support of Hitler's regime were proud to give the Nazi salute. Other nations were just happy to be present and representing their country.

The United States debated over whether to send a team to these Olympics or if boycotting that year's games was a better idea. They did not want to seem to be supporting the Nazi regime. In the end, The U.S. sent a team. A black man, Jesse Owens, won four gold medals at these games. While I have no proof, this probably upset Hitler just a little. Poor thing. However, after Owens almost did not qualify for the long jump finals, a German athlete (obviously from the Aryan race) give him a few tips. This is proof that once again, hatred between peoples and countries is a product of government propaganda, not individual feelings.

Even during a rough time for humanity, nations still came together to compete in harmony. While some might have feared for their safety while competing, most nations decided to send a team anyway, regardless of religion or race. Many countries fervently disagreed with the Nazi regime. This did not stop most of them from going to Berlin and being a part of world peace, if even for only a few weeks. What is it about the games that draws everyone in, no matter what is going on in global politics? Pride? Competitiveness? The desire for peace? These are obvious answers of course. Though I feel as if there is something deeper within an individual human. I intend to find out soon.

The Bi-yearly Ceasefire

Whenever the Olympic games roll around, thousands of people flock to a concentrated area, and billions more join the festivities from watching the games on television. People (and nations) stop hating one another. That emotion turns into something much more positive: national pride. Citizens of a nation become enthusiastic about their nation instead of focusing on their hate of another. With the lose of these negative emotions, we also loose the consequences of them. The Olympics are the closest thing this world will ever see to world peace. During the games, a global ceasefire is issued so we may all come together in the harmony of competition.

I found this article from a sports news site. It illustrates how athletes from warring nations are friends, and harbor no resentment towards the opposing country or it people. Usually, they only have a problem with the government. Which leads me to question... Do entire nations of people really hate another? Or is it the government and media feeding people propaganda, spoon-feeding hatred in an attempt to gain support for the next war?

Surely, when individuals are involved, one has no problem with another based on country of origin. Throw politics in the mix, however, and government has the power to put an entire nation in uproar. What is war but the display of superiority of one nation over another? What are the Olympics but the display of physical superiority of one nation of others? The Olympics redirect focus. We go from "Troops, get it done!" to "Dude, I really hope we wipe the floor with China's face."

Thank you, Olympics, for your bi-yearly ceasefire. If only it lasted longer...

Countries Come Together.... in Outrage?

The day before the Vancouver Olympic Games began, a luger from Georgia (the country, ladies and gentlemen) was fatally injured during a practice run. Nodar Kumaritashvill, a 21 year old, died going 88 mph on the most difficult luge track developed for any Olympic Games. I found this video, which is an interview that outlines the danger behind the winter games:



The day before this interview took place, the US luge team was interviewed and discussed the difficulty of the luge course. They complained that it was too fast, to steep, and too difficult, especially for the number of young, less experienced lugers. The US was not the only country to speak out either. With the death of the Georgian olympian, nations have banded together in an attempt to have Canada alter the track to decrease risk of injury.

In the video, Mariotti discusses that Nodar was going slower during his fatal run than early practice runs, having crashed the day before. Even trying to go slower than competitive speed, Nodar's loss of control resulted in the loss of his life. The interview also outlines the response (or lack of) from the Canadian Olympic Council.

There was talk of postponing and even canceling the opening ceremonies. How could the world celebrate the games when they have been shadowed with a death? Even so, nations rallied behind and mutually mourned the loss of the luger. The opening ceremonies were dedicated to Nodar, and there was a moment of silence to honor the athlete. We might all want to win the gold, but no athlete present at the games wants another athlete to get hurt in the attempt. The loss of a life was a tragedy, and it casts a depressing light on the luge events. All nations respect and honor the fallen competitor.

Now that I have established the unity of nations during this Olympic event...
Has anyone ever heard of the death of an Olympian before the games started? Unless an athlete is from one's own country, do you really care if an alternate showed up instead of the original athlete? Though I have yet to research this (coming soon!) I am sure there have been athletes that have died within their own countries' borders before the games are even advertised. We do not share a moment of silence for these athletes. No, we are too busy worrying about our economy and which country we must protect ourselves against next. And while this is completely understandable (out of sight, out of mind, right?) it is curious that something as macabre as the death of a country's hero can bring together all types of people to one cause: honor the fallen.