Politics olympic games

He is interested in environmental justice and human rights law. He has previously written about corrupt humanitarian aid and the politicization of the Olympics. You've successfully subscribed to Harvard International Review. Next, complete checkout for full access to Harvard International Review. Welcome back! You've successfully signed in. Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content. Political Statements and the Olympics: Tokyo and Beyond Taiwanese athletes march in the Opening Ceremonies of Rome Controversial Medal Ceremonies in Mexico City was a year rife with tumultuous social and political conflicts, and two of them—the American Civil Rights Movement and the Prague Spring—appeared on the medal stands at the Games in Mexico City.

John Carlos and Tommie Smith raise their fists in protest. Vermont Public Radio In this case, however, it was the U. Cathy Freeman carrying the Australian and Aboriginal flags immediately after winning the meter race in Sydney National Indigenous Television Tokyo, Beijing, and Beyond Despite the history of athletes making political statements at the Olympic Games, there is minimal precedent of the IOC taking any action to punish athletes for politically motivated actions in Olympic venues.

The Unspoken War on Terror Online Collections. At the Games they discussed important political issues, celebrated common military victories and even formed political and military alliances. But the Games were not only a forum in which to discuss political events; they were also the cause of political conflict. Control of the Sanctuary and the Games brought with it prestige, economic advantages and, most importantly, political influence.

As early as the 7th century BC we hear of disputes over the control of the Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia between the city of Elis 30 miles to the north and the small neighboring town of Pisa.

Pheidon, with his army of well-trained hoplites armed soldiers , marched across the Peloponnesos, secured the Sanctuary for the town of Pisa, and personally presided over the conduct of the games.

But again, the welcome the IOC and IPC have jointly expressed on Beijing 's spectator policy was deliberately omitted in many Western media reports. They instead shed much light on how "all parties feel for the athletes and the spectators," despite China's policy being a huge step further from Tokyo's while at the same time ensuring the safe holding of the Games. Multiple examples prove that any story about China can be seized by Western media as an opportunity to chime in with their hawkish politicians to defame the country, and a piece of good raw material that can be processed into an easy-to-use weapon in the political game against countries with different political systems.

It linked the event to freedoms in China, indicating that the absence of protests on the street suggests the Chinese government must have taken some measures to prohibit people from voicing different views. A country with no protests taking place means a country with no "freedom" in these Western reports. There is no getting away from it. The same words should apply to stereotyped Western media instead: for those with a zero-sum mentality and ideological prejudices, the Olympics and every single story about China becomes political.

And there is no getting away from it. If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions cgtn. Opinion , Sep