I love the Olympics. The top sportspeople in the world, competing against each other in the spirit of friendship.
Until Salt Lake. I was so looking forward to it, and then it just dissolved into a quagmire of scandal and hate.
I know I’m naive, but why can’t everyone just get along? Why can’t people just keep in mind the true meaning behind the Olympics, even if its just for the two weeks that its on?
I’m giving the world one last chance to do good at Athens before I turn completely cynical.
(I know this isn’t a great Pit thread, probably only rates about a 2, but we’ve all gotta start somewhere, right?
Question: have you ever encountered an Olympics that didn’t involve a lot of bickering and squabbling and whining and profiteering and accusations of favoritism and bribery and drug use?
Athens will be no different, dearie, nor will Beijing. It’s Human Life On Planet Earth, is what it is. Relax and enjoy it.
If you want a sporting event without loads of bickering and squabbling, you should watch the Gay Games, which will be in Sydney this summer and in Montreal in 2006.
Somehow I don’t think it will be televised in Japan…but thanks for the info!
And DDG, like I said, I’m naive. I guess in the past I never really paid attention to the nefarious side of the Games. And as for the Sydney Games, I was just so stoked that they were in Australia that nothing could dampen my enthusiasm. I was in tears during the Opening Ceremony.
You know what my image is of what the Games SHOULD mean? Do you remember when the three or four East Timorese athletes came into the arena during the Sydney Opening Ceremony? Do you remember how they were just so happy to be there that they were turning cartwheels? And how the crowd gave them a standing ovation? To me, THAT symbolised everything that the Olympics should be.
I don’t understand the purpose of the “Gay Games”. Does desiring to have sex with guys instead of girls really effect your ability to sprint 100 yards to a major degree?
just as insurance, i would like to state that my previous post was meant as a sarcastic ridicule of an irrational-seeming statement and not a sarcastic roundabout support of said statement.
Well, I’ve certainly seen better games than the Salt Lake City ones. Sure, there’s always the usual crap about favoritism, doping scandals, and whatnot. I’ll take that for granted as soon as the words “International Olympic Committee” are uttered.
But SLC was mainly disappointing because it was so… patriotic. Now, hear me out here. Of course I know the underlying reasons, and I wouldn’t dare to make light of them. But there is a time and place for everything, and in my opinion, the opening ceremony of the Olympics is not the place for that ragged flag. No matter how powerful it is as a symbol, there wasn’t an athlete or viewer that needed to be reminded or even educated about the atrocities of 9/11. It was sentimentalism at its best.
Consequently, the entire games were “American” rather than Olympic. Not a good move.
Best games ever? Definitely Sydney, 2000.
matt_mcl, I realise that this is a hot button issue for you, but I don’t really see the purpose of the Gay Games either. I guess the fact that I’m straight, and that I live in a rather tolerant country are contributing factors in this, but to me competition in sports is completely unrelated to sexual preference.
Of course, the underlying thoughts behind the Gay Games are definitely commendable. It’s just that I personally don’t think these games are the right vehicle for it.
“I don’t like the Olympics for one reason - I never see any rainbow flags. No surreptitiously placed rainbow anything, in any of those ceremonies ever, are you telling me there’s not one out Olympian?” - Maggie Cassella
Basically, the homophobia that exists in the sports world is such that it can be very difficult for openly gay athletes to make their way to the top of their field. Perhaps, as you say, living in a more tolerant country causes you not to notice. (As an example of the same homophobia, the IOC went to court to force the former Gay Olympics to drop the word “Olympic” from their names. They didn’t do this to the Special Olympics, or the Police Olympics, or the goddamn Rat Olympics - yes, there’s a Rat Olympics, which the IOC apparently has no problem with - but they did do it to the gay people. What does that tell you?)
Furthermore, why shouldn’t gay people have our own games? Nobody ever complains about the Commonwealth Games, the Jeux de la Francophonie (“Does speaking French affect athletic ability that much?!”), or even the Police Olympics. It’s not even like they’re screening out the straight people on the way in (“That’s the job I want - lesbian tester! ‘Just step into the back room, miss!’” - Lea Delaria) - as it says, the games are open to all who wish to participate. In fact there are no qualifying rounds - anyone may participate in the athletic events.
Basically, the idea is to include people who may be excluded from mainstream sporting events due to prejudice against their sexual orientation or gender identity. (There’s another one - try being a transgendered athlete, then doing the Olympic chromosome test. Not happening.) Some people even participate at the Gay Games whose sexual orientation is actually illegal in their home country.
I don’t usually get choked up about sporting events - I don’t even like sports - but the Gay Games is a worthwhile and inclusive festival (including cultural events as well) and I, who regret that my city hosted the Olympics, am looking forward to its hosting the Gay Games.
Coldfire, I know you too well to doubt your motives for asking the question, and I hope I’ve provided some information that can help you understand it from our point of view.
That certainly adds to what I already knew about the Gay Games, matt.
And you’re absolutely right: the fact that my country happens to be tolerant doesn’t mean the entire world is. I’m certainly not against the Gay Games (if lefthanded Republicans who like Abba want their own Olympics, they can go ahead too), but I never really saw the actual need for them. Your information certainly changed that viewpoint to an extent.
Although I DO wonder: the aim is still to change the attitude so that any gay person can also compete without problems in the normal Olympics, right? I mean, in the long run, having a separate event doesn’t solve the problem either.
I don’t understand this statement. if you can run the 1000 meter dash a half second faster than anyone else, there is NO WAY to keep you from “the top of their field”. if you are first across the line, you win, gay or straight.
by the way, i thought the games were biased and embarrassing. i can think of a couple “cults of personality” that better cash in real quick before the 15 minutes of fame are up and they drift back into second-place obscurity where they rightly belong…
Well, actually, yes there is. People can refuse (loudly or tacitly) to train you, work with you, subsidize or sponsor you, help you, be your team mate, etc., etc.
I should have added: especially if you are from a country where homosexuality is not as accepted as it might be where you or I or Coldfire are from. It would be even harder then.
Sexual orientation may not affect athletic ability, but homophobia certainly affects athletes’ ability to realize their potential.
All this is making me think of that glurge about the kid who (supposedly) fell during a track event in the Special Olympics…and the other eight contestants turned back to help him up so they could all cross the finish line together, arm in arm…
:insert barfing smiley:
Lest you think I’m being insensitive, please follow the link.
Well, according to the Snopes link, the runner did fall, and a couple of runners did stop and help, even if nowhere near the barfometer peak of the email that gets circulated.
But I much prefer John Landy’s 1956 National Mile run…now there was sportsmanship. Landy was the much-favoured runner. In the latter half of the race, there was a godawful collision between three runners. Ron Clark fell on the track, right in front of Landy. Landy tried to jump him (Clark), but didn’t quite do it; his spikes injured Clark’s shoulder. On course for a win a world record - with selection for the Olympic team riding on this event - Landy stopped, turned around, picked Clark up and apologised for injuring him.
Now 60 yards behind the rest of the field, Clark and Landy started to run again. Landy caught the leaders with only yards to go, and won the race.
