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Politics and Olympics

Powered by: Chen Wei, Tian Yu, Piao Han

The original Olympic Games were first recorded in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. Olympia functioned as a meeting place for worship and other political practices as early as the 10th century B.C.  The states of the Greece world participated in the game. Upon winning the games, the victor would have not only the prestige of being in first place but would also be presented with a crown of olive leaves. The olive branch is a sign of hope and peace. The states had to stop fighting with each other during the period of Olympic Game. This is because they believe “People should compete in sports, rather than fight in war.”

As the ancient Olympic game was Held in honour of Zeus and to prevent fighting between states, sport is closely linked to politics even in ancient time. Tolerance, equality, fair play and, most of all, peace, are the spirits of the Olympic game.  

The idea of reviving the Olympic Games was first proposed by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin, who believed in bringing the youth around the world together to compete in sports, instead of on the battlefield. The idea thus brings about the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens 1896, which was the largest international sports event ever held at that time. 

However, despite its initial success, the dream of making the world a peaceful place did not come true, as the two wars ensued caused the cancellation of 1916, 1940 and 1944 Games. On the contrary of its goal, the modern Olympic Games have often been marred by political agenda. 

The infamous 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin saw the whole event being used as a political propaganda, symbolising the triumph of the “Aryan race”, and helped the Nazi regime to instill its anti-Semitic and racist ideology into the German people. Despite calls for international boycotts and objections voiced by Jewish community, ironically 1936 Games had the largest number of nations participating than any previous games. The well-known Olympic torch relay was first introduced in 1936 Games as a way to promote national pride, and is still adopted until today, again here is the irony, the 1936 torch relay met much warmer welcome than in 2008, as people of the west would rather embrace the Nazi German torch bearers.  

The political and ideological difference that led to the conflict between the communist bloc and western bloc had also caused the separation of international sports event, although sports should have never mixed with politics. The Soviet Union did not join the Olympic Games until 1952, before that the union had its own sports event named Spartarkiads, in commemoration of the slave rebel leader Spartacus, who revolts against the Roman rule; Spartarkiads thus represents the proletarian revolution as opposing the aristocratic nature of the Olympic Games. 

The cold war later adds another chapter to the “political history” of Olympic Games: the well- known drama of cold war opponents boycotting each other in 1980 and 1984, as a result of which, number of participating nations drops greatly for both Games. The cause there was not the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, but the struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States for the hegemony over the world. Likewise, the cause of WWI was not the assassination of Austrian prince, and the cause of all the trouble with 2008 torch relay was not the crisis in Tibet. 

As the anti-government demonstrations in Tibet has created a worldwide call for boycotting the Beijing Olympic Games, the problem of politicizing the Olympic Games has came under the spotlight. Western countries have seized this opportunity to criticize the Chinese government, claiming that the human rights of the protesters are undermined. Whether this statement is correct or not, I feel that it is not good to let off the anger and dissatisfaction on the Olympic Games as sport itself is independent of its hosting nation and it represents the challenging spirit of the entire humanity.  Thus political value judgement should not be involved in this coming Olympic Games as it will have no impact on China’s policy in Tibet or against dissidents but instead, according to PM Lee’s speech, it will create a virulent anti-foreign sentiments among China’s young people and this will have a serious impact well beyond the Olympic Games. The Cold War in the 70s have already warned us that co-operations and trust between capitalist countries and communism countries must be ensured as we cannot risk to have a nuclear war as it will destroy the world. Even though these recent conflicts between Western countries and China have revealed that there is still a need to improve the relationship between countries with different values and beliefs. Till then can sporting events like Olympic Games be independent of politics as the distrust and indifference will be destroyed and long gone then.

When the tremor has settled, and the survivors swallow their last breath beneath the ruin of once prosperous towns, it is destined that those moments of passion, of sympathy, or of what we may call patriotic fervour will as well glow dimmer, for why should we linger over these hard times, just learn from it and carry on. What seemed so paramount is nothing now but a trifling kink along that long, straight and boring path that most of us bear.

Wounds heal on its own, pain fades as time and people pass, memory eroded by our indifference. Love may sustain for a few weeks, a few hundred dollars is its most clear manifestation. So that highly valued sentiment we call love, retreats as the tide of sea, the sea devoid of feelings.

And remember, call the hopeful the fool.