Chewed on the no politics at the Olympics comment for myself and I think where I landed was that the Olympics should be apolitical. I do think these countries should be punished for their actions, however, with the number and types of international destabilizing events increasing, I think this is a quick win for international cooperation. Something all humans can get behind. Doping obviously should be punished, but that’s an athletic issue.
Obviously the precedent of excluding countries has been set, so there’d be vitriolic pushback, but I think it would be worth it to have one majorly public institution (read: in popular awareness) that doesn’t judge, it just lets athletes compete.
I do like the concept of a “politics-free” sporting event, but then those events need to actually be free of politics. That makes things like partially unrecognised countries (Palestine, Taiwan, South Ossetia, Sealand) very difficult, though, so you’d end up with tons of micronations and disputed areas in the line-up, which immediately becomes politics again.
However, I don’t think the IOC is as neutral as they claim. Belarus being excluded for “invading during the Olympic ceasefire” or whatever they claimed was just a political move.
If you’re trying to be free of politics, you’ll have to stay free of politics every time. It’s all or nothing.
In that regard, I sort of respect the IOC for disciplining athletes that refused to compete with Israeli/Russian athletes. I can’t fault the athletes themselves, but at least the organisation seems to stick to its guns most of the time.
Honestly, I think I’d prefer it if there were no flags involved at all.
Chewed on the no politics at the Olympics comment for myself and I think where I landed was that the Olympics should be apolitical. I do think these countries should be punished for their actions, however, with the number and types of international destabilizing events increasing, I think this is a quick win for international cooperation. Something all humans can get behind. Doping obviously should be punished, but that’s an athletic issue.
Obviously the precedent of excluding countries has been set, so there’d be vitriolic pushback, but I think it would be worth it to have one majorly public institution (read: in popular awareness) that doesn’t judge, it just lets athletes compete.
Thoughts?
I do like the concept of a “politics-free” sporting event, but then those events need to actually be free of politics. That makes things like partially unrecognised countries (Palestine, Taiwan, South Ossetia, Sealand) very difficult, though, so you’d end up with tons of micronations and disputed areas in the line-up, which immediately becomes politics again.
However, I don’t think the IOC is as neutral as they claim. Belarus being excluded for “invading during the Olympic ceasefire” or whatever they claimed was just a political move.
If you’re trying to be free of politics, you’ll have to stay free of politics every time. It’s all or nothing.
In that regard, I sort of respect the IOC for disciplining athletes that refused to compete with Israeli/Russian athletes. I can’t fault the athletes themselves, but at least the organisation seems to stick to its guns most of the time.
Honestly, I think I’d prefer it if there were no flags involved at all.