by Derek Rosin – BASICS Issue #18
Like many sports fans, I get excited for the Olympics. They’re a chance for us to see great athletes at their best. Power, grace, speed, finesse, the physical and mental efforts of people who have trained years to excel at their sports – the result is often something that reminds me of great art – an almost magical exposition of human capability. Well, that’s the dream anyway. Unfortunately, the Olympics take place in a context that far too often drags the potential of sport through the mud.
This was apparent right from the opening ceremonies in Vancouver. Despite some impressive moments, the four-hour show was mostly a tacky display of Canadian national chauvinism.
Former Olympian-cum-CTV commentator Catriona Le May Doan talking about how Canada, “from Calgary to Kandahar” was excited for the Games was a pointed (and unintentionally hilarious) reminder of the ugly politics behind the glitz.
Another striking aspect of the opening ceremonies was the prominence given to Aboriginal people. This was a dishonest attempt by the organizers to show
the world an image of harmony between Canada and its indigenous peoples, and conveniently hide the desperate and poverty-stricken reality.
The warm and fuzzy imagery also neglected to mention that most of British Columbia remains un-ceded (read: stolen) First Nations territory.
Politicizing the Olympics is nothing new. Nazi Germany tried to use their Olympics in Berlin in 1936 to show the superiority of the Aryan race, while for decades the late Soviet Union and the United States used Olympic competition to demonstrate the supposed dominance of their respective systems.
But this nationalist-driven chase for medals is degrading to sport. To be meaningful and enjoyable, sports have to be played to win, but winning cannot be the sole method of judging sucess. When the goal is “winning at all costs,” we all lose.
Look at the athletes who died young from taking performance-enhancing drugs. Look at the ugly racism and violence whipped up around big sports events. Look at the sports themselves: defence-first conservatism in soccer; trapping and grinding hockey; diving; intentionally injuring competitors.
The value of playing fairly and making sport beautiful is tossed aside in deference to the brutal commandment to “just win, baby!”
Even attempts to crack down on doping seem to miss the big picture.
Drug use is attacked as being unfair. But today we have a world where a few rich countries can afford to pay their athletes to train full time, and are willing to spend millions on the best training facilities, coaches, nutritionists, and even sports psychologists.
Athletes from poorer countries have to spend their energy working and scrounging for funds to make their dreams come true. Isn’t this global imbalance between rich and poor the source of real unfairness?
What strikes me as being truly unfair is the system that denies sport to millions of youth around the world because of poverty and neglect. Maybe the world’s greatest athlete today is sweating away in a garment factory, having never had the chance to unleash his or her potential.
All this gets me thinking of a world where sports have been freed from the ugliness of the current set-up. Imagine a future world that could have an Olympics that is a real international gathering of peace and friendship to stand in awe of athletic achievement. I say that’s something worth fighting for.
Do you?
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