I will be discussing about the politics within the Olympics, with a focus on the current Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Storified by NicholasLok · Thu, Feb 20 2014 19:57:30
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/20/opinion/bass-sochi-politics-ukraine/index.html?hpt=op_r1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLZki64_28M
In the article mentioned above, the author feels that there are too much politics involved within the Olympics. The wearing of black armbands or something to that extent has largely been banned by the International Olympics Committee(IOC), and the author feels that such restrictions should not be used. The author points out a recent example in which the Ukrainian athletes wanted to honour those that passed on in protests in their country. The situation in Ukraine is shown in the video, where many people were severely injured. When observing the dire situation in Ukraine, it seems appropriate that these deaths do not go unforgotten. Therefore, the author feels that such situations are accpetable and the Olympics should allow such actions.
I agree with the author that athletes should be able to wear armbands or something similar to remember those that have passed on or to remember a tragic event. Definitely, a line has to be drawn as athletes should not be allowed to wear armbands to commemorate the inception of the Taliban. However, in football, especially in England, soccer players are allowed to wear armbands in remembrance of an event. One of which was the Hillsborough disaster, where 96 died in the incident and every year during that day, Liverpool players will wear a black armband. On the other hand, in the Olympics, skiers were not allowed to wear armbands in honour of the late Canadian halfpipe skier Sarah Burke. Their justification? The rule which states that "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted." Personally, it is hard to see how the above situation is of any propaganda. Therefore, I definitely agree with the author's stance.
Since Singapore does not play a major role in the Olympics, as our athletes are not up to par with the World's best, I feel his arguments do not apply to my society. Even when looking at Singapore and the sporting activities that happen here, there is little political influence.
