The Olympic movement claims political neutrality. In reality, that ideal is often selectively applied

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 05:29:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-olympic-movement-claims-political-neutrality-in-reality-that-ideal-is-often-selectively-applied-164558>

"The confluence of nations at the Olympics also underscores the IOC’s
much-vaunted position that the games must be politically neutral. Indeed, as a
practical demonstration of that aspiration, both the IOC and the United Nations
promulgate the goal of an Olympic Truce for a period of seven days before the
Olympics until seven days after the Paralympics.

Thus, there is an expectation that UN member states will “cease hostilities”,
ostensibly to protect athletes competing at the Tokyo games.

However, that anti-political idealism is confounded by a sobering reality:
nations and athletes come together to compete at the Olympics, but they can
hardly leave behind a range of tensions and conflicts in global geopolitics.

Indeed, beneath the hubris of Olympic evangelism, the realpolitik of
corruption, conflict, domination or genocide permeate numerous countries that
are an integral part of the so-called “Olympic family”. Among them, Myanmar and
Iran provide compelling examples."

Via Muse, who wrote "Tokyo 2021 should make it obvious that the Olympics are a
capitalist media extravaganza and a propaganda machine for toxic nationalism.
These games are not good for the athletes; their health is not a high priority.
These games are no longer about peace, but maintaining status quo. I no longer
support them."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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