Political Games that people play

[Fiona]

FOR as long as I can remember, I have always been an unabashed fan of the Olympic Games. Since I was a kid, they have remained my ultimate in sports.

Sure, they have copped a caning.

Commercialism, corrupt officials, cheats who take drugs. Yet the Olympics have survived and prospered, as resilient as those magnificent athletes who have thrilled us with their deeds.

But if there is one aspect of the Games that I find repugnant, it is the way they have been sullied by those who have chosen to hijack the moment to push their own political agenda.

While the bloodiest episode remains the massacre at Munich in 1972, Adolf Hitler got the ball rolling when he snubbed Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

Then there was the infamous black salute in Mexico City in 1968, when Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists in their own civil rights protest.

Australia's Peter Norman was involved. A silver medallist in the 200m final, he supported his fellow placegetters at the presentation by wearing a Project for Human Rights button on his tracksuit.

Yesterday Norman was at it again, when colleague Mike Hurst reported what he had to say at the unveiling of a statue in honour of Smith and Carlos at San Jose University.

On the subject of protest, Norman urged athletes to continue to use the Olympics as a vehicle to air their political grievances.

With Beijing the host city for the next summer Games in 2008, Norman pointed to China's communist regime.

"Today there is a whole new generation," he said.

"But someone still has to stand up and make a statement on behalf of the downtrodden."

Referring to the Olympics, he went on to say, "Once you've earned the right to stand on that podium, you've got that square metre of the world that belongs to you."

Whoa there. Correction.

That square metre of the world does not belong to you.

It belongs to the Olympics. To the spirit of the Games. You are fortunate to bathe in its glory.

It is the place where those who are gifted enough, fast enough, and courageous enough to win a medal, can wave to the world and celebrate their nation and the magic of the Games. It is not a soapbox on which to protest your own particular cause, whatever that might be.

It is not a platform on which to attack the host city - and the nation - which has welcomed you.

It is not a podium to be abused by criticising your hosts who have invited you to participate, and given you the opportunity to win sport's greatest prize.

China is experiencing an unprecedented economic boom, and the Games in Beijing will give the largest nation on Earth the opportunity to showpiece the extraordinary progress it has made.

My attitude is if you don't like the host, don't go to the party.

No one is pushing your arm up your back to go to Beijing, and if athletes want to protest they should do so by publicly refusing to attend.

To go to Beijing then use that opportunity to protest against the Chinese would be an appalling abuse of the Olympics and the occasion.

Besides. Use your noggin.

It would do more harm than good.

Opinion by Mike Gibson
Fox Sports Australia