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Skybird · 03-18-08, 05:07 AM

The athletes winning in Peking, will be in a very powerful political position, and that politicians look for the closeness to sports and successful winner, hardly is by random chance and by the individual politician's personal interest. Just imagine how bad Peking would look if winners of medals would nevertheless speak out freely in interviews or during the ceremonies! Just imagine winner would give back their medals in huge numbers, or would refuse them during ceremonies! It should not be, but it is a fact that today sports and politics go hand in hand. Athletes often are called "ambassadors"; of a nation. There are "national teams". Why this if politics - and sometimes nationalism - had nothing to do with it? just imagine some of the sport events and sport duels between the USSR and the USA during the cold war: hockey, for example. Sports cannot escape to be political these days - and many athletes, I fear, live in a both naive and opportunistic dreamworld were they think they could practise their sports unpolitical. That is comfortable and easy, and avoids facing tough questions, and does not force anybody to question his engagement - but nevertheless it is unrealistic, and in this meaning: wrong.

03-18-08, 05:07 AM	#47
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,762 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	The athletes winning in Peking, will be in a very powerful political position, and that politicians look for the closeness to sports and successful winner, hardly is by random chance and by the individual politician's personal interest. Just imagine how bad Peking would look if winners of medals would nevertheless speak out freely in interviews or during the ceremonies! Just imagine winner would give back their medals in huge numbers, or would refuse them during ceremonies! It should not be, but it is a fact that today sports and politics go hand in hand. Athletes often are called "ambassadors"; of a nation. There are "national teams". Why this if politics - and sometimes nationalism - had nothing to do with it? just imagine some of the sport events and sport duels between the USSR and the USA during the cold war: hockey, for example. Sports cannot escape to be political these days - and many athletes, I fear, live in a both naive and opportunistic dreamworld were they think they could practise their sports unpolitical. That is comfortable and easy, and avoids facing tough questions, and does not force anybody to question his engagement - but nevertheless it is unrealistic, and in this meaning: wrong. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 03-18-08 at 07:27 AM.