Olympics

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The Olympics are a non-governmental entity so the Olympic organizations are allowed to control what people do. They are allowed to set standards of conduct.

Well. Yes. Sort of. However, they do not exist in a vacuum. Their standards must align with a majority of their members.

That was however not the point I was trying to make. If they allow some sort of activism, then they open the door for all types of activism. Are they then going to punish some of the activities, and not others. That could lead to some sort of chaos. And pundits declaring that that a protest meant something that was not intended. And so on.

Better to not allow any kind of protests. And instead focus on the entertainment it is supposed to be. Plenty of times for the activists to protest outside the games.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The Olympics are a non-governmental entity so the Olympic organizations are allowed to control what people do. They are allowed to set standards of conduct.

Well. Yes. Sort of. However, they do not exist in a vacuum. Their standards must align with a majority of their members.

That was however not the point I was trying to make. If they allow some sort of activism, then they open the door for all types of activism. Are they then going to punish some of the activities, and not others. That could lead to some sort of chaos. And pundits declaring that that a protest meant something that was not intended. And so on.

Better to not allow any kind of protests. And instead focus on the entertainment it is supposed to be. Plenty of times for the activists to protest outside the games.

I agree.

[t001001001]

I applaud matrixgames for allowing this discussion and the users who've kept it civil.

I look at it from a revenue point. Ratings is everything for these events. If very few ppl watch it, it's just a big fat waste of investment. None of my business b/c I won't watch anyway (I'm not interested in sports, not knocking anyone who is, everyone has different interests), and I don't care what the athletes think about anything. If I had money in this thing though - I'd be furious.

[warspite1]

Furious with who?

[t001001001]

At athletes who feel compelled to politic at improper venue and cause this:

"Ratings for Olympics Opening Ceremony Fall 36% From 2016 "

A complete ratings disaster. Catastrophic! I don't manage my IRA, but I sure hope none of my money is invested in this ratings disaster. It probably is in some way or another

[Zap]

My spirit has been dampened this Olympics. All that's happening here in USA is very unsettling. I'm distracted by it all. Although, I have watched some, its been much less then in previous years and with much less enthusiasm..

[warspite1]

I keep trying to compose an appropriate post for this thread. But I guess it's impossible to achieve, while keeping the thread from being locked.

So I'll stick to the sport action and ignore a thread that produces only feelings of profound sadness but sadly, no surprise.

I do like the amended Olympic motto and the addition of a word:

Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together [&o]

[MrsWargamer]

My sympathies with the athletes.

But my love for the event died a long way back and several games ago.

It stopped being about the participants, and too much about the event.

[gamer78]

Every single thing and including all sport barnches is about politics and money. For sport even choosing host nation is about politics. In Hollywood Oscars they make speech politically why they don't make it locally. They wait for for world watching it. And one must ask why there are LGBT Symbols for most sports but not Scottish flag in olympics.

[Garfieldthecat]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: DD696

I agree with you, but for me I despise the anti whatever country demonstrations that the athletes feel they must indulge in to bring disgrace to the games. So many good athletes, but the few who destroy the meaning of bringing honor to those whom you are supposed to represent I absolutely detest . I choose not to watch anyone who brings disgrace to themselves, their team, and their country.

+1
If you do not want to represent your country, then don't. Just don't go - in fact, find another country since the one that you are representing is so bad.

Found the person who doesn't understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Not surprised.

Athletes who stand up to racism and other forms of discrimination are patriots.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Garfieldthecat

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: DD696

I agree with you, but for me I despise the anti whatever country demonstrations that the athletes feel they must indulge in to bring disgrace to the games. So many good athletes, but the few who destroy the meaning of bringing honor to those whom you are supposed to represent I absolutely detest . I choose not to watch anyone who brings disgrace to themselves, their team, and their country.

+1
If you do not want to represent your country, then don't. Just don't go - in fact, find another country since the one that you are representing is so bad.

Found the person who doesn't understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Not surprised.

Athletes who stand up to racism and other forms of discrimination are patriots.

You obviously do not understand the meanings of patriots, patriotism, and nationalism.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Garfieldthecat

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: DD696

I agree with you, but for me I despise the anti whatever country demonstrations that the athletes feel they must indulge in to bring disgrace to the games. So many good athletes, but the few who destroy the meaning of bringing honor to those whom you are supposed to represent I absolutely detest . I choose not to watch anyone who brings disgrace to themselves, their team, and their country.

+1
If you do not want to represent your country, then don't. Just don't go - in fact, find another country since the one that you are representing is so bad.

Found the person who doesn't understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Not surprised.

Athletes who stand up to racism and other forms of discrimination are patriots.

patriot noun
pa·​tri·​ot | \ ˈpā-trē-ət , -ˌät, chiefly British ˈpa-trē-ət \
Definition of patriot
: one who loves and supports his or her country

I'm pretty sure that hating your country doesn't qualify.

[z1812]

[/quote]

athletes who stand up to racism and other forms of discrimination are patriots.

[/quote]



I couldn't agree more.

[Zorch]

A person who criticizes some aspect of their country does not necessarily hate it.

[scaz]

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: DD696

I agree with you, but for me I despise the anti whatever country demonstrations that the athletes feel they must indulge in to bring disgrace to the games. So many good athletes, but the few who destroy the meaning of bringing honor to those whom you are supposed to represent I absolutely detest . I choose not to watch anyone who brings disgrace to themselves, their team, and their country.

+1
If you do not want to represent your country, then don't. Just don't go - in fact, find another country since the one that you are representing is so bad.

+2 The Olympics are supposed to be about the sports and not political grandstanding or kneeing for that matter.

[gekkoguy35]

They've got as much of a right to stand up for things they believe in on a public stage as y'all have to criticize them for doing so here on the internet. Kudos to them having the guts to do it despite knowing that so many folks think they need to just "shut up and play", as if their only value to the world is their athleticism. Countries have used the games to make political statements throughout history (and future such as the upcoming winter Olympics), so they've always been about much more than the sports themselves.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: gamer78

And one must ask why there are LGBT Symbols for most sports but not Scottish flag in olympics.

Warspite1

Why must this bizarre question be asked? I haven’t seen any LGBT symbols so perhaps you could expand more on that. The Scottish flag? British (and NI) athletes compete under Team GB banner - not their individual countries. So what is the ‘problem’?

[Rebel Yell]

Politics in sports is horrible.

Compete, win graciously, lose graciously.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: Garfieldthecat

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe




+1
If you do not want to represent your country, then don't. Just don't go - in fact, find another country since the one that you are representing is so bad.

Found the person who doesn't understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Not surprised.

Athletes who stand up to racism and other forms of discrimination are patriots.

patriot noun
pa·​tri·​ot | \ ˈpā-trē-ət , -ˌät, chiefly British ˈpa-trē-ət \
Definition of patriot
: one who loves and supports his or her country

I'm pretty sure that hating your country doesn't qualify.

warspite1

Why does highlighting discrimination and unfairness neccesarily mean one hates one’s country?