The Olympics: A Stage for More Than Sports
Art by Lynn Le
The rarity of the quadrennial event of the Olympics creates a huge buzz around the world. The best of the best athletes from all corners of the globe compete under bright lights proudly in their nation's colors. It comes with an extreme glitz and glamor for sports taking center stage of media and conversations for these special few weeks. This silencing attention that the games receive, even from those who are not avid sports fans, creates an anomalous ability for athletes to speak to the globe as a whole. Since the creation of the modern games in 1896, the Olympics global stage has been used by athletes, activists, and national figures for more than just an opportunity to show athletic prowess. Protests at the Olympic games have been going on for centuries due to the unique ability to address the entire world at once. One of the most notable instances is during the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, in which Black Panther Party members Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised one gloved hand in salute of Black Power while the Star Spangled Banner played for the medal ceremony. The modern games continue to offer a chance for people to share a message for help or hold a nation accountable for wrongdoings, and win a medal or two.
With the upcoming Summer Olympics set to take place in Paris this July, the political and global ramifications of this event have once again come to the forefront of discussions. Prior to the coveted Opening Ceremony, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) undergoes countless investigations to evaluate which nations will be permitted to compete and which nations will elect to enter. As the global climate currently is quite tumultuous, it is not surprising that the international community would have trouble deciphering which nations are to be included. It is widely accepted that the IOC uses its power as a governing athletic body to hold nations that have violated both athletic rules and international agreements. However, the IOC must navigate punishing a nation for their wrongdoings and not their athletes. Yet, they are expected to create decisions that protect the implicated athletes and allow their hard work to be acknowledged in this year's Olympics.
The IOC has concluded that Russian and Belarusian athletes that qualified for the Olympics will have to compete as "neutrals." This strips these athletes of the ability to perform with any emblem, anthem, or symbol to reference their home nation. Removing the tie from the athletes to their national flag might seem like an extreme punishment, considering it is essentially a tournament of countries; however, it is an attempt from the international community to hold Russia and Belarus accountable for their behavior. This ban is a direct response from the IOC and World Athletics to hold these countries accountable for the atrocious human rights and international law violations due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Prior to this determination, Ukraine and up to 40 other nations had threatened to boycott the 2024 games if Russia and Belarus were to be represented, forcing the IOC's hand in this decision.
This decision employed by the IOC is not new, but rather has been used by the Committee against Russia previously. In the delayed 2021 Olympics, Russian athletes were only permitted to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The ROC was formed following the 2019 ruling by the World Anti-Doping Agency that Russian athletes were using illegal substances during preparations and competitions, leading to a four year ban from international tournaments. This permitted the athletes who were not accused or implicated by this ruling to continue to compete in the 2021 Summer Olympics in an attempt to refrain from punishing athletes that were unaware or refused to participate in the doping schemes. This punishment for doping scandals, however, has since been lifted.
The decision made by the IOC allows athletes from these nations to continue to perform on the Olympic stage, while also holding the states accountable for their breaches of international and human rights law and removing the potential of the attention and glory that accompanies a win at the games. Yet, it is important to note that this method of punishment employed by the IOC protects the athletes. The Olympics is a pivotal moment in an athlete's career and a vital opportunity to make a name for themselves on the biggest athletic stage in the world. A sudden disqualification from the competition because of international ramifications of the actions made by your host country cannot justly be quantified. This permits the athletes to prove their talent and compete in the event they have been preparing for, while also making the attempt to hold those who breach international law accountable.
This decision employed by the IOC is not new, but rather has been used by the Committee against Russia previously. In the delayed 2021 Olympics, Russian athletes were only permitted to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The ROC was formed following the 2019 ruling by the World Anti-Doping Agency that Russian athletes were using illegal substances during preparations and competitions, leading to a four year ban from international tournaments. This permitted the athletes who were not accused or implicated by this ruling to continue to compete in the 2021 Summer Olympics in an attempt to refrain from punishing athletes that were unaware or refused to participate in the doping schemes. This punishment for doping scandals, however, has since been lifted.
The location of the Olympics has brought up a similar controversy. The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to be in Paris, France, after years of bidding on the games and losing. This came out of desperation for Paris, as there has been a decrease in tourism and interest in the famous location following a period of terrorist attacks and inadequate living wages conditions. French President, Emmanuel Macron, believes that hosting the games will show the world that France is winning their battle against terrorism and is making strides towards their previous status around the globe. The past wo Olympics were greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the following international events, such as the 2022 Men's World Cup in Qatar, were similarly tainted being held in locations with long histories of human rights abuses. In response, Paris is claiming that their rendition of the Olympics will act as a win for democracy.
However, Parisian locals and outsiders are not as convinced about the success the Games will bring to the area. Recently, there has been substantial backlash against Macron's government and the undemocratic push of policies. Macron had controversially signed a bill which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 to address the economic costs of the Games, angering many French unions and laborers and raising extreme dissatisfaction with the Olympic host site. In response, French unions have cut power to the Olympic Village and the Stade de France stadium, which is the main competition location for the games. This is only the beginning of backlash from locals against the games. Because of the global attention that will soon be honed in on Paris, the Olympics will become an epicenter for activists to be able to amplify their message.
There is still a long way to go before the Olympic Games for things to change; however, it is almost certain that the games will be accompanied by protests and scrutiny as the world turns its head towards this event. The Olympics' unusual ability to foster a global silence and grab the world's attention makes it the ideal place to bring issues of human rights and mistreatment to light. But for now, it is just a matter of time before the world will see what nations win gold, both on the field and off.