The best thing we can do is to refrain from contributing to the farce that Sochi embodies the best of humanity.
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The Olympics, apart from being a spectacle of modern sport, are a way for world leaders to posture and politicize competition between athletes who really couldn’t give a shit one way or another about the post-Cold War geopolitical climate. So, when the Russian Diet passed a ban on “gay propaganda” seven months ahead of the Sochi games, it was just continuing a time honored tradition of politically framing the Olympics. After all, this isn’t even the only issue that’s made Sochi, the city that isn’t even ready to host a way to make a cheap political statement
President Obama’s support for the LGBT community in the summer of 2012 was a major step to be sure, but he hasn’t taken steps in his legislative agenda since re-election to push equality for the LGBT community, presumably because 1. it has no chance of passing the Republican House, and 2. there hasn’t been much movement even from Democrats to define LGBT issues as federal issues. Russia’s move to ban any mention of homosexuality, then, gave President Obama and liberals a way to make another statement without doing much to ensure equality here. So, in response to the barbaric laws that Putin and his allies passed, Obama named two lesbian sports icons, tennis legend Billie Jean King and two-time Olympic hockey medalist Caitlin Cahow, to the American Sochi delegation, and didn’t send any top-ranking American officials. Good public relations move? Yes. But it doesn’t change the fundamental fact that we’re choosing to participate in their Olympics. In effect, we’re condoning their human rights’ abuses because we don’t think it’s a good look to keep our athletes from competing in the pinnacle event of their sport.
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In a way, they’re right. It’s not fair to the athletes to boycott the Games, because at least in spirit, they’re supposed to be non-political and anti-bullshit. But the reality is that they are. So, yes – I agree with the decision to send them to the Olympics. But that doesn’t mean I’ll watch them.
It’s a nearly non-existent dent in the money that NBC’s going to be making from my decision to not watch the Olympics, and it will make a whopping difference of $0 to Russia. That’s not the point. I’m not going to watch because it doesn’t feel right to. It doesn’t feel right to be supporting the Olympics (Russia’s futile attempts to make their money back from hosting the Games) while gay kids are being beaten nearly to death all over Russia, and then are told by police that they should have expected it because they’re gay.
If that’s not enough reason for you, then here’s another one, from Jezebel‘s Erin Gloria Ryan:
Sochi’s got a stray issue, too, but some of it is self-induced. Some of the dogs that now wander the streets don’t have places to live because the Olympic organizing committee forced their owners to clear out of their homes to make way for the Games. And now, tame, mostly-harmless pups are being rounded up and killed, in the spirit of global unity and competition or something. A billionaire has stepped in to try to save them, but who knows how many were rounded up before they could be saved.
That’s right: caught up in the Olympic spirit, the city of Sochi and the Russian government kicked a bunch of people out of their homes and are now killing their dogs.
Russia’s laws and policies are a shining example of the lengths we’ll go to in order to convince ourselves sports are some untouchable entity that only explores the upsides of the human condition, because it’s utter bullshit. My only hope is that the Sochi Games have a Jesse Owens moment where a gay athlete wins a gold medal to rub Putin’s nose in it. But the best thing we can do, as men and as human beings who care about other human beings, is to refrain from contributing to the farce that Sochi embodies the best of humanity. It’s a lie, and it’s in clear violation of the Olympic Charter that Google so eloquently displayed under their Sochi Doodle:
“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
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Credit—Flickr/illang
‘I’m not watching the Olympics’ – cool, I get it.
‘…and neither should you.’ Er, right.
If I do or don’t, it won’t be because some overzealous bloke on the net told me to. However, it will make me chuckle into the hot chocolate as I watch 117 different ways to slide down a hill, as I think of the irony in someone trying to dictate what others should do.
Wow. Projective Myopia. Not watching the Games will not affect the Athletes in any way, positive or negative; it will only affect, with each viewer, support for Putin and his genocidal policies along with the sponsors of these new-levels-of-IOC-and-government corruption Olympics. I will probably watch a video at some point; but I cannot be a part of anything that adds credibility to Putin or puts one cent into the pockets of Olympic Sponsors, this year. Putin’s genocidal policies and sanctioned persecution and torture of his LGBT citizens takes precedence over anything that could add one .001 point to ratings, Nielsen… Read more »
Many of these comments suggest that we have a patriotic obligation to watch the games, that the athletes have worked so hard for this and they deserve my screen time. How ludicrous, to think that if we refrain from watching a political sporting event, we are somehow letting down athletes. They have reached the apex of their sport; they are at the Olympics, for goodness’ sake! Whether we watch or not, they have done something amazing with themselves. I support the athletes, I do not support what the Olympics have become, and I will not watch the Olympics. My choice… Read more »
Well said. If I knew someone who was competing, I may feel differently, but truth be told I have never cared much for the Olympics. I wouldn’t be watching simply because it doesn’t interest me, but the politics behind it this year are abhorrent and double my disinterest. Correct me if I’m wrong but in this country we have freedom of choice; choosing to not watch the Olympics does not a “bad American” make. Patriotic obligations to watch is ridiculous; especially considering I know many people who will watch and NOT root for the U.S.A. teams, for no reason other… Read more »
Paul, I whole heartedly agree with you and I think you articulate the situation well. In 2014, there is going to be NO way to not hear about Olympic results. So my not watching them is not going to hurt anyone especially the athletes! The athletes have dedicated themselves to goals NOT to audiences. They want to compete. This is what they have trained for. They want their supportive family there to watch. Fine. However, I am NOT lending my eyeballs and my precious time to watching this debacle of whatever-you-want- to- call-it in the country of Russia. I’m sure… Read more »
Paul, you complain that Russia politicizes the Olympics then you go ahead and do the same thing. Also there are other more pressing issues than LGBT rights involved here. The Obama administration is not sending any high level delegates not because he doesn’t support gay rights, but to protest Russia’s harboring of the fugitive Snowden, the Syrian civil war issues and other serious crises. Let the games be about sports and turn down the volume on everyone’s pet political peeve. Support the athletes because they are exceptional human beings, not whether they are gay, straight or somewhere in between.
Isn’t the idea that the Olympics as they stand can ever be depoliticized essentially a political position pushed by the IOC? In my opinion, you can’t spend government money in the tens of billions without politics creeping in.
While I think the intent of this article is noble and I support LGBT rights as a human and civil rights issue, I think you got this one wrong. Fans watch the Olympics because of the athletes, and it’s not the fault of the athletes that Russia has these policies and the athletes shouldn’t be punished by having their moment in the spotlight that they’ve worked so hard for be discredited because of external issues. You can also think bigotry and hatred as a reason FOR watching the Olympics. A gay or lesbian athlete may win Gold in an event,… Read more »
This is really interesting to me. I understand your view not to watch, you explain it well. But to deny our athletes the audience they deserve for the hard work they put into their craft feels wrong to me as well. I personally enjoy all of the games in the Olympics and look forward to the events every time it comes around. I hope to watch and see the athletes shine their support and stance against the politics in Russia. I hope that happens. I doubt it, but I would like to be surprised. Hmm, y’know, it feels different when… Read more »
I don’t feel any idealistic sentiment about the Olympic games one way or the other. It seems odd to suggest that to watch the games one has to be ideologically committed to their official feel-good message, but if you’re not then you shouldn’t watch them. If I watch or don’t watch, it won’t be because of any political affinity. Many people just like to watch sports. I happen to think that women figure skaters are incredibly sexy and I like to watch them move. I also like to watch hockey, because I like watching hockey. I don’t watch as a… Read more »
Im sorry, I do not agree at all. This is a request that will influence no one in a position to make a change. And these athletes work too hard for this.
I’ve been the athlete with the olympic dream, the 9 year old who watched Janet Evans cruise to a new world record in the women’s 800m freestyle and wanted to be that good one day. It didn’t happen but the dream was still there. I’ve never had a massive connection to the winter olympics, save for a good friend from school battling back from a horrendous knee injury to ski in the olympics for Great Britain. But with all that faith in the sport and support of the athletes and their efforts I cannot bring myself to support these games.… Read more »
Paul,
You really should reconsider your decision not to watch. Yup, it’s a debacle but who are you hurting by not watching? Athletes only.
I will be watching the Olympics, not because I support anti-gay ideals or am in any way homo-phobic, but because my country has a record amount of athletes (straight AND gay) that have dedicated the last 4 years of their lives to their sport and they are their representing my country!!
Amen, Angela! Not watching is only hurting the athletes. Not watching will do nothing. The sponsors have already paid, commercial air time has already been bought and visitors, athletes and media are already there. Not watching will do nothing to hurt the Russians, the IOC or any other higher ups. Everyone should be supporting our athletes who have spent their entire lives training for this. It will only hurt them if no one watches or supports. Yes, we can all agree that this has been and will be a debacle but none of that is the fault of our athletes.… Read more »
Amen, Angela! Not watching will do nothing. The sponsors have already paid, commercial air time has already been bought and visitors, athletes and media are already there. Not watching will do nothing to hurt the Russians, the IOC or any other higher ups. Everyone should be supporting our athletes who have spent their entire lives training for this. It will only hurt them if no one watches or supports. Yes, we can all agree that this has been and will be a debacle but none of that is the fault of our athletes. Not watching is ridiculous and not productive… Read more »
Like I said in the article: I have no problem with our athletes competing, and they shouldn’t be hurt by the IOC’s decision. And if Americans win, I’ll be all for it. I just won’t watch the Games. I hardly think it’s ridiculous to not watch something, or that it’s crazy-talk just because Americans are involved. What if you don’t care about any of the sports? I don’t want to make it seem like I think I’m taking some huge stand for social justice by not watching television. I’m not. But if the state of Pennsylvania passed a similar law… Read more »
I support russian laws protecting children and so should you.
Judging from the above list, people with strong convictions may want to reconsider any visits to these countries as well.
Let’s hope these countries don’t sponsor the winter or summer Olympics 83 countries where homosexuality is illegal 1 Algeria 2 Angola 3 Benin 4 Botswana 5 Burundi 6 Cameroon 7 Comoros 8 Egypt 9 Eritrea 10 Ethiopia 11 Gambia 12 Ghana 13 Guinea 14 Kenya 15 Lesotho 16 Liberia 17 Libya 18 Malawi 19 Mauritania 20 Mauritius 21 Morocco 22 Mozambique 23 Namibia 24 Nigeria 25 Sao Tome 26 Senegal 27 Seychelles 28 Sierra Leone 29 Somalia 30 South Sudan 31 Sudan 32 Swaziland 33 Tanzania 34 Togo 35 Tunisia 36 Uganda 37 Zambia 38 Zimbabwe Asia, including the Middle… Read more »