PUBLISHED: August 2, 2024 | www.baltimoresun.com
Millions of people from across the world tuned in Friday evening to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Every four years, the Olympics promises two weeks of pure competitive spirit and athletic competition where the only things that divide us are our artificial and natural borders. No politics, no war — just unadulterated athleticism and a surge of national pride. Yet, while the world watched in awe of the magnificent artistic splendor of the opening ceremony, millions of Christians from across the globe — and perhaps millions more who have even a shred of respect for others — witnessed a shocking scene that spurred global outrage and condemnation, even forcing the Olympics to issue a statement: a televised performance of scantily clad performers in drag positioned at a long table that bore a striking resemblance to one of the most iconic masterpieces in the annals of religious art, Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
The artist who directed the performance, Thomas Jolly, said in response to the criticism that “The Last Supper” was “not my inspiration.”
Of course, an ex post facto denial is meaningless when there is a mountain of evidence to the contrary. The person in the center had a silver headdress strikingly resembling a halo, just as what appears atop Jesus’s head in typical religious iconography. The central figure’s dress is blue and white, the same color scheme that da Vinci depicted on Jesus. Many of the performers’ poses were similar to those of the 12 apostles, and they were arranged in groups, just as in the painting.
This mockery of Christianity highlights a troubling reality that disrespect is not the exception but the norm in the Olympics.
In a 2020 article, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach wrote, “The Olympic Games are not about politics. The IOC, as a civil non-governmental organization, is strictly politically neutral.” In March 2024, the IOC put out a press release reaffirming their opposition to the politicization of the Olympics, using this tenet within the Olympic Charter to justify their condemnation of the Russian government’s plans to organize a politically motivated sporting event called the “Friendship Games,” which violate the Olympic charter.
Apparently, this non-politicization of the Olympics does not extend to allowing Taiwan to participate under their preferred name and flag, under pressure from the Chinese Communist regime and various host countries. That includes Canada, which in 1976 was the first host country to refuse to allow Taiwan to participate under the name “Republic of China,” Taiwan’s official name. Canada recognized the People’s Republic of China — mainland China — as the legitimate government of China. In 1979, the IOC voted to rename the Olympic Committee for the Republic of China to “Chinese Taipei.” To add insult to injury, the Chinese Taipei committee was even prohibited from using the Republic of China’s national anthem or flag during the Olympic Games. They are still barred from displaying any symbols of their home country, and no national identity is allowed.
The Olympic Games have always been politicized, something we have all come to accept. The true issue the Olympics faces is not politicization but the surmounting disrespectful actions that it allows without punishment or corrective action. The odious class of politicization is exclusionary rather than celebratory. Disallowing Taiwan to participate under their name, flag and anthem is a sign of grave disrespect for the 23 million living, breathing human beings who live in Taiwan and who love and respect their country. Mocking “The Last Supper” is extremely disrespectful toward more than 2 billion Christians worldwide.
But that’s not all. Why was Tajikistan’s judo Olympian Nurali Emomali not stripped of his victory over his Israeli opponent Baruch Shmailov after he refused to shake hands with him and shouted “Allahu Akbar” on the mat? Emomali, perhaps through divine intervention, was later seen crying in pain — and probably at his misfortune — after he dislocated his shoulder in a later match. If the Olympic Committee were true to their word on the non–politicization of the sport, they would implement a rule to automatically disqualify or strip an athlete of victory if they show contempt for another based on their national or religious affiliation.
It is entirely possible that this disrespect is government-mandated too, so this would prevent a scenario similar to what happened at the World Master Weightlifting Championships in 2023 when an Iranian weightlifter, Mostafa Rajaee (the silver medalist), was banned from competition for life by the Iranian regime after he shook hands with an Israeli athlete.
Of course, there have been far worse displays of disrespect and hostility toward others shown in the past, like during the events following the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Palestinian militants murdered 11 Israeli coaches and athletes and one German police officer. Just hours after the massacre, spectators at the West Germany vs. Hungary soccer match famously held up a banner that said, “17 dead, already forgotten?” Security kicked them out. Years later, the IOC refused to recognize a minute of silence at the 2012 London Olympic Games for the murdered Israelis, with the IOC President saying it would be “inappropriate.” They said this even though they held a commemoration for the victims of the July 2005 London Bombings. This was likely based on the same reasoning for their previous stance on refusing to establish a permanent memorial for the victims when an IOC official stated it could “alienate other members of the Olympic community.” When did memorializing dead athletes become political? What if it were Americans — or anyone else — who died?
But, as history informs us, revenge for disrespect and hostility comes in many forms. In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, following Hitler’s infamous Olympic speech where he derided Jews and spoke of racial supremacy, Black American runner Jesse Owens won four gold medals in Hitler’s backyard.
Politics, in some shape or form, will always permeate international athletics, be it through a showing of athletic supremacy on the world stage or through acts of protest and demonstrations of national identity. Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman, in the 1994 Sydney Olympics, carried both the Australian and Aboriginal flags during her victory lap after winning the gold medal in protest of the government refusing to apologize for their brutal mistreatment of the Aboriginal people, one of whom was her grandmother who was forcibly taken from her family. In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the national anthem in protest of the historical and current mistreatment of Black people in the United States.
At the Olympics, there is no shortage of model behavior, like in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy) jumped on top of and hugged his rival, Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) after both mutually agreed to share the gold medal when neither could best the other. Of course, during each competition, there are many genuine hugs between rivals congratulating each other on their victories and consoling them in their losses.
Athletes at the Olympics may not speak the same language, but they all understand competition. They speak the language of victory and loss, dedication and perseverance, and striving for excellence. They all know the pain and dedication it took them to get to where they are.
Athletes who celebrate the amiable competitive spirit of the Olympics are the true winners. But when disrespect spreads throughout the Olympic Village, we all lose.
Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.
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