Spring Break
Olympic boycott could squander political opportunities
Joseph Haynie
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Opinion
However, the motion of boycott failed to gain traction and the committee voted to send a group of athletes to Berlin.
In an attempt to demonstrate Germany's racial superiority, Hitler only allowed Aryan athletes to represent the host nation. But it was a "non-Aryan," an African-American athlete by the name of Jesse Owens who stole the show, demonstrating his athletic superiority by winning four gold medals.
In 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, two African-American athletes, at the medal ceremony for their respective event, raised black-gloved fists and wore black attire, drawing attention to the Civil Rights Movement just north of the border. The world was their audience.
Though the success of the movement cannot be attributed to their demonstration, they were participants nonetheless.
As seen in both Berlin and Mexico City, the Olympics have become a stage for political action, both indirect and direct.
Had America boycotted the games, Jesse Owens would not have shown that hair, eye and skin color have nothing to do with athletic ability. The 1968 Olympics will forever be remembered for those two fists, and not for medal counts or broken records.
The onus for change in China lies with the individual. Athletes and activists are the ones with the power to bring attention to China's problems.
It's safe to assume that China will be closely watching the games, monitoring for any political activism, but so too will the rest of the world.
All eyes are on China and will continue to be so until the games are done. Maybe the Olympics will finally be the catalyst for change that is so desperately needed in the People's Republic.
Joseph Haynie is a senior political science major. His column appears Fridays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
In an attempt to demonstrate Germany's racial superiority, Hitler only allowed Aryan athletes to represent the host nation. But it was a "non-Aryan," an African-American athlete by the name of Jesse Owens who stole the show, demonstrating his athletic superiority by winning four gold medals.
In 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, two African-American athletes, at the medal ceremony for their respective event, raised black-gloved fists and wore black attire, drawing attention to the Civil Rights Movement just north of the border. The world was their audience.
Though the success of the movement cannot be attributed to their demonstration, they were participants nonetheless.
As seen in both Berlin and Mexico City, the Olympics have become a stage for political action, both indirect and direct.
Had America boycotted the games, Jesse Owens would not have shown that hair, eye and skin color have nothing to do with athletic ability. The 1968 Olympics will forever be remembered for those two fists, and not for medal counts or broken records.
The onus for change in China lies with the individual. Athletes and activists are the ones with the power to bring attention to China's problems.
It's safe to assume that China will be closely watching the games, monitoring for any political activism, but so too will the rest of the world.
All eyes are on China and will continue to be so until the games are done. Maybe the Olympics will finally be the catalyst for change that is so desperately needed in the People's Republic.
Joseph Haynie is a senior political science major. His column appears Fridays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
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