The World Stage

Chapter 17 of the Rader textbook - "American Sports in a Global Arena" - focuses on the politics of the Olympic Games. Former International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage once said that "Sport, like music and other fine arts, transcends politics." In the years following WWII, the Olympic Games became grand spectacles for the international media (Rader, p.300). Athletes have always been required to represent their respective countries - not themselves - in Olympic competition. As a result, the Olympics served as a forum for "international politics and the expression of national identities" (Rader, p.300). The Olympiad temporarily, and somewhat inadvertently, grants each nation the opportunity to champion its political goals.

Athletes that are fortunate enough to participate commonly wear the colors of their country with the utmost pride. On occasion, a small number of athletes choose to take a stand on the Olympic platform. American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos share the one of the most memorable moments of outspokenness in Olympic history. At the 1968 games in Mexico City, following the conclusion of the Men's 200m final, the gold medalist Smith and bronze medalist Carlos bowed their heads and held a clenched fist covered with a black glove to the sky. In addition, the United States medalists stood at the podium and received their medals shoeless – wearing only black socks (San Jose State University). The third man at the podium, silver medal-winning Australian sprinter Peter Norman, joined the silent protest by wearing the same ‘Olympic Project for Human Rights’ (OPHR) badge that was also being worn by Smith and Carlos (BBC News).

The Black Power salute and the OPHR exhibition was a protest against racial inequality at home and abroad. The Mexico City games took place only months after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All three athletes faced ostracism from the Olympic counsel of their home countries in the wake of the protest. Worldwide headlines and negative media attention followed soon thereafter. Smith and Carlos were ejected from the Olympic Village and the 1968 games. Norman, who suggested that each man wear one of Smith’s gloves after Carlos forgot his in the dressing room – and – asked Smith and Carlos if they had an extra OPHR badge for his own use that day, faced even greater challenges in Australia. He qualified for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and ranked as high as 5th in the world, but was not selected to represent Australia that year. By intentionally overlooking Norman, Australia failed to send a sprinter to the Olympics for the first time (BBC News). Additionally, during the ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Norman was not recognized, despite being one of Australia’s best sprinters ever.

Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Peter Norman forged a bond at the 1968 Games that remained intact until Norman’s passing in 2006. Both Carlos and Smith served as pallbearers Washington Post columnist Mike Wise revisited the story of Australia’s Peter Norman in an article that can be found here.

On a personal level, I have always found the Summer and Winter Olympic Games to be riveting. The games combine national pride and individual back-stories with incredible feats of athletic achievement for the entire world to see. As a spectator with more than casual interest, I highly recommend viewing the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, which begin in mid-February of 2010.

Good day.