It’s hard to believe the events that have been unfolding during the Olympics. From what I’ve seen and read so far I continue to be amazed and amused by the performance of all Olympians from the athletes to IOC executives.
Like 2 billion others I was eager to watch the fastest men on Earth run what was surely going to be the quickest 100 metre dash in history. I tuned in to NBC about 10 minutes before race time.
Twenty minutes later I was still waiting when it was announced the race was over and Usain Bolt had won. Viewers could watch a replay of the race later during primetime when commercial revenues were higher.
I’m sure it was very exciting to see the race at the stadium and it was probably even a thrill to watch it live on TV. But seeing a replay two hours after the fact was not thrilling at all, even if that guy is really fast.
That was just one of many gaffs, blunders and shoddy performances that make me think the Olympics is evolving into an athletic circus complete with games of chance, freak shows and feats of super-human strength. It has come a long way from its noble beginnings.
The modern Olympic Games were revitalized in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He envisioned an international event for amateur athletes to showcase their skills. He believed the honour of participating should outweigh the importance of winning or losing.
The 2012 Olympic movement is not what he had in mind.
The first example came from the badminton court, which is not usually a hotbed of controversy. It was determined some of the players weren’t trying hard enough and should be disqualified for “not using one’s best effort to win a match.”
It turns out that winning was exactly what they were trying to do. Three teams purposely lost their matches to gain a more favourable draw in the elimination rounds. Isn’t that what it’s all about? It was just a strategic move to go for the gold. Was that so wrong?
Apparently it was, and teams from Indonesia, China and South Korea were sent home. The coaches are under investigation. One of the competitors has retired from the sport.
Canadians can easily relate to this. Our team is bound by Canada’s Own the Podium program. Only the best, most elite athletes receive adequate government funding. If you aren’t a serious contender, forget about it. If all you want is a participation medal go back to kindergarten.
Is the Canadian approach working? Ask equestrian Tiffany Foster who broke down in front of interviewers as she tried to explain her and her horse Victor’s disqualification. Ask tri-athlete Paula Findlay who painfully sobbed and limped across the finish line in last place and later begged the country’s forgiveness.
There shouldn’t be any crying at the Olympics – only tears of joy.
Back at the Olympiad, the IOC claims a victory for inclusiveness and women’s rights after a Saudi woman is allowed to enter the judo ring for the first time wearing a modified hajib on her head. She was soundly defeated in 82 seconds but she still achieved a personal moral victory.
Meanwhile, on the beach volleyball court long, lean and scantily clad women jump high and slap furiously at the ball in what must surely be the Olympics’ jiggliest event. Striking a modest blow for women everywhere, the International Volleyball ¬Fed¬er¬a¬tion has recently lifted its mandatory bikini rule.
The temptation to cheat is strong. More than 100 athletes were caught doping in the six months leading up to the Olympics. During the games there will be 6,250 drug tests. In a twisted bit of logic the increasing number of suspensions is used as evidence the anti-drug policy is working.
When a 16-year-old Chinese girl swam faster than the men, her performance was called “unbelievable” and “disturbing” and even “suspicious.” Although there is no evidence of doping, her blood samples will be kept for eight years. Stay tuned.
A U.S. judo competitor was disqualified for eating a marijuana brownie. He joins a Columbian runner and a Russian cyclist who tested positive for testosterone.
Athletes are being coached to lose. Disqualifications are common. In the background is the usual assortment of cheaters, whiners and crybabies. At the same time a double amputee is flying around the track on Ossur Flex-Foot Cheetah brand legs.
Next stop for this circus – Rio in 2016.
Unbelievable.
