Quote:
Originally Posted by dinosaur  "Rule 4 Cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace
Rule 6: Act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement
Rule 15 Encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education"
This is what I mean when I say the Olympics is more than just a sporting event. Its not just a hockey game played in some random country every 4 years.
There is a reason that this is the first time Russia has had the games...there is a reason that there is a better likelihood that the moon will produce milk over North Korea getting the games. |
+1 to this issue residing more in the grey area of things
The olympics are a time when countries all over the world can come together and engage in friendly competition - an outward expression of sportsmanship and a tentative gesture of trust. The idea of fighting over a sporting event (global or not) might not seem like a big deal - but when you think about it, it's the one thing we all care enough to invest heavily in. Sports are one of the few things powerful enough to draw the attention of those all around the world. It's something that we can all hold an agreement to, while clearly, homophobia is something we cannot.
Human rights, equality, freedom to sexual orientation, etc. These are words strung together in a way to make the world (or part of it at least) seem like a much better place to live in. Freedom has granted us with many things, and in doing so, it has also allowed us to be analytical of our surroundings - and so the formation of lobbyist/activist/protest groups would systematically follow. If a few words written in the constitution can guarantee all the things it promises, we wouldn't have these groups around relaying their haves and have nots would we? Inequality and discrimination is the basis from which this world operates on. You can take away racism, feminism, HECK, even homophobia, and the list will never work it's way down to the big umbrella of discrimination. That's right, because it's faulty logic. You can hack away at the twigs of a tree and never touch base with the strong roots it lays its foundation upon. Say what you will, but at the end of the day it's only habitual for humans of all shapes and sizes to form cliques and fight to the death. Even when there isn't a reason to, you can sure as hell trust that we'll find one.
There is a controversy to Russia's stand on homophobia ONLY because modern society (North American/Western Society) has placed such a strong emphasis on homophobia. It is an aspect amongst many other aspects that we choose to open our eyes to. Inadvertently, we turn a blind eye to the numerous other displays of discrimination hanging out in the side lines.
As mentioned, the stronger countries will naturally be inclined to impose their own ideologies/beliefs upon other countries. The stronger ones will germinate the cultures of the weaker ones, which will eventually crumble and fall. Darwin's theory of natural selection. So why decide to host the olympics in a "developing" country, knowing that differences are bound to exist, and still continue to bridge the gap between these differences? Simply put, because they can.
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