So I have decided to boycott the Olympics, not that the IOC nor BOCC will notice, but it is a personal choice. And a political one. I know the athletes when confronted with the question, “Will you boycott the Olympics?” The answer is inevitably “No” followed by “The Olympics are about sports, not politics.” Copout answer.
The Olympics are politics, and hosting them even more so. Don’t you think that China wanted to the Olympics to not only brush up its image but also to flex its muscle with a good gold medal showing? Maybe my decision not to participate seems small and insignificant, but if we all would be more active and stand up for what is the ethical thing to do, don’t you think the world would be a much better place?
Thankfully, cycling does not need the Olympics. I mean really think about it, does the fact riders like Merck, Armstrong or other champions having not won an Olympic medal tarnish or take away from their other accomplishments or careers? No. Has a rider ever built their career off of a gold medal? Again no. So then why play the game? I am sure there is a huge money factor for many of the involved parties, but from a riders perspective it is really just another feather in their cap.
Example, Guna Rita Dahle will go down in history as one of the most dominate riders, racking up a long string of World Cups and World Championships, and oh, she won a gold medal. Same for Bettini, a great classics rider, solid stage racer, multiple World Champion, also has a gold to his name. These two riders have had careers mere mortals can only dream of, even with out a little 24k piece of memorabilia from some sporting event that takes place every four years in a far away place where politicians and business interest groups greased the wheels of the Olympic machine.
Earlier in the year I had a pole asking you what is more important. The choices were top cycling events such as Classics, World Cups, Worlds and the Grand Tours along with the Olympics. In both cases (road and mountain biking) less than 10% chose the Olympics. So in the public platform, and in the eyes of most riders, an Olympic gold pales in comparison with a rainbow or yellow jersey.
We all need to engage more with the world we live in, be it in politics, voting, activism, volunteering, and so on… That includes making a political statement when you have the attention of the world. Riders must follow their convictions and not always the ambitions nor the all mighty dollar (even though it is not so mighty right now…).
Will you boycott the Olympics?
5 comments:
I'll boykott it the same way I did with the Tour De France! Professional Cycling is as dead as it gets.
Support your local grass roots team.
UCI Mountain Biking in Germany is not just dead it is rotten - Fumic in Bejing? Yeah right ... what a joke!
Would you please send a 2 pairs of pink socks to
fumic.brothers.international®
racingteam GmbH
Alleenstrasse 20
73230 Kirchheim/Teck
Send the bill to me!
phaty
Good thoughts Ken.
I loathe the copout attitude of most riders/athletes, not bringing politics into it at all.
It does not tarnish the sport to have some intelligent thinking behind us.
Can we expect to see Molly over here in Europe again this season?
Bring coffee with if you are!
absalon first came into the spotlight in 04 after he took gold in Athens. Yeah he later won Worlds that year and then after and so on, but it was olympic gold that came first
hmmm, so you are saying that Absalon will be remembered for his first Gold medal? the only reason his first Gold will be remembered is because he is/ was the first to win two of them. but that only adds to his long list of wins and titles. He has also won more World Titles in XC than any other, will break the all time World Cup wins (he is tied right now), and can win on any course. Absalon will be remembered as the most dominate male rider in mountain biking, not where it all began.
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