Sport and Politics

Shadowmancer

I am The Last Baron
should they mix? or should they be treated as two separate entities?

I ask this question because of three things.

The 1984 Springbok tour to New Zealand, Zimbabwe cricket and the recent terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team. There is also the addition of the Moscow Olympics as well where a number of countries boycotted because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

My opinion on this topic is that Sport and politics should never mix unless it falls in the case of Zimbabwe where Mugabe is the head of the cricket council there, so it is already inherently politicized.

The 1984 Springbok Tour is the best example of where Sport and Politics met and shouldn't of. There were police squads trained to repel protesters, as well as special escape ways created for the Springboks to get out of a stadium. There was a pitch invasion at a game in Hamilton, the field was flour bombed from a plane. This was all broadcast to South Africa due to the fact that this was the first tour that was broadcast back to South Africa live. There was a huge debate about whether sports and politics was a separate case then, people will still debate the 1984 tour.

But what is your opinion on Sports and Politics and whether they should mix or not.
 
Sports and politics have an inserarable relationship. In 1936, Jesse Owens excelled at the Olympics in Germany. A black man running faster and flying higher than all of Hitler's Aryans. African-American Joe Louis' battles with Max Schmelling were another example of out battles with Hitler.

In the 1960's the Panther salute permeated the games. In 1972, Israeli athletes were taken hostage at the games in Munich. Muhammad Ali refused to fight in Vietnam, and that was the top story for months in the American media.

In the 1980's, people asked Michael Jordan why he wouldn't campaign against Jessie Helms in North Carolina. His response? "Republicans buy shoes too." Mike Tyson helped begin the national discussion on rape. The 2008 Olympcs served as the world's first glimpse of the new China. The social and economic impacts are still being analyzed. However, America's dialogue with communist China began over table tennis in the 70's.

Sports are a way for inclusion. Countries may hate each other, yet embrace each other's athletes. International competition has always been a place where differences are settled both in the field, and in capital offices. When these differences are too great, statements are made just the same. The boycotting of the Moscow Olympcs comes to mind, however, more recently, Shahar Peer of Israel was forbidden to compete in a Tennis tournament in Dubai. Centuries old conflicts have their sides presented through language such as "security concern." She was barred in protest of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, not in her best interest.

The reason for this connection is visibility. Actors, musicians, and athletes are the most visible people short of the President in the country. These people, as a group, are always on TV espousing some view of politics. Today, you can find Susan Sarandon and Arnold Schwarzenegger talking politics. You can hear a Greenday song and harken back to the protest music of the 60's and 70's. You could hear Steve Nash's opinions on the middle east, or see LeBron James moved to tears by the election of Barack Obama.

A well-timed statement by an athlete permeates more homes. Someone, who has it all; money, fame, fortune, youth- taking their time to speak of an injustice, or a new hope, means so much more to some people then ten speeches by a politician. These are real people, with a very special gift, giving opinions on the world. They do not have a staff testing diction and vocabulary before the statement. It usually comes from the heart, and resonates with the youth as much as the decision makers.
 
In a hypothetical way, no sport and politics should not meet. Sport should be seen as a great thing that brings the world together whilst politics are going beserk.

However, sport has got so big and powerful that it is in itself a type of politics now. There is no way to separate the two. Countries stop for sports around the world. Examples, work and school were delayed starting during World Cup games involving England here in 2002 with the early kick-offs (a small example) and the rebels in Sri Lanka stop their war when the Sri Lankan cricket team run out to play (massive example).

Sport is such a global phenomenom that politics has to get involved. In this country, more people would probably know who Cristiano Ronaldo is over Gordon Brown. Politicians are seen to be talking about sport to get themselves more public appeal. Brown goes to many England football matches, forgetting the fact he is Scottish.

This is why the terror attacks on Sri Lanka cricket team are so terrible. Sport was seen in many war torn places to be above the violence. Terrorists have now seen that attacking sports stars is the way to REALLY get a message across. And sport will never be the fun thing it used to be again.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
174,851
Messages
3,300,884
Members
21,726
Latest member
chrisxenforo
Back
Top