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Winter Olympics test moral fibre as much as physical courage Winter Olympics test moral fibre as much as physical courage
(35 minutes later)
When the winter Olympics open in Sochi in February, the extraordinary courage of the athletes will be one of the few things that most Australian viewers have no problem understanding.When the winter Olympics open in Sochi in February, the extraordinary courage of the athletes will be one of the few things that most Australian viewers have no problem understanding.
Terrifying injuries and even death are always just around in the corner in sports that involve high speed on snow and ice, as many will remember from the fatal accident suffered by the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in practice for the 2010 Vancouver Games.Terrifying injuries and even death are always just around in the corner in sports that involve high speed on snow and ice, as many will remember from the fatal accident suffered by the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in practice for the 2010 Vancouver Games.
When Alisa Camplin won Australia’s first skiing gold medal, at Salt Lake City in 2002, she had overcome years of the kind of injuries that are part and parcel of the aerial discipline: broken collarbone, broken hand, separated shoulder, dislocated sternum (twice), broken ankles (both), torn right knee and 12 cracked ribs. She had also “ripped her hip flexor out of her groin”, according to her official Australian Olympic profile.When Alisa Camplin won Australia’s first skiing gold medal, at Salt Lake City in 2002, she had overcome years of the kind of injuries that are part and parcel of the aerial discipline: broken collarbone, broken hand, separated shoulder, dislocated sternum (twice), broken ankles (both), torn right knee and 12 cracked ribs. She had also “ripped her hip flexor out of her groin”, according to her official Australian Olympic profile.
But at the 2014 Games even more is demanded of the competitors – they are being challenged to match that incredible physical bravery with the moral guts to say or do something about the campaign of intimidation and violence against gay people in the host country. The “anti-propaganda” laws passed in June and signed by President Vladimir Putin have helped foster a climate in which gay Russians live in fear of brutal attacks, authorised discrimination and the destruction of their families.But at the 2014 Games even more is demanded of the competitors – they are being challenged to match that incredible physical bravery with the moral guts to say or do something about the campaign of intimidation and violence against gay people in the host country. The “anti-propaganda” laws passed in June and signed by President Vladimir Putin have helped foster a climate in which gay Russians live in fear of brutal attacks, authorised discrimination and the destruction of their families.
What does this have to do with the Australians hoping to be selected for Sochi? On one level it’s easy to absolve them of responsibility. Other sports teams travel to countries with all kinds of dubious human rights records and barely an eyebrow is raised. No one asked the Socceroos to comment on the status of women when they travelled to Saudi Arabia for a World Cup qualifier two years ago. Cricketers are not required to express views on accusations of atrocities against the Sri Lankan government when they go there, nor on the appalling levels of anti-gay violence in Jamaica, where uncompromisingly homophobic views are tolerated at the highest levels of government and the church.What does this have to do with the Australians hoping to be selected for Sochi? On one level it’s easy to absolve them of responsibility. Other sports teams travel to countries with all kinds of dubious human rights records and barely an eyebrow is raised. No one asked the Socceroos to comment on the status of women when they travelled to Saudi Arabia for a World Cup qualifier two years ago. Cricketers are not required to express views on accusations of atrocities against the Sri Lankan government when they go there, nor on the appalling levels of anti-gay violence in Jamaica, where uncompromisingly homophobic views are tolerated at the highest levels of government and the church.
Nor should such opinions be demanded (although it would be encouraging if sports people at least noticed). International sport could barely function if athletes protested against or boycotted every country whose politics they found fault with.Nor should such opinions be demanded (although it would be encouraging if sports people at least noticed). International sport could barely function if athletes protested against or boycotted every country whose politics they found fault with.
But there is a key difference at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee makes explicitly political claims in its charter that other governing bodies do not, particularly through No6 in its list of “fundamental principles of Olympism”, which states:But there is a key difference at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee makes explicitly political claims in its charter that other governing bodies do not, particularly through No6 in its list of “fundamental principles of Olympism”, which states:
“Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”“Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”
Of course the IOC itself has not always adhered to such principles. The movement’s revered founder, Pierre de Coubertin, was fiercely opposed to the participation of women. Avery Brundage, IOC president from 1952 to 1972, has plausibly been accused of anti-Semitism, and fought to keep apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia in the Olympics. The IOC has easily accommodated itself to Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and modern China as hosts of its summer showpiece.Of course the IOC itself has not always adhered to such principles. The movement’s revered founder, Pierre de Coubertin, was fiercely opposed to the participation of women. Avery Brundage, IOC president from 1952 to 1972, has plausibly been accused of anti-Semitism, and fought to keep apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia in the Olympics. The IOC has easily accommodated itself to Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and modern China as hosts of its summer showpiece.
But the movement’s lofty claims, and principle 6 in particular, give activists an invaluable tool when the Olympics lands in a country that flagrantly contradicts its fine words.But the movement’s lofty claims, and principle 6 in particular, give activists an invaluable tool when the Olympics lands in a country that flagrantly contradicts its fine words.
Gay rights groups in the US have seized on this as a means to throw the spotlight on Russia’s repressive laws without infringing on the IOC’s insistence in its rules that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” is permitted at the Olympics. They are encouraging sympathetic athletes to petition the new IOC president, Thomas Bach, to “uphold principle 6” and to use the P6 symbol wherever possible before and during the Sochi Games to show coded solidarity with gay Russians.Gay rights groups in the US have seized on this as a means to throw the spotlight on Russia’s repressive laws without infringing on the IOC’s insistence in its rules that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” is permitted at the Olympics. They are encouraging sympathetic athletes to petition the new IOC president, Thomas Bach, to “uphold principle 6” and to use the P6 symbol wherever possible before and during the Sochi Games to show coded solidarity with gay Russians.
No one suggests such gestures will have a direct influence on Putin or the climate of fear his laws have instigated. But they do at least show that the outside world has noticed and is not indifferent. The Russian sports minister, Vitali Mutko, who has compared homosexuality to drug use and alcoholism, admitted this month that the response to the laws in the West would have been much more muted had the government waited until after Sochi to enact them.No one suggests such gestures will have a direct influence on Putin or the climate of fear his laws have instigated. But they do at least show that the outside world has noticed and is not indifferent. The Russian sports minister, Vitali Mutko, who has compared homosexuality to drug use and alcoholism, admitted this month that the response to the laws in the West would have been much more muted had the government waited until after Sochi to enact them.
In the US, prominent sports stars (and former Olympians) such as Andy Roddick and Greg Louganis have backed the P6 campaign. Hopeful participants at Sochi including Swedish ice hockey players have declared their intention to make similar displays.In the US, prominent sports stars (and former Olympians) such as Andy Roddick and Greg Louganis have backed the P6 campaign. Hopeful participants at Sochi including Swedish ice hockey players have declared their intention to make similar displays.
The openly gay New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup, who is still awaiting confirmation of his place at the Olympics, has been among the most outspoken athletes. He told the Guardian last week he wanted to send a message to Putin in Sochi and to “inspire, encourage and offer support to LGBT people in Russia”.The openly gay New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup, who is still awaiting confirmation of his place at the Olympics, has been among the most outspoken athletes. He told the Guardian last week he wanted to send a message to Putin in Sochi and to “inspire, encourage and offer support to LGBT people in Russia”.
One likely member of the Australian team, 20-year-old snowboarder Belle Brockhoff, has also spoken up. Brockhoff, from country Victoria, has been profiled on the ABC’s Lateline and talked about the laws and her openly gay status on Channel 10’s Revealed this month (a commendably clear-eyed report given Ten is the Olympics broadcaster). She told Guardian Australia: “I will say what I think of these laws quite openly leading up to the games, during and after.”One likely member of the Australian team, 20-year-old snowboarder Belle Brockhoff, has also spoken up. Brockhoff, from country Victoria, has been profiled on the ABC’s Lateline and talked about the laws and her openly gay status on Channel 10’s Revealed this month (a commendably clear-eyed report given Ten is the Olympics broadcaster). She told Guardian Australia: “I will say what I think of these laws quite openly leading up to the games, during and after.”
“I think it’s wonderful what [Skjellerup] has said. It’s so open and honest, I really admire what he is doing.”“I think it’s wonderful what [Skjellerup] has said. It’s so open and honest, I really admire what he is doing.”
Brockhoff said she had taken part in the “simple yet powerful” P6 campaign by modelling the official merchandise it was selling. Her team-mates and the Australian Olympic Committee “support me 100%” over her stance, she said.Brockhoff said she had taken part in the “simple yet powerful” P6 campaign by modelling the official merchandise it was selling. Her team-mates and the Australian Olympic Committee “support me 100%” over her stance, she said.
In a statement marking 100 days before the Games began, the Australian chef de mission for Sochi, Ian Chesterman, said he was “very comfortable” about “the gay rights issue”. By this he meant that Putin had given assurances that no visiting athletes need fear becoming the target of Russia’s pernicious laws. “Our athletes can go to the Games relaxed and able to enjoy themselves, which is the way it should be,” Chesterman said.In a statement marking 100 days before the Games began, the Australian chef de mission for Sochi, Ian Chesterman, said he was “very comfortable” about “the gay rights issue”. By this he meant that Putin had given assurances that no visiting athletes need fear becoming the target of Russia’s pernicious laws. “Our athletes can go to the Games relaxed and able to enjoy themselves, which is the way it should be,” Chesterman said.
That is undeniable, but the unlikely possibility of athletes being targeted pales by comparison with the very real threat to ordinary Russians. The IOC’s principles are all but worthless if they apply only in the tiny bubble created for competitors in one city for two weeks.That is undeniable, but the unlikely possibility of athletes being targeted pales by comparison with the very real threat to ordinary Russians. The IOC’s principles are all but worthless if they apply only in the tiny bubble created for competitors in one city for two weeks.
Australian team members may feel all this has little to do with them, that they are too intensely focused on competition to pay attention, that they may lose sponsorships Australian team members may feel all this has little to do with them, that they are too intensely focused on competition to pay attention, that they may lose sponsorships or that they will get into trouble if they speak out (though the AOC insists they will not).
or that they will get into trouble if they speak out (though the AOC insists they will not).
Brockhoff says some fellow athletes who support her are reluctant to comment publicly on the laws until after the Games. That is perhaps understandable, given they are also putting extraordinary efforts into preparing for the biggest sporting event of their lives.Brockhoff says some fellow athletes who support her are reluctant to comment publicly on the laws until after the Games. That is perhaps understandable, given they are also putting extraordinary efforts into preparing for the biggest sporting event of their lives.
But the Olympics, uniquely among sporting events, purports to hold its competitors to a higher standard. It claims to be about something more than winning – often in an anodyne and pompous way, but the political content of that claim, summed up in P6, should not be overlooked.But the Olympics, uniquely among sporting events, purports to hold its competitors to a higher standard. It claims to be about something more than winning – often in an anodyne and pompous way, but the political content of that claim, summed up in P6, should not be overlooked.
Sochi offers a unique opportunity to exert pressure on an otherwise intransigent government, which itself unashamedly sees the Games as a means of positive propaganda. “Don't underestimate how powerful that could be," Skjellerup said.Sochi offers a unique opportunity to exert pressure on an otherwise intransigent government, which itself unashamedly sees the Games as a means of positive propaganda. “Don't underestimate how powerful that could be," Skjellerup said.
So far the voices to make themselves heard have mostly come from young gay people who understand on a personal level what it means to face down prejudice in relatively open societies, let alone one as intolerant as Putin’s Russia.So far the voices to make themselves heard have mostly come from young gay people who understand on a personal level what it means to face down prejudice in relatively open societies, let alone one as intolerant as Putin’s Russia.
Asked if she felt the expectation on her to make political statements was unfair, Brockhoff said: “I try not to think about it too much, but when I do, I do feel a little pressured.”Asked if she felt the expectation on her to make political statements was unfair, Brockhoff said: “I try not to think about it too much, but when I do, I do feel a little pressured.”
It’s time for other Australians, particularly current and former Olympians, to take a bit of that pressure off, by endorsing P6 as loudly as possible. Otherwise we may be sitting on the couch in February marvelling at the athletes’ physical courage, but regretting our own moral cowardice.It’s time for other Australians, particularly current and former Olympians, to take a bit of that pressure off, by endorsing P6 as loudly as possible. Otherwise we may be sitting on the couch in February marvelling at the athletes’ physical courage, but regretting our own moral cowardice.
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