Since its inception in 1896, the modern Olympic Games have rarely been divorced from politics. The Tokyo Olympics, which will open on Friday, seem unlikely to break this pattern.
Article 50 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed the “Olympic Charter” before the Tokyo Olympics, which is a strange thing. It said: “No demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda of any kind is allowed in any Olympic venues, venues or other areas.”
This message may not have been fully conveyed to the corridors of Berlaymont, or those of some rather picky EU observers who have misunderstood their goals.
European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa stated on Sunday (July 18) that they have asked Slovenian athletes-currently the rotating presidency of the European Council- Allowed to carry the European Union’s star flag In the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, he used his own national flag.
Cinas’ duties on the committee team include “promoting European lifestyle” and sports elements. He wrote that this flag can be used as a “symbol of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and unity”.
The posture aimed at promoting common European identity seems admirable, but the way it does so is a bit unpleasant.
The author of this article is an avid fan of the Olympics, and can’t help wondering which committee drawer this proposal comes from, just as half-baked as Commissioner Cinas’s collection of European lifestyles.
The Olympic ceremonies do not fly the banner of political organizations, so why should the EU get extra treatment? In this case, do we also need to add the UN logo? What does this mean for all other (major international) sporting events?
When a reporter asked for clarification, the European Commission stated that it did not want to “go beyond the letter sent” and declined to comment further on this issue.
This is not the first time the EU has made such a push. But in all fairness, this may be the most insubstantial attempt at present-day Olympic flag politics. At this time, the flag politics has been in full swing, well before the opening of the Olympic Games.
The South Korean Olympic Committee said last weekend Remove banner In the Tokyo Olympic Athletes Village, the village mentioned that the 16th-century International Olympic Committee ruled that the war between South Korea and Japan was provocative.
South Koreans stated that they have received a promise from the International Olympic Committee that the Japanese “Sunrise” flag will be banned from being used in stadiums and other Olympic venues. This is a symbol of Japan’s wartime history.
Sharp-eyed sports fans may see even more peculiar sights on Friday.
This time around 303 Russian athletes will compete under the Olympic flag instead of competing for their own country.
Reason: Russian team name, flag and national anthem banned Starting from this year’s Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the International Court of Arbitration for Sports has been accused of large-scale doping.
Remember in the European Cup in 2020, football players (or some of them) knelt on one knee before kick-off to show their support for the black life movement and protest racism and social injustice?
In June, a group of high-profile American athletes wrote to the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, asking them to update Rule 50 to allow athletes to express their views in specific locations and in the media.it has Since the update.
However, some senior U.S. Olympians, Recently pleaded Maintain the inherent anti-political nature of the Olympics, including not turning your back on the flag and expressing your opinions in other forums.
It is extremely impossible to understand international sports and the current political debate.
At the same time, these Olympics will also see some positive developments.
As part of the final efforts of the International Olympic Committee to improve gender equality, for the first time this year, the Olympic team will be allowed to choose both male and female flag bearers.
According to the International Olympic Committee, this Olympic Games will be the first time in history that nearly half of the female contestants will reach 48.8%.
Summary
European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa stated on Sunday (July 18) that they had requested Athletes from Slovenia-currently holding the rotating presidency of the European Council-will be allowed to wear the EU star flag And the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
Thousands of anonymous social media accounts attacked English football players with racist abuse after the European Cup Finally, there was a discussion on how to end online anonymity.
Georgia launched the trio model with Ukraine and Moldova in April last year, and the attendance of the President of the European Council Charles Michel at the three-nation summit in Batumi on July 19 was regarded as a milestone.Read the special report we are unfolding Here.
Pay close attention, watch out, watch out…
- The EU environment ministers will exchange their first informal responses on the “suitable for 55 people” package.
- Committee Vice-Chairman Dubravka Suka meets with Japanese Minister of Solitary Tetsushi Sakamoto in Brussels
- Commissioner Nicolas Schmit met with Eurofound Director Ivailo Kalfin
Views are author’s
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic/Josie Le Blond]
