U.S and Boycotting the Olympics

Boycotting the Olympics typically occurs to make a political statement. It seems as if almost every Olympics has something going on in history, that has made some country upset and choose to boycott the Olympic. I really enjoyed Hunt’s lecture on the past Olympics and boycotts that have occurred. There were talks that the U.S. should have boycotted the 1936 Olympics in Berlin because of the events occurring in Germany at the time. (Nuremberg Laws) While I am completely against all that was going on in Germany at the time, I can’t help but wonder if skipping out on those Olympics would have offended Germany, and even further put U.S. on Germany’s bad side. The list of things America could have, and didn’t do during the beginning of World War II is often talked about, however I would have to say they made a good call on going to those Olympics. HOWEVER, I am very glad they went and were the only country not to salute Hitler. They went to the Olympics, but at least showed they were not supportive of Hitler and his choices as chancellor so far. U.S. also boycotted in the 1980 Moscow games. They boycotted in response to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. When the U.S. takes a stand such as boycotting the Olympics, it is a very powerful stand. 62 countries joined this boycott. America had very few options during this time since the Soviet had nuclear weapons. This boycott was ineffective. There was talk of banning the 2008 Beijing games, because of catastrophic pollution, Tibet, repression of religious groups, and several other events going on at the time. However, I agree with America’s choice to go. Not going to the games in Beijing would be a huge slap in the face to China from America, considering all they have helped us with financially. What I find so fascinating about the Olympics are all the historical events tied into the Olympics related, and unrelated to sports. The Olympics are an international spectacle, in which very political statements can be made by all of the different countries.