Neither Brian nor Abiola are crazy about the olympics. I wouldn't go quite as far as either - there are some sports worth watching - but if any olympics deserved to be spurned it is this one. The blogophobic organisers of Athens 2004 have set new records in touchiness and control-freakery, banning spectators who dare to consume non-sponsor drinks and issuing a hyperlink policy for anyone gauche enough to presume to link to their website. Speaking of touchiness, I was struck by Abiola's closing remarks:
Nationalism is a strange emotion, and its manifestation in competitions like the Olympics is particularly strange in an era in which athletes are routinely paid to switch nationalities as if they were moving between football clubs.
Hmm, I wonder to whom he refers...
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I wouldn't say "touchy" is the right word to use in this case, as I really am rather indifferent to which flag anyone claims to represent (who would I root for, Nigeria, Britain or America?); "cynical" would be a better term.
As for Ibekwelu, he's only the most flagrant of several examples of that sort of thing I'm aware of. There's another example that sticks in my mind: I think it was either the UAE or Bahrain that promised to pay some Kenyan guy some ridiculous amount of money for the rest of his life if he'd only switch his nationality and adopt Islam - which he subsequently did. There was also another pathetic case about one woman who opted for Sudanese citizenship after her first and second choice nations declined to pick her for their national teams: see the following link for more.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5654151/
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Posted by: Abiola Lapite | August 23, 2004 at 11:18 PM
Just followed the link, Merlene Ottey is competing for Slovenia??!! WTF?
Posted by: Frank McGahon | August 24, 2004 at 12:22 AM
"... issuing a hyperlink policy for anyone gauche enough to presume to link to their website."
I really fail to see how this is in any way enforceable. Actually, they almost admit as much by saying that once you have applied for approval, it is automatically granted unless they say no.
Arguably, reproducing one of their images might be a breach of copyright. Perhaps also reproducing text. But linking to an Athens 2004 web page ? Never.
As a matter or principle, and even though I am currently on blog-hiatus, I feel honour-bound to break a few of their rules at once. See
www.tallrite.com/blog.htm#HidethoseSexyWomeninAthens
Posted by: Tony Allwright | August 24, 2004 at 12:38 AM
Qatar have a bunch of weightlifters competing in Athens. I think all of them comes from Bulgaria originally.
Posted by: Dennis | August 24, 2004 at 08:03 AM
For 3 years, 11 months and 2 weeks, no one, I mean NO ONE, in my office talks about gymnastics, swimming, freestyle skiing, figure skating and beach volleyball. But for 15 days every four Februarys or Augusts, everyone suddenly becomes a vocal expert in the history, tactics and every little nuance of those sports.
Posted by: Brian | August 24, 2004 at 03:45 PM