U.S. athletes told to cool it at Olympics By Simon Hart LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH Published May 16, 2004
NEW YORK -- American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image. The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior. The plan is part of a charm offensive aimed at repairing the country's international reputation after the deepening crisis in Iraq and damaging revelations of the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces at the Abu Ghraib prison. "American athletes find themselves in extraordinary circumstances in Athens in relation to the world as we know it right now," said Mike Moran, a veteran former spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee who has been retained as a consultant to advise athletes how to behave. "Regardless of whether there is anti-American sentiment in Athens or not, the world watches Americans a lot now in terms of how they behave and our culture. What I am trying to do with the athletes and coaches is to suggest to them that they consider how the normal things they do at an event, including the Olympics, might be viewed as confrontational or insulting or cause embarrassment." Four years ago at the Sydney Olympics, members of the victorious American 400-meter relay team were widely condemned for strutting with the U.S. flag after their gold medal presentation. American officials, mindful of the country's precarious standing in world opinion, are desperate to avoid any repeat. "Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 days to break that culture. "What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another manner." Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union flag. "It's up to every athlete how he or she wishes to celebrate their Olympic success, and there are no plans to issue any instructions," a spokesman for the association said. "We are confident that every athlete will celebrate in a responsible way." The USOC's anxiety at overexuberant displays of jingoism is a far cry from scenes at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where the American flag became the defining symbol of the Games. A different environment awaits the American team in Athens, where officials are anxious to replace apple pie with humble pie. Americans were booed at the World Athletics Championships in Paris last year largely because of Jon Drummond's histrionic protest at his disqualification from a heat of the 100 meters. Also, at an Olympic soccer qualifying match in Mexico earlier this year, the American team was subjected to sustained razzing by a section of the crowd, including chants of "Osama, Osama!" "We're not the favorite kid in the world right now," conceded Bill Martin, the USOC's acting president. "We are sensitive not only to the security issue, but to jingoism in its raw sense. That is why we are sending people around to educate the athletes as to the appropriate behavior."
The US team is to be advised also to parade behind a Canadian flag at the opening ceremony and the guy who announce the teams is requested to pronounce the name of their country in Mandarin to prevent any disgracious scenes. Apart from that everything goes well.
> NEW YORK -- American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. > flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in > Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the > country's already-battered public image. > The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and > parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international > sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their > 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic > behavior. > The plan is part of a charm offensive aimed at repairing the > country's international reputation after the deepening crisis in Iraq > and damaging revelations of the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by > U.S. forces at the Abu Ghraib prison. > "American athletes find themselves in extraordinary circumstances > in Athens in relation to the world as we know it right now," said Mike > Moran, a veteran former spokesman for the United States Olympic > Committee who has been retained as a consultant to advise athletes how > to behave. > "Regardless of whether there is anti-American sentiment in Athens > or not, the world watches Americans a lot now in terms of how they > behave and our culture. What I am trying to do with the athletes and > coaches is to suggest to them that they consider how the normal things > they do at an event, including the Olympics, might be viewed as > confrontational or insulting or cause embarrassment." > Four years ago at the Sydney Olympics, members of the victorious > American 400-meter relay team were widely condemned for strutting with > the U.S. flag after their gold medal presentation. American officials, > mindful of the country's precarious standing in world opinion, are > desperate to avoid any repeat. > "Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or > indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in > sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, > college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going > face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 > days to break that culture. > "What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a > flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual > for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national > flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it > might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world > right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another > manner." > Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face > similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association > insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union > flag. > "It's up to every athlete how he or she wishes to celebrate their > Olympic success, and there are no plans to issue any instructions," a > spokesman for the association said. "We are confident that every > athlete will celebrate in a responsible way." > The USOC's anxiety at overexuberant displays of jingoism is a far > cry from scenes at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where > the American flag became the defining symbol of the Games. > A different environment awaits the American team in Athens, where > officials are anxious to replace apple pie with humble pie. > Americans were booed at the World Athletics Championships in Paris > last year largely because of Jon Drummond's histrionic protest at his > disqualification from a heat of the 100 meters. Also, at an Olympic > soccer qualifying match in Mexico earlier this year, the American team > was subjected to sustained razzing by a section of the crowd, > including chants of "Osama, Osama!" > "We're not the favorite kid in the world right now," conceded Bill > Martin, the USOC's acting president. "We are sensitive not only to the > security issue, but to jingoism in its raw sense. That is why we are > sending people around to educate the athletes as to the appropriate > behavior."
"Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going face-to-face with each other"
I can only imagine how many members of USA's men's basketball "dream team" wouldn't have shown up had they been told that they could not wear the flag over the Reebok logo on those medal ceremony uniforms that all USA medal winners had to wear.
soca wrote: > U.S. athletes told to cool it at Olympics > By Simon Hart > LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH > Published May 16, 2004
...Because the world is safer now.
-- -- Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall "We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"
soca <s...@3ss.us> wrote: >"Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or >indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in >sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, >college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going >face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 >days to break that culture. > "What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a >flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual >for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national >flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it >might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world >right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another >manner." > Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face >similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association >insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union >flag.
?????? Someone should explain to this Moran (Moron?) guy that Greece is not a muslim country and a christian right wing, pro Atlantic party just won the elections there ...
> >"Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or > >indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in > >sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, > >college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going > >face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 > >days to break that culture. > > "What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a > >flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual > >for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national > >flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it > >might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world > >right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another > >manner." > > Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face > >similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association > >insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union > >flag.
> ?????? > Someone should explain to this Moran (Moron?) guy that Greece is not a > muslim country and a christian right wing, pro Atlantic party just won the > elections there ...
Wanna bet that the Greeks will nearly lynch the US team?
On Mon, 17 May 2004 08:53:57 -0500, soca <s...@3ss.us> wrote: >NEW YORK -- American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. >flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in >Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the >country's already-battered public image.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2004 Statement From United States Olympic Committee Chief Executive Jim Scherr Regarding U.S. Athletes Celebrating with the American Flag at the Athens Olympic And Paralympic Games
"The United States Olympic Committee wants to make it absolutely clear that we have not -- and will not -- instruct our athletes to refrain from waving the United States flag during the upcoming Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games. Any suggestions or statements to the contrary do not reflect the official position of our organization.
Athletes will be free, as always, to celebrate their performances in an exuberant, respectful way during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will remind our athletes that they are guests of the Olympic movement, Greece, and the city of Athens and to be good ambassadors of our country, their communities, families and sports. We want our athletes to be champions who conduct themselves with class and, if it is the case, to lose with grace and dignity. Additionally, we are reminding them to treat the United States flag with the respect it deserves.
One of the proudest moments of my life was to put on my USA warm-up and represent my country at the 1988 Olympic Games. I know our athletes feel the same way today and we will not in any way infringe upon that honor.
Accomplishments of athletes and teams such as the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team, the great Billy Mills, swimming legend Janet Evans and countless others have inspired our nation. We are certain that the athletes who represent the United States at the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games will do the same."
Karen <kkos...@charter.net> wrote: > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > May 18, 2004 > Statement From United States Olympic Committee > Chief Executive Jim Scherr Regarding U.S. Athletes > Celebrating with the American Flag > at the Athens Olympic And Paralympic Games
> "The United States Olympic Committee wants to make it absolutely clear > that we have not -- and will not -- instruct our athletes to refrain > from waving the United States flag during the upcoming Athens Olympic > and Paralympic Games. Any suggestions or statements to the contrary do > not reflect the official position of our organization.
> Athletes will be free, as always, to celebrate their performances in > an exuberant, respectful way during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. > We will remind our athletes that they are guests of the Olympic > movement, Greece, and the city of Athens and to be good ambassadors of > our country, their communities, families and sports. We want our > athletes to be champions who conduct themselves with class and, if it > is the case, to lose with grace and dignity. Additionally, we are > reminding them to treat the United States flag with the respect it > deserves.
> One of the proudest moments of my life was to put on my USA warm-up > and represent my country at the 1988 Olympic Games. I know our > athletes feel the same way today and we will not in any way infringe > upon that honor.
> Accomplishments of athletes and teams such as the 1980 United States > Olympic Hockey Team, the great Billy Mills, swimming legend Janet > Evans and countless others have inspired our nation. We are certain > that the athletes who represent the United States at the 2004 Olympic > and Paralympic Games will do the same."
>> >"Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or >> >indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in >> >sport because every night on TV we see our athletes -- professional, >> >college or otherwise -- taunting their opponents and going >> >face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 >> >days to break that culture. >> > "What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a >> >flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual >> >for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national >> >flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it >> >might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world >> >right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another >> >manner." >> > Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face >> >similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association >> >insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union >> >flag.
>> ?????? >> Someone should explain to this Moran (Moron?) guy that Greece is not a >> muslim country and a christian right wing, pro Atlantic party just won the >> elections there ...
> Wanna bet that the Greeks will nearly lynch the US team?
Yeah, I am willing to bet. I had been to Greece more than once and I have known many Greek people. I can say that Greeks are among the most "Atlantic oriented" populations in Europe. There's a very small but very vocal "no global" minority there too, that is the heritage of the old communist factions that tried some sort of coup at the end of WW2, but that was later on reduced to minimal terms by the legendary Colonels that governed Greece in tha '60s and '70s. But that minority is not the kind of people that attend sport events and anyway they don't have the money to buy those expensive tickets.
Of course, eventual booing of athletes involved in the Balco labs fiasco that will be allowed to go anyway (ie marion jones) should not be counted in this. USA should better leave that part of their team at home, not for political reason but for the sake of its own public image.
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