As we have seen throughout history, sports and politics often intersect. Any sport requires competing teams, devoted fans, and winners and losers, much like politics. One of the earliest examples in the US of a president intervening in sport was Theodore Roosevelt, who led discussions with college presidents in 1905 about how to improve regulations for football to prevent injuries and fatalities. Similarly, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made his own impact on American sports during World War II, believing that baseball should continue to give the American people a sense of normalcy. President Donald Trump urged the return of sport during the Covid-19 pandemic, while US state and local leaders in the US have issued mandates regarding youth and college sports.
The intersection of sport and politics is not limited to the United States, it is a global phenomenon. In Europe, we see constant examples of political choices in sports, from the governing bodies of various sports to the actions of individual athletes. The International Olympic Committee has long claimed that politics have no place in sports. This stance is not only naive but also detrimental to the world of sports. The IOC has a responsibility to address issues related to human rights, discrimination, and corruption where they cannot turn a blind eye to issues they have to deal with. The IOC has been faced with many difficult decisions related to politics and sports over the years.
- The 1936 Berlin Olympics: The IOC was heavily criticized for allowing Nazi Germany to host the Olympics in 1936. Many countries considered boycotting the games to protest Germany's treatment of Jews and other minority groups, but ultimately, the games went ahead.
- The 1968 Mexico City Olympics: At these games, African American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute during the medal ceremony, sparking controversy and leading to their expulsion from the games. The IOC was criticized for its handling of the situation, with some saying it was an infringement of the athletes' right to free speech.
- The 1972 Munich Olympics: After the murder of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists, International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage ordered that the games continue to show that the terrorists had not won.
- The 1980 Moscow Olympics: In response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, many countries, including the United States, boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The IOC faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the issue and for allowing the games to go ahead despite the boycott.
- The 2014 Sochi Olympics: The IOC was criticized for its handling of Russia's anti-gay laws in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Tennis star Martina Navratilova and U.S. basketball player Jason Collins claimed the International Olympic Committee had not done enough to defend the rights of gay athletes. Other activists called for a boycott of the games, criticizing the IOC for not doing enough to pressure the Russian government to change its policies.
- In 2020, Max Verstappen refused to kneel for the #WeRaceAsOne initiative, which aimed to speak out against racism and discrimination in Formula One. Verstappen stated that everyone should be able to express themselves in their own way, underscoring the individual nature of political beliefs within the sport.
- The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar: the decision to award the tournament to Qatar was heavily criticized due to allegations of human rights abuses, particularly against migrant workers involved in constructing the infrastructure for the event.
- The exclusion of Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk from a tournament after she refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent following a match she won. The incident sparked controversy and highlighted the deep-seated political tensions between the two countries.
- The controversy surrounding the OneLove band in Dutch football, where football club Excelsior announced that Redouan el Yaakoubi was no longer the captain of the team due to his refusal to wear the band. (another Dutch club, Feyenoord took a different approach and showed their support for their captain, Steven Berghuis, who also refused to wear the OneLove band. The club stated that they respect the individual's right to express their beliefs and would not force anyone to wear the band).
- FIFA deprives Indonesia of hosting the Under-20 World Cup for blocking a governor over Israel's participation
These examples reflect the difficult decisions that the IOC and other sports organizations have to make when it comes to the intersection of sport and politics. Sport and politics are inextricably linked, and attempts to separate the two are both naive and misguided. It is essential for governing bodies and athletes to recognize the political implications of their actions and to use their platforms to effect positive change in the world.?As such, it is clear that politics and sports are deeply intertwined, and navigating this relationship is essential for the continued success of both.
