| Show I Comment On fl Sports Spans By PETE FRITCHIE Much is heard about the Olympic Games not being a political political po po- po- po cal or nationalistic event Now that the 1964 games are history one can look objectively objective objective- ly at the way the games are handled and comment in the changes will be effected TO BEGIN with the games are ultra-nationalistic ultra in the very system of recognizing win win win- ners Winners are positioned before spectators in a spotlight spotlight spotlight spot spot- light their national flags slowly slowly slow sow ly y raised as a rendition of the national anthem is given simul simul- Stirring a yes but also highly nationalistic and very much so for impressionable youngsters youngsters youngsters young young- who make up the great majority of contestants It is to the credit of most participants and coaches that the spirit of good sportsmanship and international international international inter inter- national comradeship has prevailed prevailed prevailed pre pre- as well as it has IF THE games are truly for forthe forthe forthe the testing of international amateur amateur amateur am am- skills and for sport and the recognition of oC individual performances and team performances performances performances per per- then the nationalistic nationalistic nationalistic national national- phases of the games should be eliminated The current system is to announce announce announce an an- medal winners gold silver or bronze but to make no point totals Nevertheless various reporting services keep a tally of medals won and rate the nations in a sort of box score It was even worse a few years back when a point total was generally used and a n total point score for each competing nation was reported in box score form IT IS unfortunate that circumstances circumstances circumstances cir cir- are such that a Communist nation like Russia can take advantage of the system system tem tern which supposedly limits the games to amateurs Since the Russians have no pro athletes athletes ath ath- letes and the state trains competitors competitors competitors com com- Russia always enjoys an advantage at the outset and reaps considerable propaganda value every four years in winning win ning fling the most medals against the genuine amateurs of oC other nations This is not only political but buta a high form of oC nationalism |
