Olympic Politics

The Olympic Games are supposed to be completely divorced from politics. But they clearly are not. Allahpundit has a couple of great pieces on the opening ceremonies here, here and here. Particular things pointed out by Allah (and others) that Base10 liked:

• Bob Costas noted that repressive Arab regimes don't let female athletes compete. This apparently stunned Katie Couric.
  
• The Iraqi team entered to a loud ovation but the Iranian team entered to stunning silence.
  
• Arash Miresmaeili, the world judo champion and member of the Iranian Olympic team, has refused to fight in a match against Ehud Vaks, an Israeli, claiming it was in support of the Palestinians. The scary thing is that the IOC seems to be considering caving in. As far as Base10 is concerned, he should be banned from the sport. What if a South African had refused to play against a black african in the eighties? But these day's, it's okay to hate the Jews. What Base10 doesn't understand, is why Miresmaeili avoided the match? After all, this would give him a chance to beat up a Jew with immunity.

Base10 does enjoy the Olympics. For example, the women's beach volleyball competition was absolutely riveting on Saturday. Base10 did lose interest when men's gymnastics came on. Base10 knows they are fantastic athletes, but there's something about the sport that brings to mind...well, New Jersey. (See last post). By the way, congratulations to Michael Phelps who won his first Olympic gold medal in swimming in the men's 400m individual medley. Phelps won in spectacular fashion, breaking a world record in the process.

Congratulations as well to the Iraqi soccer team that stunned Portugal by beating them 4-2 in their opening match.



- posted by Base10 @ 12:24 PM