CptStern
suckmonkey
- Joined
- May 5, 2004
- Messages
- 10,303
- Reaction score
- 62
"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. "
The US team have hired an etiquette advisor to try to curb overly demonstrative show of patriotism by athletes in Athens:
"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."
"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."
on the one hand I can see where they're coming from ...The US international reputation has taken a pummeling over the last year or so, so I can see how they might be a bit concerned ...but I dont think politics and sports should be intermingled, somehow I think this has more to do with the war than political correctness.
Ironically there's a giant banner in the Cuban section that had a picture of Castro playing chess with the cuban flag in the background
source
The US team have hired an etiquette advisor to try to curb overly demonstrative show of patriotism by athletes in Athens:
"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."
"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."
on the one hand I can see where they're coming from ...The US international reputation has taken a pummeling over the last year or so, so I can see how they might be a bit concerned ...but I dont think politics and sports should be intermingled, somehow I think this has more to do with the war than political correctness.
Ironically there's a giant banner in the Cuban section that had a picture of Castro playing chess with the cuban flag in the background
source
