mj.scuba Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 For three decades, South Africa were barred from the Olympics because of racial apartheid. Yet Saudi Arabia operate a gender apartheid, but are still welcome at the Olympics despite excluding approx 50% of their population from sport. At the moment they will be the only team at London 2012 to field an all male team, which contradicts the very rules set out by the IOC. Should Saudi Arabia be banned from the Olympics for excluding women? http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25052012/58/london-2012-saudis-resist-pressure-include-women.html -- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddybare Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 For three decades, South Africa were barred from the Olympics because of racial apartheid. Yet Saudi Arabia operate a gender apartheid, but are still welcome at the Olympics despite excluding approx 50% of their population from sport. At the moment they will be the only team at London 2012 to field an all male team, which contradicts the very rules set out by the IOC. Should Saudi Arabia be banned from the Olympics for excluding women? Nope. Even hitler didn't get banned from the Olympics. We shouldn't have any other dealings with them but sport shouldn't be political in any way. Why punish athletes for the actions of their governments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj.scuba Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 Nope. Even hitler didn't get banned from the Olympics. We shouldn't have any other dealings with them but sport shouldn't be political in any way. Why punish athletes for the actions of their governments? Do you think it would have been better to see South Africa field all white teams during Apartheid, rather than ban them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloomdido Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 What's wrong with a Sports Burka? It worked for Rogaya Al-Gassra. Plus there are some lovely sports hijabs for the less strict Muslim dictatorships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddybare Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Do you think it would have been better to see South Africa field all white teams during Apartheid, rather than ban them? Not really got an opinion on the aparteid government of south Africa. I've never lived there or experienced it. If the ban went on for 30years do you think it had any impact whatsoever? Do you think 3000years worth of history and beliefs in Saudia will be affected by an Olympics snub? Be a much better idea to stop buying their oil and selling them weapons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinz Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Nope. Even hitler didn't get banned from the Olympics. We shouldn't have any other dealings with them but sport shouldn't be political in any way. Why punish athletes for the actions of their governments? Because the males competing probably have the same mentality towards women as most men do including those in power. Driving isn't political. Walking unaccompanied isn't political. Freedom to vote isn't political. Control? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libuse Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Nope. Even hitler didn't get banned from the Olympics. We shouldn't have any other dealings with them but sport shouldn't be political in any way. Why punish athletes for the actions of their governments? Berlin was awarded the olympics prior to the nazis achieving national power. At the point at which Germany staged the olympics it wouldn't be unfair to describe many countries as borderline in favour of (if not completely in favour of) appeasement, due to the horrors experienced in WW1 and the reluctance to repeat that. I'm not sure it compares with the current situation where a competitor country, in this day and age, treats women as second class citizens. Personally, I'd ban them from competing. As we saw with South Africa, being ostracised from the national sporting arena was instrumental in that country's progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddybare Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Berlin was awarded the olympics prior to the nazis achieving national power. At the point at which Germany staged the olympics it wouldn't be unfair to describe many countries as borderline in favour of (if not completely in favour of) appeasement, due to the horrors experienced in WW1 and the reluctance to repeat that. I'm not sure it compares with the current situation where a competitor country, in this day and age, treats women as second class citizens. Personally, I'd ban them from competing. As we saw with South Africa, being ostracised from the national sporting arena was instrumental in that country's progress. Funny. The timing matched up almost perfectly with fall of communism in the ussr. If you want to believe being banned from a sporting event was what changed their minds and not the sanctions/trade embargoes and the end of communist support for the ANC, then fair enough. If Saudia is banned for mistreatment of citizens, how many other countries should join them? China, turkey, India, for a start. You'd end up with a contest that only holland and new Zealand could enter. Which is possibly the only way it could be more boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddybare Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Because the males competing probably have the same mentality towards women as most men do including those in power. Driving isn't political. Walking unaccompanied isn't political. Freedom to vote isn't political. Control? So ban everyone from competing who doesn't share the western viewpoint on women? Not sticking up for the saudian nutters at all. Just think it's futile to ban their participation in the Olympics when Saudia is littered with English businessmen and our government is so heavily involved with them. "keep the £20billion military equipment deal but your team can't come here to run on tv. So there." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vague_Boy Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 In 1980 the US boycotted the Moscow Olympics because of the Soviet Union's illegal invasion of Afghanistan. In the same spirit, I'm boycotting the 2012 London Olympics because of our involvement in the current illegal war in Afghanistan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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