Abstract
Sporting activities have been at the core of man’s life since the earlier times. There are various forms of sports that have evolved over time. Sporting arenas vary from local, regional, continental and even international levels. Sports bring together people of different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. As such, there must be regulations governing the manner in which the activities are carried out in a peaceful manner, acceptable to all. This essay looks at the IOC games, highlighting the regulations of participation. It will look at the case study of Iran.
Iran and IOC Competitions
Since the early B.C to date, the Olympic Games have continually been part of the major sporting activities in the world. This has led to the amalgamation of people from various parts of the world, which has fostered good relationships and peaceful co-existence. However, as Article Click (2012) puts it, these games have experienced their ups and downs. There have been various wrangles here and there, some of which have led to the exclusion of some countries from participation. The reasons for exclusion are as stated below.
One of the issues leading to exclusion is the use of performance enhancing and dopining drugs. When the drugs were introduced into the market early in the twentieth century, many athletes adopted them and thus their performance was highly boosted. However, these drugs were abused at a high rate and in the 1960s a ban was imposed on them. IOVC followed suit by banning the drugs in 1967. From then on, country teams with participants using the drugs were banned.
Political influence in the games is another reason that has seen many countries banned or considered for banning by the IOC. Countries that have faced these sanctions include Germany, which used the Berlin Summer Olympics of 1936 to further its Nazism ideas. The Soviet Union had also eliminated itself from these competitions, participating in its own international games named the Spartakiads. It was not only until the 1952 Summer Olympics that it resumed its participation in the Olympics. In 1968, at the Mexico Summer Olympics, two African Americans performed the black salute after winning track events. In retaliation, the IOC ordered USOC to take the athletes back home and withdraw all its teams for the track events. Among other reasons that can lead to exclusion are violence or boycotting of the games. Any country that shows signs of these two has a high probability of being thrown out. Lastly, there is the issue of women involvement in the games. According to the Associated Press (2011), the IOC calls out to its members to ensure that there is even participation in the games. That is, women should be given a chance to take part in the competitions. This call is specifically for Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Qatar, which have for a long time barred their women competitors from taking part in these competitions. This call is also echoed by other sports bodies in the world, such as FIFA.
Over the years, Iran has exhibited misconduct that has seen other IOC members concerned. For instance, in the 2004 Olympics, an Iranian judo wrestler refused to participate in a sporting event where an Israeli competitor was to be involved (Article Click, 2012). This is not the first case of its kind. It is a trend that has been ongoing for quite a long time. In fact, at some point, the Iranian government specifically instructed its athletes not to compete in events in which Israeli or Jewish participants were involved. This is a form of discrimination. Following such instructions, JTA (2011) observes that Mohammed Alirazaei, an Iranian, pulled out of a swimming race just because an Israeli was competing. Alirazaei also withdrew from the 2008 Olympics on grounds of drowsiness but the actual reason was that an Israeli national was participating.
With such an insight, it is a point of concern as to why Iran’s conduct is of concern to the IOC members. The answer for this can be found in the spirit of Olympism and the major principle of Olympic Games. The goal is to facilitate the building of a peaceful and better world through educating the youth through sports. These sports have to be practiced with no form of discrimination of whichever kind. Furthermore, the spirit of Olympics is centered on mutual understanding with the strongholds of solidarity, friendship and fair play (Sporting Journal, 2001). Iranian conduct does not fall within the principles of the Olympic Games mainly because it sprouts from anti-Semitic connotations. There is no way that such conduct can be tolerated within the spirit of fair play. It jeopardizes the chances of the games to achieve the set objectives, since it plants seeds of discord among the people.
Considering the guidelines of the IOC, Iran should not be allowed to participate in the 2012 Olympics to be held in London. This is because the country has been spreading rumors that are obviously misleading and inciting. Iran claims that the Olympics logo should be changed because it spells out the word Zion, which is associated with the Jewish people (JTA, 2011). A careful analysis of these claims indicates that Iran does not have the spirit of Olympics at all, or does not respect the tenets of these games. The reason for this position is as stated in the following paragraphs.
First of all, such claims are not real. The Olympics logo does not spell out Zion, therefore such claims are just a fabrication of individuals who have the selfish ambitions. It is not clear why a country should so vehemently advocate against the interests of another, yet be allowed to participate in an activity aimed at bringing people together.
Secondly, Iran’s claims are discriminatory and politically oriented. These are similar to the cases of Germany during Nazism and the Soviet Union under Communism. These two regimes had no value for other people, especially the Semites and it is no wonder that they performed atrocities among them. If the same ideologies are brought forward to the current day and time, then there is a major problem in the world. It is for this reason that Iran should be taught a lesson; to respect all humanity.
Lastly, the concern for Iran’s claims can be compared to those of the African Americans who were banned from the 1968 Olympics for performing a salute that had racial meaning. If Iran is allowed to pursue its course and still participate in the competitions, then the IOC will have deviated from its initial objective of fostering peace and co-existence among its members.
In conclusion, this essay has looked at the IOC games, with specific interest in the manner in which the games are conducted. The aim was to look at the regulations governing the games, thereby establish as to whether or not Iran should be allowed to participate in the 2012 London Olympics. From careful literature review of the rules governing IOC and the major principle of Olympism, it has emerged that Iran should not be admitted into these games. This is because it harbors racially discriminative ideologies, which do not concur with the spirit of the Olympic Games.
References
Article Click. (2012). Problems Faced by Olympic Games. Retrieved on 23rd Feb 2012 from http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Problems-faced-by-Olympic-Games/938511
Associated Press. (2011). IOC Calls Out Countries without Women Athletes. Retrieved on 23rd Feb 2012 from http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/02/jets-getting-group-effort-in-resurgence.html
JTA. (2011). Ban Iranian Olympians, World Jewish Congress Urges IOC. Retrieved on 23rd Feb 2012 from http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/07/27/3088726/jewish-organization-calls-for-ban-on-iranian-athletes
The Sports Journal. (2001). The Fundamental Priciples of Olympism. Retrieved on 23rd Feb 2012 from http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/fundamental-principles-olympism
