If you have been reading about the Qatar World Cup and the controversy surrounding it, it might interest you to hear that here have been many scandals and controversies throughout modern history. Below are just a few examples!
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, “Olympic Rings,” wikimedia.org, July 28, 2012
Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
There have been many calls to boycott the Beijing winter games in reply to the Chinese governments abuse of human rights. For example, The US held a diplomatic boycott and did not send and any officials to Beijing. China has faced increasing pressure from several countries recently regarding the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, but China has continuously denied these allegations. Human rights groups have also pointed out the repression in Tibet and Hong Kong, but the Beijing remained the host city.
NFL Deflate Gate 2015
The National Football Leagues (NFL) most controversial story comes from the 2015 AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots underinflated the footballs that were used by their opponents. This gave the Patriots an unfair advantage. Tom Brady, the Patriots quarterback and captain at the time, specifically requested for his team to do this, which led to a four game suspension.
Berlin Olympic 1936
In 1931, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave the Summer Olympics to Berlin. This choice showed to the world that Germany were returning to the worldwide community after being isolated after the events of World War I. Two years after being awarded the Olympics Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany and the Nazi party started to gain power.
There were calls to boycott the Berlin Olympics from many countries. In the US the debate was very intense, as the US usually sends one of the largest groups of athletes to the games.
Many Jewish athletes from a variety of countries also chose to boycott the Berlin Olympics due to the treatment of fellow Jews in Germany.
In preparation for the Olympics the Nazis built a large sports complex. This included a new stadium and at the time a state-of-the-art Olympic village.
Nazi Officials announced that foreign tourists attending the games were exempt from the anti-homosexuals' laws and the criminal penalties. Most tourists and athletes were not aware that the German government ordered the removal of anti-Jewish signs and temporarily rounded up the Roma Gypsies.
At the end of the Olympics Germany continued the persecution of the Jews and other groups. Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939. Three years after the Olympic ceremony, the host of an event that is all about community and inclusion started World War 2 and it resulted in the death of millions; making this the most controversial Olympics in history.
Kommentare