EDITOR
Paula Lavigne
OPINION
EDITOR
Jessica Kennedy
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Erin Gibson
Joshua Gillin
Jeff Randall
Julie Sobczyk
Ryan Soderlin
Quotes
OF THE WEEK
“I like to see people learn that
their way isn’t always right.”
-Adventure Ropes Challenge
facilitator Jay Mahler on the course
“If you have a wanna-be gang
member break into a gun shop and
steal guns and go out with their
wanna-be gang-member friends
and shoot someone, you have a
wanna-be homicide.”
- Ken Trump, consultant on
youth crime and gang issues,
at a regional police confer
ence in Lincoln last week
“A lot of people were calling for
his head last week. He didn’t pay
any attention to that and showed
them that he was the best quarter
back on the team. He is our leader.”
- NU rush end Grant Wistrom
defending Scott Frost
“I think some people are going to
have to eat their words about our
offense. Especially some of our fans
who booed them last week at home.
... They came out and put it to them
and just stuffed it down their
throats all day,”
- NU rush end Grant Wistrom
on the Husker offense
“She’s a very musical player, and
she has a lot of ideas within herself
that she brings out with her play
ing. When you listen to any musi
cian, you don’t want to come out
• saying,;■*What a great clarinet play
er f’ Yo u w¥ht fhe m l: oidih^but
thinking, ‘Oh, what a great musi
cian!’”
- Diane Cawein, UNL profes
sor of clarinet, on Denise
Schmidt, a guest artist at
Kimball Recital Hall
“This time, we’ll treat the victo
ry as an obligation to carry out the
policies that the nation asked us
to.”
- Lech Walesa, former presi
dent of Poland, on last week’s
Polish elections
“They ought to be doing columns
saying positive things about the
people in other states.”
— Gov. Ben Nelson on sports
columnists slamming Nebraska
“Everyone in Nebraska knows
the football team is great. Everyone
knows the volleyball team is great.
What I want people to realize is
that the women’s basketball team
can be great too.”
- NU women’s basketball
coach Paul Sanderford
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of
the Fall 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do
not necessarily reflect the views of the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, its
employees, its student body or the
University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
A column is solely the opinion of its author.
The Board of Regents serve as publisher
of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by
the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. The
UNL Publications Board, established by
the regents, supervises the production
of the paper. According to policy set by
the regents, responsibility for the editorial
content of the newspaper lies solely in
the hands of its student employees.
Uttar Policy
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief
letters to the editor and guest columns,
but does not guarantee their publication.
The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to
edit or reject any material submitted.
Submitted material becomes property of
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Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34
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—
Haney's [
VIEW
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Tainted gold
Choice of Athens ignores Olympic Spirit
eric e. crump is a sopho
more political science and
sociology major and a Daily
Nebraskan columnist.
Two major tragedies were played
over and over again on the television
recently. However, a third, lesser
tragedy was all but overlooked. This
sound byte lasted only five seconds,
and it consisted of hundreds of Greek
citizens applauding and cavorting as
their city was given yet another gift.
Three weeks ago, the International
Olympic Committee awarded the 2004
Summer Games to Athens, marking
the third time that city has hosted the
modem version of the alleged World
Games. Athens, host of the 1896
Games (and nonsanctioned 1906
Games), beat out four finalists: Rome,
Stockholm, Cape Town and Buenos
Aires. According to the IOC voting
procedure, the city receiving the low
est number of votes is eliminated, and
voting repeats until only one city
remains. On the first vote, Buenos
Aires and Cape Town tied for last, and
Buenos Aires lost in a runoff.
Stockholm was the next to be eliminat
ed, then Cape Town, and lastly, Rome.
Why is this tragic? Because these
aiiegeu world uames nave once again
failed to demonstrate that they truly
belong to the world. Of those five
finalists, three (Athens, Rome and
Stockholm) have hosted the Games at
least once before. The cities of Cape
Town and Buenos Aires have never
hosted the Summer Games.
In fact, no African or South
American city has ever hosted any
Games.
Ever.
South African cities have applied
in the past, but they were denied
because of their apartheid policies,
which were contradictory to the
Olympic Spirit. In case anyone forgot,
those apartheid policies are no longer
in place.
This single, solitary piece of infor
mation doesn’t seem Idee much at first,
until one considers what lengths the
IOC had to go to just to keep the
Olympics out of Africa and South
America. Lengths that extend over one
hundred years.
That’s right The 2004 Games will
be the 28*; the 2002 Salt Lake City
Winter Games will be the 19*.
Forty-seven times the governing
body of the Olympics has decided
where this ultimate sporting competi
tion and symbol of worldwide unity
will be held; 47 times they have passed
by two whole continents.
Not cities, not areas, not enclaves.
Continents.
According to reports, one factor
that assisted in the selection of Athens
was a “pro-Europe sentiment,”
because the Games haven’t been in
Western Eurasia since 1994
(Lillehammer, Norway.) Apparently,
some IOC officials were concerned
about taking the games outside of
Western Eurasia for more than 10
years. Pro-Africa sentiment was
noticeably lacking.
Especially in light of the fact that
the 2004 Games will be Athens’ third,
and Western Eurasia’s 28*.
Of course, the classic justification
statement given by the IOC in regards
to snubbing two entire continents
again is something we’ve all heard
before: The issue is more complicated
than just playing favorites. The IOC
members had to consider many fac
tors, including facilities and security.
Well, there is no appreciable differ
ence in facilities and security between
any of the five finalists.
And even if there were, what about
the factor of the Olympic Spirit?
Doesn’t that say that perhaps Cape
Town or Buenos Aires should be given
the chance to host the Games of the
Olympiad? Doesn’t that say that the
latent message in 28 out of 47 is con
tradictory to the Olympic Goal of
unity and equity? Even if there were
major deficiencies in the Cape Town
and Buenos Aires bids, shouldn’t the
IOC go out of its way to prove the
Games truly belong to the world?
Apparently not.
Consider die example of China.
No Chinese city has ever hosted the
Games. Beijing was a front-runner for
the 2000 Games of the Millennium.
Who was awarded those games?
Sydney, Australia.
Take a look at the vital statistics.
Australia: Population - about 25
million. Games hosted - two
(Melbourne, Sydney).
China: Population - more than
one billion. Games hosted - zero.
Still not convinced? Take a look at
this medal count.
Gold: Western Eurasia; 28 Games |
hosted. |
Silver: The Divided States of
America; 11 Games hosted.
Bronze: Japan; three Games host
ed.
Perhaps the issue can be clarified
by examining the official Olympic
Charter.
Chapter 1, Section 3, Clause 2:
“Any form of discrimination with
regard to a country or person on
grounds of race, religion, politics, sex, -
or otherwise is incompatible with i
belonging to the Olympic Movement.”
Preamble, Section 6: “The goal of
the Olympic Movement is to con
tribute to building a peaceful and bet
ter world by educating youth through
sport practiced without discrimination
of any kind and in the Olympic Spirit,
which requires mutual understanding
with a spirit of friendship, solidarity,
and fair play.”
They did pick Athens, right?
Supporters of the IOC’s decision
argue that it is important to keep the
Games of the Olympiad in a location
that is easily accessible by the athletes
of the world, hence the preponderance
of host cities in the Divided States of
America and Western Eurasia.
Well, having the games in Buenos
Aires would make them easily accessi
ble to many athletes. Just not many
white athletes.
Another argument is that the IOC
must consider the ability to generate
revenue and integrate the games into
the economic sector of the host city’s
community; in short, to make money
for the citizens of the world.
Well, having the Games in Cape
Town would make lots of money for
the citizens of the world. Just not many
white citizens.
Nonetheless, there is one argument
that outweighs all others - perhaps die
one reason that Athens was awarded
any of the Olympic Games at all.
Athens, as the birthplace of both
the ancient and modem Olympics,
deserved these Games since they were
not awarded the 1996 Centennial
Games. Obviously, returning die
Olympic Games to its birthplace has
great historical significance and senti
mental value.
Then again, so would bringing the
Games to Africa or South America.
For the first time.
Are you sure we’re not playing
favorites?