GROUP 3

The thought behind the Modern Olympic Games, as conceived by Baron de Coubertin, was that they should be held in a "pristine atmosphere, untouched and untroubled by politics, anti-Semitism, racism, fascism ill-will to others, no discrimination of any kind, no rivalries, and where all sportsmen are equal." (Adapted from the Olympic Charter). It sounds wonderful, doesn't it? That was almost true of the 1st Modern Olympic Games in 1896, but even the Baron contradicted himself by forbidding women to participate in those Games! This quote has remained a myth, flaunted by sportsmen, Olympic committees and countries alike at every opportunity. For something so noble as the Olympic Games it is sad to realize that the opposite is true.

Of the many contradictions and hypocrisies that exist in the noble Olympic Games we will examine three special cases of the Game's history. 1) anti-Semitism. 2) Racism, and 3) Terrorism.

Terrorism

Among all its other crises, the Games never had one as great as the massacre of 11 athletes at the hands of Arab terrorists. The 1972 Munich Games began much the same as any other Games. On the 11th day however, an Arab terrorist band broke into the Olympic village and invaded the Israeli apartment building. The Arab terrorist kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes and held them hostage in an apartment the whole day, murdering two of them in the process. Their demands were the release of Arab terrorists jailed in Israel accused of murdering Israelis. They also demanded and got transport to the Munich airport where a helicopter was waiting to fly them out.
   In what can be only described as a very amateurish and badly handled attempt to free the hostages, the German police fired on the Arab terrorists. In the ensuing battle, the Arabs had sufficient time to run back to the helicopter and toss hand grenades?inside. The remaining 9 Israelis, who were tied hand and foot, had no chance to escape the burning inferno that ensued. Three Arab terrorist and one German policeman were shot dead. The remaining terrorists were captured and given long jail sentences. However, a short time later the German Government secretly released them under veiled threats of revenge if they weren't.
   Once again the blood of innocent Jews was split on German soil. The aging Avery Brundage, now president of the I.O.C, faced the worst crisis ever in the history of the Games, and his very controversial career. Should he stop the Games or should he continue? He didn't have any doubts! Brundage forced the I.O.C. to pass a resolution that the games would continue after a day of mourning. He explained, "I am sure that the public will agree that we cannot allow a handful of terrorists to destroy this nucleus of international cooperation and goodwill we have in the Olympic movement. The Games must go on! All hell broke loose; especially among journalists. Red Smith of the New York Times  criticized Brundage and his I.O.C committee: walled off in their dream world, appallingly unaware of the realities of life and death, the aging playground directors who conduct this four yearly muscle dance ruled that a little bloodshed must not be permitted to interrupt play." The editors of Sports Illustrated called for the cancellation of the Olympic Games. This was the first time that the Olympics had served as a killing ground.
   The Prime minister of Israel Golda Meir, said "the Israeli government does not negotiate with terrorists." Meanwhile the Germans had refused to allow the experienced Israeli commandos rescue the hostages. Brundage, not understanding the real meaning of Meir's statement took advantage of what she had said when he took his resolution to the I.O.C.  The bloodshed of the 1972 Olympics and Brundage became synonymous with each other.

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