A few weeks ago I had director Matt Norman on the show. We talked about political protests at the Olympics (with reference to his Uncle Peter Norman’s protest at the 1968 Olympics). There was some debate afterward in the comments section about whether or not the Australian Government has gagged our athletes. It turns out they don’t have to – the IOC has done the dirty work for them.
Jason Slater told us how it works:
# Jason Slater Says:
Just so you are all aware, Matt Norman made a great point in an interview i’ve just heard.. The athletes are being gagged by the AOC as they have signed what he called a section 51 which states “Athletes may speak about Political issues but if they do so will not be entitled to any financial gain through winnings from Gold, Silver or Bronze medalsâ€. They are also entitled to speak their mind but not AT the Olympics and not AT the Olympic Village. They are also NOT allowed to wear any type of free tibet t-shirt or carry any banner which has any political affiliation. The facts are very clear. To protest in China you will never be a part of the Olympic team again and your views of civil and human rights issues will not be tolerated unless you do or say something about it outside the country.
I found this site which contains the clause in question. Basically any athlete that does speak out or even wear a badge signifying a political protest can be kicked out by the IOC. What an appalling state of affairs. The Olympics brings athletes from the world together but then gags them. Pretty fucking lame for an event which is supposed to be about peace and harmony.
Somebody on Twitter called me a jerk the other day for saying the Olympics was all about money. He said “Realize we have one place in the world -right now- with everyone together.”
Oh bullshit. Ever heard of the United Nations? The whole world gets together ALL THE TIME to discuss solutions to real problems, not running around in circles and jumping up in the air. Get the hell over it people. It’s a carnival, it’s not the second coming of Jebus.
The media loves it because it’s just another chance to them to increase their advertising revenues, as if people watching the Olympics really care more about buying tampons than they do on regular days.
So the media turn up their hype-o-meters, ranting and raving about the Olympics like it’s a cure for cancer or Britney Spears turned out to be the Messiah. And you pack of salivating Pavlovian dogs run slobbering up to your TV or your paper gobbling it all up like Homer Simpson chasing a donut. It’s obscene and sickening. WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE. It’s just a bunch of steroid-laden children seeing who’s got the biggest dick.
What I hate the most (not that I’m watching, but I’m recalling a distant time when I did watch 5 or 10 minutes of it) are the television commentators who call bullshit like “HE’S TAKEN THE GOLD FOR AUSTRALIA!!!”
No. Noooo, he hasn’t. He’s taken the gold for HIMSELF. HE is the one that gets the sporting goods sponsorship. HE is the one who is going to turn his sporting career into another lame television gig once he’s over the hill. HE is the one who is going to use his profile to charge $10,000 an appearance for corporate speaking fees. He’s not doing it for Australia. He’s doing it for himself.
Meanwhile…. Russia invades Georgia on the opening day of the Olympics and hopes that no-one notices.
Meanwhile…. Thailand’s ex-Prime Minister has escaped, once again, back to London instead of facing corruption charges in his own country. And the Brits let him in.
Meanwhile… the US-backed Philippines “liberate” more villages.
Meanwhile… China spends $40 Billion on hosting the Olympics and $100 million on the opening ceremony alone while 130 million Chinese live below the poverty line.
And how much press coverage of the opening ceremony did you see that even SUGGESTED it is a total waste of money? Any at all? Or were they all jerking off about it? I didn’t watch it, so I don’t know, but I can take a guess.
I think you might have a point there, Cameron.
On the waste of money, I agree! And while we are at it, what about the money wasted on the new Batman movie and paid to musicians and actors that they inject in their arms and blow up their noses!
I worked with an Australian athlete for two years who is at the games now. He definitely wasn’t getting rich. If anything he was being left out of pocket. He just liked challenging himself and competing. The overwhelming majority of the athletes there aren’t going to get rich or famous. In fact you, Cam, are probably more famous than most of the Olympic athletes and you’re definitely more likely to get a lame television gig once you’re over the hill!
Charlie, the only athletes who get rich are the ones that win Gold and can turn that into revenue. Obviously most don’t. The IOC gets rich, the media companies get rich. It’s still all about money. Your mate is just a cog in the wheel.
Agreed Cam. And hows the media bias against Russia?
Why does the BBC show a one sided opinion to the current Georgian situation? Because it wants more countries to join the EU (more countries, more money, more power).
Why did Georgia attack breakaway states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia (killing a reported 1200 civilians – Russia sent troops in to defend South Ossetians against the US/Israel backed Georgians)?
Why is Israel supplying Georgia with weapons and military training – just like they did with pro US Columbia? Could it have something to do with Russia selling arms to Iran and Syria?
The US is keen to pick another fight – greater control over Russia means greater control of the world.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/081108b.html
Just found this spot on article about the current Georgia/Russia conflict.
I blogged about the way the Russians are being depicted as the bad guys in this conflict by the American Government although anyone with a grain of sense can see that it was the Georgians who began the whole thing. More scarily, this whole thing seems to have weakened the resolve to keep Georgia out of NATO. No prizes for what Georgia will do once they have NATO behind them, and as they are committed to attacking whoever attacks a fellow NATO member, there could be some scary stuff coming up.
Lucy, I read your post on Georgia, excellent stuff.