• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Ueberroth on U.S. athletes and China: Guests Not Reformers

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
February 27, 2008
0
0 0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a copyrighted story in USA Today, dated February 26, Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic committee considers US athletes representing their country in the Beijing Olympics as “invited guests and not China’s would be reformers.” according to the story.
A direct quote from Ueberroth, ” We expect and are sure that the athletes are going to respect their own country, respect their flag, respect the flag of every other countrya and operate as we all will, under the IOC rules of the Olympic Games…”


It can be argued that Mr. Ueberroth is the man with the golden touch. In the early 1980s, Peter Ueberroth saved the modern Olympics with his successful managing of the LA Olympics. His management style was considered tough but reasonable and he filled the coffers of the IOC and the USOC.
Ueberroth did it the old fashioned way-he used business management skills, cheerleading and hard work to defeat the naysayers and convince the media to give his plan a chance. Russia organized a strong boycott, that truly ran cold. His invitations to Romania, China and other countries diluted the Soviet plan at revenge.
The Games in 1984 were masterful. Great competitions, well managed, well orchestrated, and well run. The legacy fund from 1984 continues to assist young athletes in Southern California.
Ueberroth came out of the 1984 Olympcs as the man who could do anything. He was the man who do anything. In 1986, he became a director of The Coca-Cola Company. In 1989, Ueberroth helped form the Contrarian Group, Inc. where he and his team managed sick businesses back to health. His leadership of Major league Baseball was also a feather in his cap.
But the USOC seems the perfect place for him. With his direct experience in the LA Olympics, his management skills and his leadership skills, Mr. Ueberroth, at the very least, commands a strong presence and speaks with the strength and backing of his position as the Chairman of the U.S. Olympic committee.
While I believe that Mr. Ueberroth is correct in what he states about the demeanor and role of US athletes in Beijing, I must thoughtfully disagree to his pronouncement. It is true that US athletes must follow the IOC bylaws and respect the flags and host nations. This, is something that we can agree on. The U.S. athletes need do nothing else but perform and change will happen. If they choose to speak their mind, they should do it, thoughtfully, knowing that our country too can be criticized and is being criticized for much of its recent actions and history.
There was also the pronouncement in the Spanish paper, Marca, by 87 year old former IOC president Juan Antonio Sammaranch that China was a much better choice than the old Soviet Union of 1980 and that, other countries have issues that they can be chastistized for as well.
Both men can be seen as upholding the Olympic flame, and that is honorable. I do share with them the belief that the Olympics is a) the modern world coming out party, b) to host an Olympics a country opens itself up to the winds of change.
I am concerned that Mr. Ueberroth’s description of the role of U.S. athletes, and Sammaranch’s comparison of the Chinese government of 2008 versus the Soviet Union
in 1980. I do think that Ueberroth is right in setting up boundaries for an athletes’ actions while representing their country during the Games, and I do believe that Sammaranch is probably right about the comparison of the old Soviet Union and China today, but make no mistake, China is not a democracy and they do not pretend to be.
The 2008 Olympics is a huge event and huge coming out party for China. More foreigners will visit during the Games and right after than every before! The Games, under the security and control of the Chinese goverment will be safer than many in the past. The city of Beijing will look very different. The smog will be lessened (but still there).
China has changed for 2008. It’s economy is robust, yet much of its own local and small businesses are disappearing. China can make anything! Dont believe it? Last weekend, at the WSA show in Las Vegas, I walked through the Chinese pavilion, which had over 500 booths! They were making any shoe type or insert that you can imagine.
The investment by the Chinese in the 2008 Olympics has been estimated at $40 billion U.S. dollars. More than the combined development costs for all past modern Olympics, if I am correct.
In this huge coming out party, the IOC and the USOC do not want U.S. athletes or Western media for that matter to be rude. They will handle the accidental breakdown of web sites or transmission of media ( it can happen, look at what Pakistan did last week with their trying to close down You Tube in Pakistan-the result was two hours of no You Tube globally). There will be protests, but in moderation, and the Games will be the best ever.
The Olympic movement is as close as this secular world gets to religion. The six billion souls who will watch the Beijing Olympics will fill the coffers of NBC, the IOC, the USOC and the major sponsors from the good feelings that Olympic sports gives them for a month every four years. The Winter Olympics is only an appetizer, the summer Olympics is the real thing, no matter what anyone says.
In this movement, in this global celebration of sports and arts, one has to hope that new ideas, new thoughts, new writers, new artists will be seen and introduced to the world. That is the beauty of the Olympics.
It is my belief that the fall of the Eastern Bloc was longer due to the Moscow Olympic boycott. Would there have been some terrible sports squabbles there-of course, there were anyway, just ask any media who were there!–but the culture of change that the Olympics brings, without anything being done by the IOC, USOC, is inevitable.
It is okay for Mr. Ueberroth to say athletes need to behave, it is okay for Mr. Sammaranch to say that China in 2008 is better than Moscow in 1980. The important thing is for the twenty two year old from Atlanta, Georgia or the twenty five year old high jumper from Goteborg, Sweden to go to China, compete, meet some athletes, and see another culture.
The change from the Olympics will be huge in China, not the next day, not overnight, but the change is inevitable.
For the complete text of Sammaranch’s interview, please click on http://www.insidethegames.com/show-news.php?id=1870

RelatedPosts

Marilu Diaries: A bus trip in Saint Louis and a walk in Lausanne

Book Review – “What Mad Pursuit” by Rich Elliott

Abdi’s World: Lessons on Life, Running, and Fun From a Five-Time Olympian- Preorder now to reserve your copy!

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

    View all posts

Previous Post

More Teams Preparing for Valencia!

Next Post

World Indoor to Feature 159 countries!

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

Similar Post

World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6
World Marathon Majors

World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

August 12, 2022
Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!
Continental Tour Gold

Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!

August 12, 2022
The amazing duel between Eilish McColgan and Irene Cheptai in the women’s 10,000m final
Cross Country

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Five

August 12, 2022
Monaco Diamond League, Meeting Herculis EBS, complete results,  10 August 2022
Track & Field

Kipyegon 3:50.37 missed WR by 0.3 at Herculis EBS Meeting/Monaco DL

August 12, 2022
Monaco Diamond League, Meeting Herculis EBS, complete results,  10 August 2022
Track & Field

Monaco Diamond League, Meeting Herculis EBS, complete results, 10 August 2022

August 12, 2022
UK ATHLETICS LINES UP THRILLING LONDON STADIUM RETURN IN JULY 2023
British Athletics

UK ATHLETICS LINES UP THRILLING LONDON STADIUM RETURN IN JULY 2023

August 12, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

Recent Stories

Track & Field

Zuzana Hejnova to compete in Doha DL over 400m hurdles, from EME News (source:IAAF)

by Alfonz Juck
April 4, 2022
0

Zuzana Hejnova, photo by PhotoRun.net Hejnova opens in DohaDOHA (QAT): World 200m champion Dafne Schippers will go head-to-head with world...

Zuzana Hejnova runs 38.16 All time best for 300m hurdles, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

April 4, 2022

Zurich’s Grand Venue: Letzigrund Stadium Inspires Exceptional Performances

April 4, 2022

Zurich Weltklasse, the Olympics in One Night, by Bob Ramsak, Notes by Larry Eder

June 23, 2022

Recent Tweets

RunBlogRun Follow

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. RunBlogRun is the voice of the sport.

RunBlogRun
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
4h

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Five , by RunBlogRun, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-runblogrun-summer-cross-country-mileage-program-week-six-day-five.html , #crosscountry, #trainingtips, #scottishathletics, #eilishmccolgan, @EilishMccolgan, @ASICSEurope,

Reply on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Retweet on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Like on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Twitter 1558150289122725893
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
4h

Really liked this tweet. @EilishMccolgan took two medals at the #commonwealthgames2022. Her first in the 10,000m was gold, and her second was in the 5,000m with a silver! This was her 4th CG games! ...@birmingham2022, @ASICSeurope

Team Scotland @Team_Scotland

GOLD! 🥇

What a run from Eilish McColgan to win the Commonwealth Games 10,000m title 32 years after her mum! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

And a Games record too!!!

#TeamScot #TimeForHeroes
...#B2022

Reply on Twitter 1558142734199754752 Retweet on Twitter 1558142734199754752 Like on Twitter 1558142734199754752 1 Twitter 1558142734199754752
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
5h

Repost: BROOKS: Marathon season is almost here. Get the workout ideas, training plans, tips, and everything else you need to hit your goals at our Run Happy blog. https://bit.ly/3pkX1nK,
#runhappy, ...#brooksrunning,

Reply on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Retweet on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Like on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Twitter 1558128422676828166
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
6h

Time for #coffeewithLarry! Don't miss it! 8.30 AM Pacific! #europeanathletics, #trackandfieldlife,

Reply on Twitter 1558113171906277383 Retweet on Twitter 1558113171906277383 Like on Twitter 1558113171906277383 3 Twitter 1558113171906277383
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
18h

Marie-Josee Ta Lou’s perseverance in a difficult season gets rewarded with an African Record, by Deji Ogeyingbo, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/marie-josee-ta-lous-perseverance-in-difficult-season-gets-rewarded-with-an-african-record.html , #mariejoseetalou, #IvoryCoast, #CotedIvoire, #athleticsafrica,
@deji_oges, #WCHOregon22, #100meters, #200meters,

Reply on Twitter 1557943782007443456 Retweet on Twitter 1557943782007443456 Like on Twitter 1557943782007443456 4 Twitter 1557943782007443456
Load More...
Next Post

World Indoor to Feature 159 countries!

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist