 The Politicization of Sports
|
1957 Moscow Festival
Massed pageantry at the 1957 Moscow Festival. The USSR ended its boycott of major Western sports competitions by attending the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
|
 |
|
|
With the nation state the primary unit of international sport, nationalism provided the most conspicuous form of political interference. Sophisticated ceremonial, ritual displays of nationalism, pageantry, medals and tables of results became intrinsic to all big international competitions, and the media exploited the volatile nature of sport to promote feelings of patriotism and rivalry, often carrying racist overtones. Competition was treated as a drama of national emotions, survival, and political and ideological superiority.
The Olympics were the most political event; propaganda, protests, boycotts and terrorism became commonplace. Western powerbrokers in international sports federations such as the International sports federations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought to maintain their control over the definitions under which sport and politics interact, as socialist and Third World countries, with little reason to accept the ideology of competitive individualism that Western nations attached to the forms of modern sport, increasingly participated and constantly challenged the bland assertions of Western terms of reference. The patronizing praise bestowed by European and American commentators on athletes such as Kipjoge Keino for gaining Kenya's first Olympic gold medal in 1972, served to reinforce the neo-colonialist attitude of the West toward Third World countries. At the same time it served as evidence that sport is meritocratic, that individuals with supreme ability will surface, regardless of obstacles.
Countries with limited economic resources copied many of the characteristics of sport that evolved in the developed world. Controversy arose about the morality of nations burdened with poverty and debt investing in a sporting elite, or even in a sports policy and program. Western cultural influence, whether in media, food, music or sport, tended to benefit Third World elites, and at the same time the promotion of imported sport from the developed world turned people away from their own traditional sports and games.
When countries other than those Western industrial powers that had been in charge of international sport since the early years of the 20th century sought to redefine the relationship between sport, ideology and power, the contradictions became inescapable. A “socialist inspired” answer, based on the philosophy that sport in the developing world should be an expression of new-found independence and “an instrument of emancipation from imperialist fetters”, was symbolized by the first and only Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) in 1963.
This competition stimulated more conflict with the sporting establishment: GANEFO records were not recognized and GANEFO athletes were banned from Olympic competition. From that time the Eastern bloc and Third World countries sought more representation in existing international organizations. In 1963 Sir Adetoklunbo Ademola of Nigeria became the first black African member of the IOC. By voting with members of developing countries, the Eastern bloc started to threaten the grip of the Western world on international sport.
 More Content
|
Main Page 
1960 - 1973
Periods
