1. Chapter 9 Politics and Sport SEP 271 Katie Cowan

2. Power Relationships What is power? “Ability to get others to do one’s will, even in the face of opposition.” Exercised by force, threat of force, or extraordinary personal qualities. Personal relationships, groups, organizations, nation-states What is politics? Power relationships

3. Sport & Politics Closely Intertwined 1. Participants have allegiance to some social organizations (community, region, nation) Chants, slogans, clothing reaffirm organization Examples? 2. Process of organization Teams, leagues, ruling bodies acquire powers that are distributed unequally How is power distributed unequally? Corporations have power over sports What have corporations done to control sports?

4. Corporations Control Over Sports TV control over sport Convert golf from match play to medal play Mandatory timeouts (football, basketball, soccer) Changed schedules to benefit selves not teams Determined opponents for Bowl games Other corporations (beer, soda, cars, shoes) Own teams (Cardinals, Canadiens) Buy advertising time Buy scoreboards and other equipment Pay millions to become “official soft drink” Have coaches under contract (shoe companies)

5. Sport & Politics Closely Intertwined 3. Impact of government on sport Some pro sports exempt from anti-trust laws- allowing monopolies Tax laws give special consideration to owners of professional teams (depreciate players!) Blackouts of televised home games have been lifted for pro football despite protests from owners Congress decides which organization will have exclusive right to select and train Olympic athletes Congress crafts legislation to exempt college sports from taxes Provide funding and subsidies for sport

6. Sport & Politics Closely Intertwined 4. Sports events and politics have reciprocal effects- sports as a microcosm of society Wars erupted between El Salvador & Honduras (and Gabon & Congo) after soccer matches Olympic boycotts during political upheaval

7. Sport as Propaganda 1936 Olympics Hitler used Olympics to strengthen his control over Germany and introduce Nazi culture to the world Success @ Olympics was proof of German superiority (89 medals, 4x more than any other) Success of African-American Jesse Owens upset Hitler’s “proof” of superiority of the Arian race

8. Sport as Propaganda Communist nations used sport to promote their common cause Communist countries dominated the Olympics even though they only had 10% of athletes Success of East Germany Smaller population than California, but it consistently ranked in top 3 nations in total medals and outperformed US and Soviet on per capita basis Age 7- children tested and enrolled in special schools, received special training, medical & coaching expertise Demonstrated competition with West Germany Tried to prove acceptance as a sovereign state

9. Sport and Nationalism Success in international sports triggers pride among nation’s citizens Examples? Seen in militaristic pageantry that surrounds sports contests National anthem Jet aircraft flyovers Band forming a flag or liberty bell Moment of silence Opening ceremonies

10. Sport and Nationalism Sport can unite a nation through pride “Opiate of the masses” Sport helps people forget their problems- gives them something else to focus on Poor forget the harshness of life Safety valve fore releasing tensions that may otherwise disturb social order Perpetuates the belief that sport provides upward mobility MYTH OR FACT??

11. Exploitation by Politicians Athlete can use fame and free publicity to help seek office Politicians find it beneficial to get approval and support of sports stars Athletes can get votes for selves or candidates whom they support Politicians identify with teams and attend sporting events Athletes sent oversees to support morale of service personnel

12. Sport as a Vehicle for Change Sport used to attack racism Proposed boycott of Olympics by African American athletes (1968) PGA (1990) made it policy not to hold championships at clubs that excluded minority members NFL (1993)- took Super Bowl away from Phoenix because Arizona refused to have an official, state holiday for MLK day Arizona added MLK day & received Super Bowl in 1996 NCAA- No championship events in South Carolina because Confederate Flag displayed at the Statehouse

13. Political Problems in the Olympics 1. Excessive nationalism 2. Use of Olympics as site for political demonstrations and violence 3. Decisions by ruling bodies to deny participation by certain nations 4. Decisions by nations to boycott for political reasons 5. Political organization of Olympics

14. The Political Olympics  Boycotting the Olympics to exert political power  1952 Helsinki  Cold War tensions begin (separate housing for Eastern Bloc countries; East Germany was denied participation)  1956 Melbourne- 3 separate boycotts  Chinese boycotts Olympics after government recognizes Taiwan (boycotts from 1956-1976)  SUI., Spain, NED. protest Soviet crackdown in Hungary  EGY, Iraq, LEB, protest Israeli invasion of Sinai Penin.  Fights broke out in water polo match HUN v. USSR

15. The Political Olympics  Boycotting the Olympics to exert political power  1972 Munich  Terrorist attack killed 11 Israeli athletes  Americans lost the gold in basketball to USSR, after confusion allowed Soviets to play final 3 seconds twice- protested the outcome & did not accept silver medal  1976 Montreal  26 nations boycotted after New Zealand was allowed to compete  New Zealand had recently played South Africa who had been banned since 1964 for not eliminating apartheid

16. The Political Olympics  Boycotting the Olympics to exert political power  1980 Moscow  US boycotted because of Cold War tensions  1984 Los Angeles  USSR retaliated by boycotting Olympics on American soil  1988 Seoul  North Korea boycotted because of tensions with South Korea  Joined in boycott by Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Cuba  1992 Barcelona  Cold War tension ending; Soviet countries breaking away; Germany’s team united again; ban on South Africa ended

17. Proposal for Change Is there a way to organize the Olympics to neutralize the crippling political problems the negate Olympic ideals? n Establish 2 permanent (neutral) sites for the Olympics. 1. Restrict events to competition among individuals. - no team sports allowed 2. Athletes must represent only themselves. - Olympic hymn played during medal ceremonies; no National team outfits 3. Revise the opening ceremonies so that athletes enter the arena with other athletes from their events.

18. Proposal for Change 5. Make all athletes (amateur and professional) eligible for competition. - minimum standard set by governing board (not nation-state) 6. Subsidize the costs from revenue generated from spectators’ admissions and from television 7. Establish an Olympic Committee and a secretary general to prepare for and oversee the Games. - Committee should be reorganized to reduce political tensions