So, it has been decided that Russia as contributing nation is excluded from the Winter Olympic Games in Pyongyang, South Korea and that the Russian athletes who are clean are allowed to compete under a neutral flag, which is the same as the Olympic flag.
Perhaps it was after all a quite-expected decision, but if it was a fair or unfair decision that I cannot say, even if I think that it is in general better to exclude individual athletes instead of a whole country.
On the other hand, it has been proven that Russia has major issues with doping at least in some sports.
And, perhaps it is a good reminder and a good message to every country that it is best to have regular checks on the athletes so they do keep themselves clean of doping substances of any sort.
Overall, it is understandable that the whole matter was not an easy thing to decide for the Olympic committee.
But, they had to decide something and we have received it after a whole year of waiting.
However, there is one point of view we seldom discuss; I am not sure why, but my intention is to bring forth that point of view. The reason why I mention the following is simple, it is a fair question.
Think about this question for a moment:
What rights do we have to demand that athletes be clean?
I have been thinking myself about this quite a lot, and my conclusion after that time is that we have actually no rights at all to demand that athletes be clean.
Why so, you might ask?
Well, I ask you this: why are you not “clean” when you are watching sports on TV? Why do you have to drink beer and spirits as soon as you put on the sports?
Why do you have to drink alcohol at all as soon as you go to the restaurant have just come home from work and think that you should “chill out” (or even drink a few beers for lunch at work)?
Or why do you have to even smoke marijuana between the zips?
I am not saying that you are not allowed to drink or smoke pot, that’s all up to you to choose as you so desire, I couldn’t care less.
But, let me ask this: Isn’t it quite ridiculous to shout in front of the TV with a beer or a whiskey in your hand that the athletes should be clean when you are yourself pretty drunk or even high as a building?
Although, there is a larger view to consider beyond your beer, your whiskey, and your pot, and the athletes doping.
It is our ever-greater and unrealistic demands.
Why do we see a fifth place for example as a major disaster and fiasco? What rights do we have to demand that the athletes always shall achieve a medal or win?
I have to say that we have quite unrealistic expectations on the athletes overall, and very unreasonable as well.
And, I can’t think that anyone comes to our daily work with impossible demands or calls it a fiasco as soon as we drop a pen on the floor or perhaps forget the work-phone on our table, or even if we fail for some reason to be nice to a customer.
To sum up this column:
It is up to all of us what kind of environment we want, what kind of world we want including the sporting, and it all begins with each of us.
Behaviour is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, German poet 1749 – 1832.
Notable:
Here is a brilliant article about the meaningless to be a die-hard fan, Click at the colored link below:
http://upyourlevel.com/never-football-fan/
