Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Stonewall Fitness: Why I Support the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi


By David Smith

Now that a lot of the hype and emotion of the Sochi Boycott has died down (or been forgotten about) and we are less than 100 days until the opening ceremonies I feel it appropriate to share my viewpoint on the Sochi Boycott. If you are quick to judge yet are not willing to read the article and open your mind to another perspective then please don’t waste your time, or mine.

Given that the Olympic Games are a world wide event and one of the few that can truly unite the world through a common purpose it is no doubt that such attention will always have it’s fair share of controversy, from the direct protests of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics to the indirect protests such as China’s occupation of Tibet during the 2008 Olympics. 


The last time there was a direct boycott by the United States of the Olympic Games itself came during the 1980 when the US boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Out of spite, the Soviet Union then boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and both events had the field of competition significantly diminished as many elite athletes on both sides were prohibited from taking part. Today, both boycotts have been long forgotten. Not many people remember that a boycott even took place, let alone why. The only people who were truly affected by these boycotts were the athletes, dedicated men and women who train their whole lives, who work hard, have such high levels of discipline and motivation, people who sacrifice everything for the opportunity to represent their country proudly on the world stage, only to have it ripped away due to circumstances completely outside of their control. As if they are pawns in a political game of chess with no control over their fate. If your country goes to war for reasons you don’t agree with, do you boycott the entire military?

The Olympic Games are a unique event that transcends political differences, bringing together people from countries all over the world under the same roof and giving the opportunity for athletes to be apart of something greater than any individual. It’s at the Olympics where you see athletes from Iran and Saudi Arabia hugging each other, where North Koreans and South Koreans go head to head in friendly competition, where political differences between nations don’t exist. Regardless of the athlete’s gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, nationality, or anything really it is a rare opportunity for people with many differences, view points, politics and ideologies to truly come together and unite for a common purpose, to better ourselves as countries, societies and the world as a whole.
I do not agree with the laws in place to prosecute LGBT people in Russia and my support of the Olympics does not necessarily mean I don’t support boycotts of other products and such happening in Russia. It is important that we stand behind our athletes and the United States Olympic Committee in Sochi, Russia. They are there to represent all of us, as a nation, as the *United* States of America.

David Smith is the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness.

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