[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Guess you missed this part: a team or person that disrespects our country.
Your ramble was almost incoherent.

How do they disrespect the USA? This kneeling from what I understand has been done by athletes from many countries and at different sporting events in many countries. It is taking on racism in many countries. And racism pops up in many countries and has for centuries if not for thousands of years. It changes a lot though.

https://www.baylor.edu/content/servi...php/110990.pdf

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

How do they disrespect the USA? This kneeling from what I understand has been done by athletes from many countries and at different sporting events in many countries. It is taking on racism in many countries.

Totally agree with you! JKneeling does not offend me.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by aallbrand

Thank got the world is not run by old folks who forget whats its like to speak up for injustice.and use what ever platform to make change. The young are the future. Many of the same folks who boycott sports because some athletes try to bring change were rebels when they were young but grew up to be jaded and selfish

out with the old in with the new

I agree 100%!

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

How do they disrespect the USA? This kneeling from what I understand has been done by athletes from many countries and at different sporting events in many countries. It is taking on racism in many countries. And racism pops up in many countries and has for centuries if not for thousands of years. It changes a lot though.

https://www.baylor.edu/content/servi...php/110990.pdf

Kneeling during the US National Anthem is blatant disrespect to our country. I will always view it as such no matter how many sheep join in.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Kneeling during the US National Anthem is blatant disrespect to our country. I will always view it as such no matter how many sheep join in.

I do not consider it disrespectful. I view it as a protest.

[Marty94]

I always believed that being a member of the US Olympic team meant that you were wearing a uniform that represented your country, not yourself. I wore a uniform representing my country for 28 years. I never thought of myself, but of what that uniform represented. More so, making political statements while in uniform was against regulations. Specifically, Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 (DoDD 1344.10), Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, and the spirit and intent of that directive is effectively the same as that of the Hatch Act for Federal civil servants.

It’s my belief that Olympic athletes wearing a uniform be expected to follow similar guidelines. If you’re going to represent your country, your personal activism should be left at home because you’re no longer representing your country, but yourself.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Kneeling during the US National Anthem is blatant disrespect to our country. I will always view it as such no matter how many sheep join in.

That is not allowed as far as I can tell at the Olympics. They knelt at the start of the game in which they were playing. Soccer Players Kneel in First Test of Updated Olympic Protest Rules

But as athletes have pushed for more opportunities to use their platforms to speak out against injustices, many have criticized Rule 50. Earlier this month, the IOC released a new version of the rule, which for the first time allows athletes to express themselves on the field of play, but only prior to competition.

Before the opening ceremonies had even kicked off in Tokyo, the rule was already put to the test. Several women’s soccer matches took place before the opening ceremonies, and members of five different teams took a knee on the field before the start of their matches.

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

.
.
me, not so much - and I must say...yet.

Much of the 'luster' of Olympic games are tarnished, for me.

First the 1-year delay in holding the Games due to Covid. Then the decision not to have ANY public attend the Games. Then the issues re some USA athletes and the anthem. Then, in the last couple weeks Covid has arisen in Japan, impacting some athletes. And of course the non-Live issue of holding the Games in Asia. So we'd already know results - such as the Women's soccer team losing 3-0 to Sweden - so....why tune in and watch? With all this NBC must be sweating after their $$$$$ investment.

I will probably do 'selective tuning-in'.

But I certainly enjoyed Wimbeldon tennis and the golf Open in England, even the Euro soccer championship. time will tell with the Olympics. I've been to Japan 10 times during my business career, and love the country, the people, and their spirit. But they can't catch a break re the Olympics.
.
.

I support my country, so I will watch any event that interests me, same as any other Olympics. I appreciate the hard work the athletes have done, and pray everyone comes home safely

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Marty94

I always believed that being a member of the US Olympic team meant that you were wearing a uniform that represented your country, not yourself. I wore a uniform representing my country for 28 years. I never thought of myself, but of what that uniform represented. More so, making political statements while in uniform was against regulations. Specifically, Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 (DoDD 1344.10), Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, and the spirit and intent of that directive is effectively the same as that of the Hatch Act for Federal civil servants.

It’s my belief that Olympic athletes wearing a uniform be expected to follow similar guidelines. If you’re going to represent your country, your personal activism should be left at home because you’re no longer representing your country, but yourself.

Our country no longer represents our country. The athletes who express their dismay with peaceful gestures of protest are doing EXACTLY what "representing our country" means.

As long as the Olympic committee is okay with it, then there's no problem. They're abiding by the rules. If they break the rules, they will need to stop, or be held accountable.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Marty94

I always believed that being a member of the US Olympic team meant that you were wearing a uniform that represented your country, not yourself. I wore a uniform representing my country for 28 years. I never thought of myself, but of what that uniform represented. More so, making political statements while in uniform was against regulations. Specifically, Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 (DoDD 1344.10), Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, and the spirit and intent of that directive is effectively the same as that of the Hatch Act for Federal civil servants.

It’s my belief that Olympic athletes wearing a uniform be expected to follow similar guidelines. If you’re going to represent your country, your personal activism should be left at home because you’re no longer representing your country, but yourself.

Olympic athletes are not members of the military. They are not subject to rules of the Department of Defense. Get real. If you want to go that route, then you'll need to ban Burger King employees from taking a knee and toss them in jail if they dare disobey, because they have uniforms too.

You fought for our right to protest. And - no one is kneeling for the National Anthem at the Olympics.

You're all fighting the wrong battle, with the wrong players, at the wrong battlefield, with the wrong battle song.

[justjim]

I will DVR the games and watch some. Dean, it’s a shame what has happen to the Olympics this time around. I’m surprised that more Japanese are not vaccinated. It is what it is…

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Ben Franklin

I lost interest in the Olympics in my mid-twenties.

I lost interest because I felt sorry for the host country because about 80% of Japanese don't want the Games to proceed. They are justifiably afraid of a CV surge happening from the influx of foreign athletes, staff, and TV personnel. Left alone, the Japanese had a very small CV problem that they were dealing with without vaccines. Now with the Olympics that has changed - they need vaccines because just about 5% of their population has had shots. I would have liked to see the games postponed for another year to see if the pandemic improves.

There are several things that I don't understand about this Japanese situation. Perhaps someone can enlighten me ? Why could not a country with so much wealth and industrial capability make their own vaccine or buy the right to produce one? Russia and other countries have made a vaccine of their own. Also, how could Japan have let itself be SO unaware of the situation with the Olympics coming up? Thank you!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I haven't been interested in the Olympics since they turned it into a professional event.

The 1980 US Hockey team was one of the great sports stories of all time. It's unlikely that we'll ever se anything like that again.

I can't believe that so many people thought that the Dream Team was such a great event. It was a bunch of the best basketball players in he world beating up on a bunch of kids.

As far I'm concerned, the Olympics has been destroyed by money.

I agree that the Olympics is NOT the place for pro athletes. Let the college amateurs have their day in the spotlight - many will NOT make or struggle to make the professional ranks. Fair IS fair - spread out the wealth. Just making a good college team requires much time and effort - I know personally. A large middle-class of athletes make the larger society of men and women stronger and more alert. Sports can be VERY instructive and fulfilling - the more that participate the better.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by aallbrand

Thank got the world is not run by old folks who forget whats its like to speak up for injustice.and use what ever platform to make change. The young are the future. Many of the same folks who boycott sports because some athletes try to bring change were rebels when they were young but grew up to be jaded and selfish

out with the old in with the new

That overall is a great post for TV Landers to remember about the Olympics and MANY other areas. Thank you for your great clarity!

[Marty94]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Olympic athletes are not members of the military. They are not subject to rules of the Department of Defense. Get real. If you want to go that route, then you'll need to ban Burger King employees from taking a knee and toss them in jail if they dare disobey, because they have uniforms too.

You fought for our right to protest. And - no one is kneeling for the National Anthem at the Olympics.

You're all fighting the wrong battle, with the wrong players, at the wrong battlefield, with the wrong battle song.

Olympic athletes are subject to the rules of the Olympic Committee to include doping, etc., and I acknowledge that. And contrary to your post, some are members of the military. In fact, I had several assigned to my command who trained full time for the Olympics. This year there are 19 athletes who are in the military. And the US OC does have rules of personal conduct. After this post, I texted a close personal friend who is a 4 time Olympic coach. He stated that they do have rules concerning personal conduct, but they aren’t enforced. He went on to say the following, “They’re not reprimanded. And with very few exceptions most, like a shot putter, make zero money from the games, get zero attention at the games, no one knows their name and no one watches. So when you’re the third best shot put athlete in the nation, you need to do something to get any kind of attention. So that’s exactly what they do. Most of it’s financial because they’re hoping that a sympathizer hires them to do a couple of speeches or pays them to be on a podcast or two.”