If history has taught me anything, it is that history repeats itself. During the history of the modern Summer Olympics, which began in 1896, there have been two World Wars. The Winter Olympics began in 1924 and were interruppted by World War II. When the Olympics resumed following the respective World Wars, certain nations were barred from the next Olympiads.

The 1916 Summer Olympics(to be held in Berlin, Germany) were cancelled because of World War I. The Olympics resumed in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. Because of their actions in the war, the Central Powers(Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey) were barred from participating.

The 1940 Winter and Summer Olympics(to be held in Sapporo and Tokyo, Japan, respecitvely) were cancelled because of the onset of World War II. Japan was forced to give both games back to the IOC when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937 and the IOC eventually cancelled the games. The 1944 Winter and Summer Olympics(to be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and London, England, respectively) were cancelled as World War II was still happening. The Olympics resumed in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland for Winter and London for Summer. Because of Germany and Japan's action in the war, both nations were barred from participating.

I believe that because of the United States actions in the last few years, such as the illegal invasion and war in Iraq, the torture in Abu Gharib, the illegal internment camp at Guantanamo and many other war crimes, the United States should not be allowed to participate in the upcoming 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. I am probably the only who believes this, but I am entitled to my opinion. What are your thoughts?

Given the Chinese government's abysmal record on human rights, jailing of journalists, support of a genocidal Sudanese government, then China ought to be barred from hosting the Olympics in the first place, if we extend your reasoning.

Politics really ought to be separated from sports. After all, the spirit of the games is to showcase the very best of human ability through fair and competitive play, free of political aspirations. Wars halted in ancient Greece to allow athletes and their families safe passage to and from the games, often through otherwise enemy city-states.

I agree, we shouldn't get politics and "this country did this and this wrong so they should be banned..." it would get so complicated and overrun with pointless debate that everyone would get so sick of it that the Olympics would get cancelled lol
there are so many different contradicting POV's and opinions that are involved with this that it would be chaos to discuss and a bunch of people would get pissed off...and pleez save the US bashing for another time, thank you

Nations of the world use the Olympics for their own selfish needs and throw their political weight where it doesn't belong. The idea of the Oympics were to bring peace to the nations, so people can lay down their arms and generate good will to all nations and their people. What I have read so far and gather . A "tit for tat" response. Why even bother participating in the Olympics, when all nations have gone to war one way or another.
Participating in the Olympics is a priviledge, not a right.

Your going to disallow US participation because of what the US government did? Your going to disallow those athletes who trained for years from participating just because what their government did, which they have no control over?

Geez, that pretty harsh, if I say so myself.

I agree with everyone here. Sports n politics shouldnt be placed on the same footing. In addition to that, barring nations from the Olympic wouldnt change anything. It would probably make things worse.

eh? i never really likes sports to begine with...lols
but mean people who participate are usually innocent civilians who are talented...what do theyhave to do with politicians...so why should anyone be barred from anything? i mean why would a participant have his chance taken because the country's acts are shameful?

All countries/coultures/societies have all done something wrong or have dark times/events in their history. And the US is no exception. However. Banning anyone because of actions would prove fruitless and only add to the strain that everyone is feeling. and as other people have said before me the athletes shouldn't be held to pay the price, just because the happen to belong to the given nation/group in question.

I'm not saying that I would want to disallow US participation in the Olympics, but I'm sure that most of the international community would. The US has dug itself into a hole when it comes to its credibility on the world stage that's going to take years to pull itself out of. I'm not anti-American. If anything, I'm anti-Bush, i.e., anti-moron.

And, Vinitachi, you're right that it would be wrong to tell US athletes who have been participating for years just to be in the Olympics that they can't go because of the actions of their government. But think about this. Was it fair for the IOC to tell Japan's athletes that they couldn't participate in 1948 because of what their government did? Or was it fair to tell Germany's athletes the same thing in both 1920 and 1948?

And PrarieDogGuy is right too. The nations of the world use the Olympics for their own political weight. The 1936 Olympics in Berlin were just a showcase of Nazi propaganda. In 1980, the US led a worldwide boycott of the Moscow Olympics because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. And in 1984, the Soviet Union turned the other cheek on the Olympics in Los Angeles. What is the point of the Olympics if the nations of the world just try to one-up each other?

Seeing as the Olympics have no true economic bearing for the competitors banning a country from competing is rather pointless and actually petty since the only ones you would be hurting would be the competitors from the country that is barred. If you want to hit a country where it hurts you would ban them from hosting the games for a specified amount of time. This would cause an economic impact albeit a rather small one for certain countries.
As for the US well, we are definitely not the cleanest act on the block. AS far as I know the invasion of Iraq has not been deemed an illegal act by international law or by US law even though there are those out there who want you to believe it is. I am not saying it was the correct course of action either but consider this. If the US had not acted in the first Gulf War Kuwait would no longer exist as a nation. If we had not invaded Iraq, I have no doubt that considering Hussein's history, that country would actually be where it is at today with the exception that all the killings would be sanctioned by the Iraqi government. US and international involvement in the Middle East is unwelcome to many who believe one way or the other or who wish for the end of one side or the other. Also keep in mind that the UN is basically powerless, the US and Great Britain are really the only nations that have been willing to take action (not that it was always the correct path) with their own militaries, and neither has permanently occupied the countries in which they have taken action (nor do they wish too).

Quote by MnemethSeeing as the Olympics have no true economic bearing for the competitors banning a country from competing is rather pointless and actually petty since the only ones you would be hurting would be the competitors from the country that is barred. If you want to hit a country where it hurts you would ban them from hosting the games for a specified amount of time. This would cause an economic impact albeit a rather small one for certain countries.
As for the US well, we are definitely not the cleanest act on the block. AS far as I know the invasion of Iraq has not been deemed an illegal act by international law or by US law even though there are those out there who want you to believe it is. I am not saying it was the correct course of action either but consider this. If the US had not acted in the first Gulf War Kuwait would no longer exist as a nation. If we had not invaded Iraq, I have no doubt that considering Hussein's history, that country would actually be where it is at today with the exception that all the killings would be sanctioned by the Iraqi government. US and international involvement in the Middle East is unwelcome to many who believe one way or the other or who wish for the end of one side or the other. Also keep in mind that the UN is basically powerless, the US and Great Britain are really the only nations that have been willing to take action (not that it was always the correct path) with their own militaries, and neither has permanently occupied the countries in which they have taken action (nor do they wish too).

To post for the first time in a long time, Paradox I believe is correct when he states that sports should be kept separate from politics, as is China yet another perversion of Communist doctrine.

It should be noted, however that the U.S. and several of it's allies have had a long, sad, and quite involved history of imperialist expansion and ambition prior to this current involvement in Iraq.
Applied to the U.S. exclusively, Iraq is no different than Vietnam, or the Phillipines; the only thing that has changed is the terminology applied to the opposing force. In the Phillipines, it was the 'Insurrecto'. In Vietnam, it was the 'Vietcong' (or several other terminologies). In Iraq, it is the 'Insurgency' or 'Enemy combatant'-- And all of these conflicts have always been preceded by the same lofty and noble cause cloak.

By and large, I'd think that with the great sins of the international community of the developed world that we'd all be barred from the Olympics. Although the Olympics is just an event that is uninvolved with the upper echelons of political power. It doesn't necessarily mean that the guilty or involved parties should not be made accountable for their actions, or should not answer for their varying crimes. Although it does make for a good source of entertainment when nothing else is on the tube for that week or so.

Those instances you cited in the past was when the Olympics were used as a political tool. Should this continue even now? A blatant political gesture?

Quote by AcyxBy and large, I'd think that with the great sins of the international community of the developed world that we'd all be barred from the Olympics. Although the Olympics is just an event that is uninvolved with the upper echelons of political power. It doesn't necessarily mean that the guilty or involved parties should not be made accountable for their actions, or should not answer for their varying crimes.

They can be repriminded on a political stage, such as the United Nations, but not on the athletic stage. Thast just a pathetic attempt at bullying.

Athlete should not be held as pawn in the political game played by the government. They spend most of their time training to the best of their ability just for a chance to show that they are the best in their respective field. Politics are the last thing on their mind. I cringe every time country pull out of the Olympic to protest for whatever reason.

It's sad that it happens, but no country should be banned from the Olympics for any reason. I thought the Olympics were about all countries setting aside their differences and competing for the sake of competing.

I still cringe that Taiwan doesn't get to fly their flag during opening ceremonies.

Quite simply, no. It accomplishes nothing, and far worse countries than us get to compete. A country's athletes should not be held accountable for the actions of their government.

Whoops I voted yes when I meant no...

In any case the Onlympics is supposed to be above political bickering like this and hopefully it will be.

Quote by GodGundam10But think about this. Was it fair for the IOC to tell Japan's athletes that they couldn't participate in 1948 because of what their government did? Or was it fair to tell Germany's athletes the same thing in both 1920 and 1948?

It becomes less unfair when you weigh in the fact that neither Germany nor Japan existed as a sovereign state in 1948.

I believe that if we begin to ban countries from participating in the Olympics based on politics, than the Olympics would cease to exist because no country, other than perhaps the always neutral Switzerland, would qualify. The Olympics are a celebration of athleticism, or at least they should be. Why punish athletes who work so hard to train for this glorious event for most of their lives based on the decisions/mistakes/errors/evils/etc. that a bunch of politicians made.

Quote by DarthTofuIt's sad that it happens, but no country should be banned from the Olympics for any reason. I thought the Olympics were about all countries setting aside their differences and competing for the sake of competing.

I still cringe that Taiwan doesn't get to fly their flag during opening ceremonies.

I know the feeling, being a part-Taiwan native... the talk about the Olympics setting aside differences and having friendly competition was a dream in the past.

In that difference, there is still indifference even when countries participate... now-a-days it's not all about politics anymore. Steroid controversies, judging favors, etc. have plagued sports and the Olympics for the past recent events. How many people went into the 2006 Winter Olympics thinking of another Russia-sided judging controversy? There were people that were outraged by the judges decisions to even place Sasha Cohen at 3rd. You can't possibly say that politicians are the only ones to blame if it's for things like that.

In the defense of the United States and the Olympics, I suppose that in recent years public scrutiny for the sacredity of the Olympics has been brought on by the media, and we all know just how much they can botch something up.

While the wrong-doings of the past were, in part, wrong and they shouldn't have made stupid decisions to the extent of banning a country from participating the in the Olympics, we shouldn't base it on if a nation is at war, has been at war, or has done something at fault. They should be allowed to participate just in "fair game."

The Olympics is an international sports event. Even if the athletes represent their country they do not necessarily represent the political values of their country. Many people in the U.S are against some of the actions taken by their government. Therefore politics should be left out of the Olympics.

Quote by EternalParadoxGiven the Chinese government's abysmal record on human rights, jailing of journalists, support of a genocidal Sudanese government, then China ought to be barred from hosting the Olympics in the first place, if we extend your reasoning.

Politics really ought to be separated from sports. After all, the spirit of the games is to showcase the very best of human ability through fair and competitive play, free of political aspirations. Wars halted in ancient Greece to allow athletes and their families safe passage to and from the games, often through otherwise enemy city-states.

I completely agree, think of how many countries could be barred if they went with this reasoning. I could care less about whether or not the US competed in the Olympics, be fine with me if the US boycotted them just because it's in China. Nothing against the Chinese people, I know one. It's just their goverment, just like most people hate the US goverment.

Is this a serious question?
Now why would you do something silly like bar the US?

are you serious, GodGundam10? according to your page it says you are an American.
although i am personally disgusted by the actions and neolithic incompetence of the current administration; quite honestly Bush should be wearing a strait jacket in solitary confinement in Abu Gharib, i think it is ludicrous to ban American athletes from competing. if my memory is correct [after centuries on Planet Hell it has declined somewhat] the 2008 Olympics are in China. hmm. as far as i can tell many countries have blood on their hands,

i can think of several Asian, Middle-Eastern, African and European countries that shouldn't be allowed to compete under your logic.

Sadly, I am an American. a native Californian. And I'm ashamed of what the current US administration has done. America has basically dug itself into a hole when it comes to its credibility on the world stage that will take years to dig itself out of. I don't like the idea of not allowing American athletes to participate, but the sentiment is there. The world's anger towards the US for illegally invading Iraq and committing all the acts of torture and cruelty is not going to cool anytime soon. I personally don't think it would be right to bar US atheletes from participating in 2008 because of the actions of our government. But was it right to bar Japanese athletes for particpating in the 1948 games because of the actions of their government? Why were Turkish and Bulgarian athletes not allowed to participate after World War I? If the Olympics are supposed to be about international brotherhood and not politics, then no nation should be barred from participating because of the actions of their government.