Protests at the Olympics

Does politics have a place in international sporting events?

Early in the competition, an Iranian competitor in judo declared that he would not fight an Israeli athlete because he did not recognize Israel as a country, and then proceeded to get out of his fight by failing to make the weight limit.

Protest has always intruded on the games. Think of Hitler and Jesse Owens. Of black power and fists raised in the air. Of massacres at Munich. Of boycotts by the USSR and the United States. Athletes have protested Zimbabwe, Israel, South Africa, Australia for playing South Africa in preparation, and for various other reasons.

As Americans, we strongly believe in free speech. But wouldn't the Iranian athlete have made a much stronger statement if he had fought the Israeli and won? By all accounts he was much better at Judo. Should countries force their athletes to express political opinions in this way? There is at least some suggestion that he was "persuaded" not to fight.

For more on this situation and the IOC response/non-response, take a look at this recent feature from the Toronto Star. Should the IOC ignore the situation? Does interfering here only bring more politics to the Olympics? I do not have any answers....