Every drugs charge is a triumph of original idealism over greed. It is precisely because athletes have been allowed to get away with drug-taking offences for so long that there is the erosion of the original ideals. What is happening with the drug crackdown in Sydney, is long overdue. ![]() It cannot work anymore in a world with the free-flow of information. The idea of de Coubertin was a lie, an ideal. It always meant big money and benefits to be an Olympian winner. The one of de Coubertin who was blue-eyed and out of the world and the original ones in ancient Greece. It would be wonderful if the TV companies could stifle their greed for money for a couple of weeks and give us them in raw and undiluted continuity The spirit could be revived if all the peoples of the world could enjoy the Games without hindrance. Forget aerodynamic helmets and special suits - much blood was spilled that day and the Munich games will always represent the death of the Olympic spirit to me. I have no political axe to grind on that one just a simple feeling of disgust at the callous disrespect shown to those athletes and their families by an uncaring IOC. The Olympic spirit died on Septemin Munich when the decision was taken by Avery Brundage, the then IOC president, to carry on with the Games after 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were innocently murdered. I myself am hoping I have about 10 more years left. Yes it might be dead, but everything has to die. Today it's nothing but sporting equipment marketing and product placement. The Olympic spirit died the moment the decision was made to have the Games every two years. It is now all about which national team has theīiggest sponsorship deals and the best facilities Have a fair chance of winning a medal when Performance-enhancer of them all - money? On drug-taking, but what about the greatest The death of the Olympic spirit is blamed ![]() Read your comments since the programme.Select the link below to watch Talking Point On Air But has all the money and the level of exposure killed the Olympic spirit? Are the modern games about sportsmanship and glory or about the pursuit of profit?ĭiana Madill was joined live from Australia by the BBC World Services' Head of Sport, David Coles. Off the track, the games' ruling body, the International Olympic Committee, is still reeling from allegations of corruption.Īccording to the Olympic Creed, the most important thing is not to win but to take part. Television companies and corporate sponsors are paying more than one billion dollars for the right to screen or associate themselves with these games.Īlong with world records tumbling, however, stories of drug-taking make headlines every day, as athletes come under increasing pressure to perform. More than 10,000 athletes are taking part, watched on television by half the world's population. The largest-ever Olympic Games are now well underway in Sydney.
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