Americans told to cut the patriotism

The Guardian | Monday February 4, 2002 | Duncan Mackay

[joyce11111]

Winter Olympics --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Americans told to cut the patriotism

Duncan Mackay in Salt Lake City

Monday February 4, 2002

The Guardian

The organisers have been told by the International Olympic Committee to tone down overt shows of patriotism during the 2002 winter games' opening ceremony here on Friday and not to honour the victims of September 11.

"These games are held in the United States and we have deep respect and sympathy for everything that has happened since September 11," said François Carrard, the IOC's director general. "But let's not forget the games is a universal event." The opening ceremony is being televised worldwide.

A tribute "of some kind" will occur in the hour before the show to those killed in the attack on the World Trade Centre, possibly incorporating the American flag retrieved from the rubble after the terrorist attack, the Salt Lake Organising Committee president Mitt Romney suggested.

"It's not designed to be a patriotic American display," he said. "While the experience of 9/11 certainly impacts on all of us, there should not be a direct tribute in the ceremony itself."

Even before September 11 the IOC was concerned that the SLOC might incorporate too much patriotism into the opening ceremony, a criticism levelled by some at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta summer games.

"Around the world it was like, 'Boy, those Americans, always beating their chests,'" said Romney. "This is not our time to talk about how great America is."

So far in the run-up to these games coverage has concentrated almost exclusively on the home competitors, raising fears of a repeat of the LA and Atlanta games when events with little home interest were rarely shown on US television.

Romney hopes the opening ceremony, due to be attended by President Bush and the United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, will allay such fears. The Salt Lake show was planned long before the terrorist attacks and sketched out before the 2000 summer games in Sydney, he said.

Bright lights have so far illuminated the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles stadium- "Olympic Stadium" - late into the night for rehearsals and stage construction. But particulars of the ceremony remain a secret, although it is known that the performers will include the British singers Sting and Charlotte Church.

The ceremony, in its varied form, will reflect the culture and history of Utah and the American West, Romney said. It will also highlight Olympic spirit and the international community.

However, one possible complication could be the weather with forecasters expecting strong storms in northern Utah from Friday morning. The fear is that performers in large costumes could be "blown away" if heavy winds kick up.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

[quietolong]

Americans told to cut the patriotism

NO!

[Rubber Duckie]

I live in Japan. Our (Japanese) people who work on the U.S. side or were on business there on 9-11 all, without exception, sent home reports which spoke admiringly of the displays of American patriotism after the 9-11 attack. A few even questioned what it would take to get that kind of spirit in our company. One even mentioned that he hoped what happened to Japan after Pearl Harbor would look like a friendly wrestling match after the U.S. got through with whoever launched this foul attack.

So, IOC and Kofi, not all non-Americans are offended by our displays of patriotism. Some genuinely admire us for it.

[LS]

These people better get used to it. If you think the SuperBowl was a patriotic love fest, wait til you see the Olympics. And if I was an athlete there, and could swing it, I'd smuggled that WTC flag in and carry it!

[He Rides A White Horse]

These games are held in the United States and we have deep respect and sympathy for everything that has happened since September 11," said François Carrard, the IOC's director general. "But let's not forget the games is a universal event." The opening ceremony is being televised worldwide.

We already have, by merely allowing the French on American soil.

[vannrox]

Let's do it anyway. If they don't like it...
We will completely SHUT DOWN the
Entire Olympics on the
Very First Day. Let all the people who
Came to Compete sit waiting. let the
News casters sit and wait...
And let them wait...
And Wait...
And Wait...
Until we can have a Patriotic display....

[vannrox]

The Samaranch years

Juan Antonio Samaranch
Spain
Born 17 July 1920
IOC member since 1966

Juan Antonio Samaranch was born in Barcelona on 17 July 1920. As a teenager, he was interested in sport and sports development. While studying at the Barcelona Higher Institute of Business Management, he played roller hockey, a sport for which he later organised the world championships in Barcelona in 1951, won by Spain. While helping to run the family business, he became a municipal councillor in 1954 and a member of the Spanish Parliament in 1967. He served as national delegate for sports for three years. In 1973 he was appointed President of the Barcelona Provincial Council, from which he resigned in 1977 upon being appointed Spanish ambassador to Moscow by King Juan Carlos, thus opening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In the meantime, he had acted as Chef de Mission at the VII Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, at the Games of the XVII Olympiad in Rome in 1960 and at those of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo in 1964. He was elected President of the Spanish National Olympic Committee from 1967 to 1970. He was co-opted into the IOC in 1966 and elected President in 1980.

Marital status

Married to Maria Teresa Salisachs-Rowe (deceased); two children (Maria Teresa and Juan Antonio).

Education

Attended the German college, the Barcelona school for advanced business studies, studied abroad in London and the United States, and later earned a diploma from the Barcelona Institute for advanced business management studies (IESE). Languages Spanish, French, English, some Russian and German. CareerDiploma in economics; member of the board of several banks; Honorary Chairman of 'La Caixa' savings bank; Municipal Councillor responsible for sport in the City of Barcelona; National Delegate for Physical Education and Sport; President of the Barcelona Diputacion; Spanish Ambassador to the USSR and the People's Republic of Mongolia (1977-1980). Sports practised Hockey, boxing, football. Sports administration Member (1956-) and subsequently President (1967-1970) of the Spanish Olympic Committee; Vice-President of the International Comittee for the Mediterranean Games; President of the Spanish skating Federation; chef de mission at the VII Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956, and the Games of the XVII and XVIII Olympiads in Rome in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964; President of the International Boat Show. Hobbies Art and sports philately. Address International Olympic Committee, Château de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland. IOC IOC member since 1966; Head of Protocol (1968-1975; 1979-1980); member of the Executive Board (1970-1978; 1979-); Vice-President of the IOC (1974-1978); President of the IOC (1980 )

[vannrox]

He Is Currently The President of the IOC!