When Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French historian and educator, initiated the modern Olympic Games in 1894, his intent was to promote peace through sport. The Olympics have consistently mirrored the global political landscape of their respective eras. While the Olympics are ostensibly a grand celebration of athletic supremacy, beneath the surface, they have been entangled with political dynamics since their inception. This convulation of sports and politics is as old as the Olympics themselves, dating back to ancient Greece, where city-states leveraged the Games for political negotiations and alliance-building. The Olympics have always been political and will likely remain so.
In the contemporary world, where a nation's reputation is increasingly pivotal to its security, a mega-event like the Olympics serves as a crucial platform for both the host country and participating nations. These international events are arenas where global actors showcase their strengths and subtly (or overtly) highlight the weaknesses of their adversaries, whether real or imagined.
Though the International Olympic Committee (IOC) staunchly opposes the politicization of sports in its Olympic Charter, the reality often defies this ideal. The Olympics, despite being envisioned as apolitical, have frequently become stages for political statements and conflicts. In the world as it exists, it is universally recognized that the Olympics are inextricably linked with political complexities. This is evident from historical incidents such as the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the 1968 Black power salute by two African American athletes on the winners' podium in Mexico City.
The 1936 Berlin Olympics, hosted by Nazi Germany, were intended by Adolf Hitler to propagate his ideology of racial superiority. This narrative was dramatically disrupted when Jesse Owens, an African American athlete, won four gold medals, challenging Hitler's vision on a global stage. In 1972, the Munich Olympics were marred by the tragic events orchestrated by the group Black September, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and a West German police officer. The political nature of the Games continued with the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where 29 countries boycotted in protest against New Zealand's participation, following a controversial rugby tour in apartheid South Africa. The Cold War further exacerbated the politicization of the Olympics, with the United States and the Soviet Union leading boycotts of the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Games, respectively.
As the world approaches the 2024 Olympics, hosted by Paris, the Games are once again under the shadow of global politics. In France, the decision to ban Muslim women from wearing hijabs while competing for the country has stirred significant controversy. This policy, which was tried to be justified on the grounds of maintaining France's secularist principles, comes at a particularly sensitive time. The ban was implemented following the October 7 attacks led by Hamas and was closely followed by French President Emmanuel Macron's invitation to the country's chief Rabbi to light Hannukah candles at the Élysée Palace. The ongoing war in Gaza has further intensified tensions, with rumors circulating that some athletes may refuse to compete if required to face Israeli opponents.
These tensions have already manifested during the Games. In a football match between Mali and Israel on July 24, spectators drawn out banners condemning Israel and displayed flags supporting Palestine. With the majority of Mali's population being Muslim and a significant Malian diaspora in France, this protest highlights the broader geopolitical tensions influencing the Games.
The Olympics are more than just a sporting event; they are a powerful tool for shaping global narratives. The stories that emerge from the Games-whether they are tales of athletic triumph, political protest, or national pride-resonate far beyond the sporting arena. These narratives are often shaped by the broader political context in which the Games take place, and they can have lasting impacts on how nations are perceived on the world stage.
These narratives are not just about the specific issues at hand; they also reflect broader trends in global politics. The 2024 Olympics took place at a time when the world was facing significant challenges, from the rise of nationalism and populism to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The way in which these issues played out at the Olympics provides insight into the broader geopolitical landscape and the ways in which nations are facilitating these challenges.
The 2024 Olympics, like those before them, are a reflection of the complex reciprocity between sports and global politics. While the Games are intended to be a celebration of athletic achievement and international cooperation, they are inevitably influenced by the broader political context in which they take place. From the decision to ban the hijab to the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, the 2024 Olympics are already shaping up to be a highly politicized event. As the world watches the Games unfold, it will be important to pay attention not just to the athletic performances, but also to the ways in which the Olympics are being used as a platform for political expression and power projection. In doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the global dynamics that are shaping our world today.
The writer is Senior Research Associate/ Research Manager, The KRF Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs (CBGA)
