American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celeb

[Doglips]

OK I got a plan....when ever a US athlete wins a medal...they QUICKLY give it to the first 3rd world country Athlete they see....grab the Korean, Iran, or Chinease flag and run around with it.....extra points if they burn an American Flag while doing this. We dont want to "offend" anyone now do we. IS IT JUST ME OR HAS THE WORLD GONE FREAKING NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


U.S. athletes told to cool it at Olympics
By Simon Hart
LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH


NEW YORK — American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image.
The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior.


The plan is part of a charm offensive aimed at repairing the country's international reputation after the deepening crisis in Iraq and damaging revelations of the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces at the Abu Ghraib prison.
"American athletes find themselves in extraordinary circumstances in Athens in relation to the world as we know it right now," said Mike Moran, a veteran former spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee who has been retained as a consultant to advise athletes how to behave.
"Regardless of whether there is anti-American sentiment in Athens or not, the world watches Americans a lot now in terms of how they behave and our culture. What I am trying to do with the athletes and coaches is to suggest to them that they consider how the normal things they do at an event, including the Olympics, might be viewed as confrontational or insulting or cause embarrassment."
Four years ago at the Sydney Olympics, members of the victorious American 400-meter relay team were widely condemned for strutting with the U.S. flag after their gold medal presentation. American officials, mindful of the country's precarious standing in world opinion, are desperate to avoid any repeat.
"Unfortunately, using the flag as a prop or a piece of apparel or indulging in boasting behavior is becoming part of our society in sport because every night on TV we see our athletes — professional, college or otherwise — taunting their opponents and going face-to-face with each other," Mr. Moran said. "We are trying for 17 days to break that culture.
"What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another manner."
Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union flag.
"It's up to every athlete how he or she wishes to celebrate their Olympic success, and there are no plans to issue any instructions," a spokesman for the association said. "We are confident that every athlete will celebrate in a responsible way."
The USOC's anxiety at overexuberant displays of jingoism is a far cry from scenes at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where the American flag became the defining symbol of the Games.
A different environment awaits the American team in Athens, where officials are anxious to replace apple pie with humble pie.
Americans were booed at the World Athletics Championships in Paris last year largely because of Jon Drummond's histrionic protest at his disqualification from a heat of the 100 meters. Also, at an Olympic soccer qualifying match in Mexico earlier this year, the American team was subjected to sustained razzing by a section of the crowd, including chants of "Osama, Osama!"
"We're not the favorite kid in the world right now," conceded Bill Martin, the USOC's acting president. "We are sensitive not only to the security issue, but to jingoism in its raw sense. That is why we are sending people around to educate the athletes as to the appropriate behavior."

[ScottD]

"F" them!!!!

[Doglips]

I forgot to point out his quoat in the artical...


"If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it might not be viewed as confrontational"

"Where we are in the world right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another manner."

[ScottD]

I moving target. Practice! Practice!

the rest of the world can kiss my American backside

[Rave]

Yup,freakin' nuts!!!!!

[Oxford]

Seems to me that every olympian, regardless of which country they're from, is representing their country. And...if/when they win a medal they can be expected to be proud of their accomplishment in the name of their country.

A person winning an event there would have to be subnormal if he/she could refrain from showing their enthusiasm for winning or placing, considering the level of competition.

Personally, I enjoy seeing athletes express their personalities when they win...but I despise seeing anyone do anything which comes off as being braggart or unsportsmanlike, like mocking other compeititiors or making comments which should not be said.

Our countrymen have not achieved their athletic skills by being shy and unaggressive and not training hard. Nor have they earned any credit for the U.S.A. by being loud mouth's, whiners, or poor sports. I would hope each athlete representing the U.S.A. will take seriously to heart the request by the U.S.A. Olympic committee to tone down their over enthusiastic reactions...but I also would hope they are free to be Americans and to show their enthusiam for what they've accomplished. :nod:

Ox

[toolman]

Sounds like a bunch of communist/U.N./liberal B.S. to me! Since when is it considered American to kiss everyone else's butt? I say they all carry a U.S. flag tied to the barrel of an M-14 around the stadium!

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mm-mexicocity.html

[dave375hh]

I'm with Toolman, well said! I'm sorry thou that I can't invite the USOC, and the rest of the world to kiss my butt! I just don't consider them worthy of that honor. Remember the country's pointing the finger at us, and carping about what we do need us a lot more than we need them, and there are no exceptions to that fact. That includes the oil because if the US were to stop buying their oil, where would they sell it? Now that Russia is not out enemy we should help them develope their oil resources to the benifit of both our countries. They need cash, we need oil. We already did a pipeline in Alaska, Russia isn't any colder or more remote.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

Yup, nuts! But, the advice is sound. After all, we have soiled our sheets and are very much disliked world wide. These facts in mind, it might be wise to keep a low profile!

[Indy7373]

I doubt the rest of the world would take offense to our athletes waving their flag, and if they do, then they are so sensetive that anything we do would offend them. So wave away and God bless America.

[Shaun]

If we can't fly the flag and celebrate then lets just forget about the olympics.

[psycho dad]

I Agree With Toolman, Who Cares What They Think. They Dont Like Us Anyway, If It Wasnt This It Would Be Something Else. Usa--land Of The Free And Home Of The Brave

[Oxford]

I'm definitely not in favor of dropping competition in the olympics by the U.S.A. That's an event, as we all know, which was started several thousand years ago in Greece. I'ts my belief that humans are naturally competitive to a degree...some far more than others. As far back as I've read about people have competed in all sorts of skill events...mostly centered around running...but others centered around running and doing something else...like rifle marksmanship, or jumping, or throwing, etc.

Many of us remember that several years ago the the U.S. boycotted the 1980 summer olympics held in Moscow as a political protest to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. This resulted in a further political action by Russia and their satellites when they retaliated by not participating in the 1984 summer olympics held in Los Angeles.

From my viewpoint...politics should not (within certain guidelines) be a factor regarding whether or not a country participates the olympics. It is also my belief that the olympics do much more good for all people worldwide than a boycott of the olympics could possibly do in protest of a political event.

Bottom line...the U.S.A. should stay in the olympics. The U.S. Olympic Committee should make every reasonable effort to ensure that our athletes understand the importance of exhibiting acceptable behavior during those games. Any athlete who doesn't comply should be immediately dropped from the U.S. olympic team and returned to their home. Other retaliatory actions could also be added penalizing athletes who violate the guidelines. :nod:

if they win a medal they ought to do an "end zone celebration" like grabbing a cheerleaders pom poms and doing a cheer (I can't remember that Philadelphia Eagle football player's name)

Terrell Owens #81

[toolman]

Hey LD, the last time I grabbed a cheerleaders "pom poms", I cheered pretty loudly, but I still got slapped!

[Dennis]

This atitude is part of the problem.
the whole idea that We as Americans have done something wrong...... IS WRONG
We havent done anything to deserve the treatment we have recieved.
Recieved from the Arabs, From Europe, From anyone.
They look to us to see how to act.
the Liberal Anti American Americans have showed the world how to treat us.
If we Accept the Anti American Americans attitude. we are playing in to the hands of the enemy. (The Anti american Americans are the Real enemy)

I say lets go and show WE ARE THE SUPERPOWER OF THE WORLD!!!!!

We are ya know, no matter how much the anti American Americans want to stop us from being what we are, We are the supreme nation on this planet.
I see no reason to not act like it.
Everyone on earth knows this too.
so whats the big deal?

[Despoiler]

I say Screw em! I would encourage each athlete to grab the flag and parade it around every time they get the chance. The US has nothing to be ashamed of, we are the greatest country on the planet. I am sick and tired of the US thinking it has to bend to the will of world opinion. No mater what we do they are going to hate us!