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A
Palestinian Olympic State
by
Naomi Ragen (August 18, 2004)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC),
headed by Jacques Rogge, an orthopedic surgeon from Belgium, has unilaterally
created a Palestinian State,and allowed it to compete under its own flag in this
year's Olympic games.
Not only that, but "Palestinian athletes", according to a CNN report, which
thought it was just wonderful, don't have to qualify like everyone else to
compete in events!
Given that the last time so-called Palestinians -- claiming not to have a
country--participated in their own name in the Olympics they did so by murdering
Olympic athletes, I would say that the entire International Olympic Committee (
IOC) has disgraced itself by failing its mission, i.e. "... to promote top-level
sport as well as sport for all in accordance with the Olympic Charter...[to]
ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games and strongly encourage, by
appropriate means, the promotion of women in sport, that of sports ethics and
the protection of athletes."
How does allowing so-called Palestinians special privileges fit into that
charter? Unless suicide bombings and shooting little girls in the back of the
head are now Olympic events, one fails to see what special expertise they bring
to override their obvious lack of qualifications to join world-class athletes on
the playing field.
If this is the case, why not let everyone compete? Like the United Nations?
They could compete in the "Looking the other way during Genocide" event. Or the
"Oil for Billions" marathon. Or perhaps a special gold medal for "Keeping People
in Refugee Camps for the Longest Period of Time?" And then there is CNN. Let's
make them a nation too, and create a "Compassion for Suicide Bombers" conscience
vault. I could see many nations competing in that, giving them a run for their
money. Including the IOC members themselves.
Every single one of the 115 board members should be forced to resign in disgrace
over this pitiful political decision. It should not be allowed to go unremarked
and unchallenged. Barring that, the IOC's ability to collect funds from networks
and multinational corporations should be challenged, and national contributions
to it from peace-loving nations like the U.S. should be cut off.
Below, some letters from readers and URL's.
Naomi Ragen
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Dear Naomi,
Why haven't we heard anything about the Palestine Olympic team? I was absolutely
shocked to see it marching in the opening ceremonies. How did this happen? Isn't
the Olympic Competition for nations only? When did the Olympic Committee
unilaterally declare into being a nation called Palestine? Where can we protest
such a decision?
Tobey Grand
Lansdale, PA - USA
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Naomi,
Did you know that "Palestine" is one of the nations competing in the 2004
Olympics? I would like to contact the IOC, to ask for an explanation - like
where is the "nation" located on a map? When did it gain its independence? I
almost choked when the television commentator spoke of this myth as if it was
reality, and praised "President" Arafat for calling out for a truce between
Israel and his terrorists. Can you help me with this?
Debbie Berliner
Rancho Cordova, CA USA
Start with this link:
http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/media_centre/index_uk.asp. Clicking on "flag
bearers" will take you to the site where all of the flag bearers are listed
(including "Palestine").
This link will take you to "The Palestine Olympic Committee":
http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/noc_uk.asp?noc_initials=PLE
with an address in "Palestine" and everything.
http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/index_uk.asp?id_assoc=7 This link
shows a map of the five Olympic Councils. Strangely, I couldn't find "Palestine"
on their map! Israel is listed in the EOC.
http://www.olympic.org/common/search/asp/match.asp?query=Palestine&source=qu
eryBox&origin=0&lang=en This is the search link that I got when I searched for
"Palestine".
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