Cultural Imperialism And The Olympic Games Essays -

Cultural Imperialism And The Olympic Games Cultural Imperialism and the Olympic Games Virtually since their resumption in 1896, every four years the press is filled with complaints about the intrusion of power politics into the Olympic games. David B. Kanin has commented that while we are told that international Olympic system idealizes and promotes fair play and sportsmanship and ameliorates struggle, hatred, and petty jealously through structured competition and international goodwill, the realist is that international sport thrives on the very politics Olympic publicists decry (Kanin 1). Nevertheless, the games are more or less 'political', than anything else. Ninety-five percent of the problems faced by IOC's president Killian involved national and international politics (Senn x). Further, it can be argued that what could be called 'cultural imperialism' has influenced and even shaped the games. Cultural imperialism at times facilitates inclusion of sporting events reflecting a host nations area of expertise or de-emphasizing sports that are popular with nations n ot in political favor. The following report will explore this issue up until the World War II games. The Olympic Games and the Olympic system have become, in some critical ways, actors on the global political stage. Senn proves this point when he states, Rather than being an autonomous institution into which politics creep uninvited, the Games and international sport themselves play a significant role in international politics as they embody conflict and tension (Senn xii). However, others disagree stating that they view sport as a transnational rather than international phenomenon. This suggests the competition brings together non-governmental groups and organizations independently of the governments of the world (Senn xii). This leads to the question of why Americans even got involved in the Olympic Games. Bob Fulton believes that when Pierre de Coubertan was first introducing the revived Games, American athletes and athletic associations were not particularly interested in participation. They often felt that the Games were little more than an historical relic best left forgotten. Appeals to sportsmanship and the potential of the Games to foster understanding among diverse peoples (leading to world peace and harmony) were disregarded (Fulton 52-58). Only when American athletes began to do well in the Olympics did a majority of other athletes and organizations decide that participation has some real benefit. Therefore, it is suggested that political as well as competitive motives fostered American involvement. American involvement in the Games, has had many long lasting effects on the Olympic system. It has been stated that Western sports and ideals have dominated many facets of the Olympics. Ruud Stockvis, a Dutch sociologist, states the popularity of any given sport in any given country depends upon the development of the positions of economic and political power among the nations of the world system (Guttmann 173). The United States is one of the largest Hegemons in the world, therefore, cultural imperialism is dominant in many of their sports and other Western nations. For example, baseball, basketball, American football, lacrosse, are some of the most popular sports all over the world. However, many nations have taken American sports and adopted them to suit their culture (Guttmann 174). For instance, Canadians have taken to a version of gridiron football and even imported American players (Guttmann 175). On the contrary, the United States has taken sports from other countries. Years after baseball became Cuba's national game, jai-lai became popular among Americans (Guttmann 175). Lastly, there have been examples of extreme cultural imperialism in the past. British missionaries had forced peoples of Asia, Africa, and India to play cricket and soccer football against their will. It was an effort to Christianize these native peoples and force western values and culture upon them (Guttmann 177). Proof that the games have become an attraction for showcasing the skills, expertise, and talents of athletes from specific countries (either hosts allowed under the system to add events or powers influential in defining the scope of the games) can be easily demonstrated. Also, certain cultural values have been forced into the Games and its ceremonies. These types of actions are another form of cultural imperialism affecting the Olympics. For example, we can consider the following: ? In 1912, Christian worship was introduced and conducted in the stadium as part of the opening ceremony. It later