International conflicts casting long shadow over Games

Power politics, nationalism, but also perhaps a simple conciliatory gesture, are reminders at the Rio Olympics of the conflicts going on around the world. Nothing symbolises this more than the refugee team competing under the International Olympic Committee banner, while bloodshed continues in such trouble spots as Syria, the Sudan and Congo, to name a few.

“The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity,” says the Olympic Charter. 

Be that as it may, the international conflicts have been reflected in Rio. Here are a few: 

 

Russia v USA 

“Cold War” was many a headline after American swimmer Lilly King defeated Yulia Efimova, a proven doping violator, and then showed her disdain for Efimova. The Russians, their overall Olympic team greatly reduced due to the revelations of systematic, state-supported doping, have tried their best not to show they are bothered. 

 

Russia v Ukraine

Amid the tensions between the two neighbours, Ukraine Sports Minister Igor Shdanov banned his athletes from dealing with the Russian media. The prohibition came after some Ukrainian athletes in interviews had complained about the missing Russian competitors. Shdanov alleged that Moscow’s state-controlled media had exploited the remarks for propaganda purposes.

Serbia v Kosovo

Things went from bad to worse for Serbia, when first their tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was expected to win gold, was eliminated, and then Kosovo in its first-ever Olympic games won gold in women’s judo thanks to Majlinda Kelmendi. Before the games, Serbian Sports Minister Vanja Udovicic had issued a directive to the country’s athletes to conduct a protest walk-out if any Kosovar athlete stepped onto the medals podium.

 

Israel v Egypt

Relations between the two countries remain thorny despite Egypt being the first Arab nation to formally recognise Israel. In Rio, Egyptian judoka Islam el Shehaby refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponent Or Sasson who had just beaten him. The audience jeered and whistled at this breach of judo etiquette, where the opponents bow before a match and shake hands afterwards.

 

Israel v Lebanon

The bus incident, with two sides to the story as to what happened on the way to the opening ceremony. The Israel version is that Lebanese delegation members aggressively prevented Israeli athletes from boarding the bus where Lebanese athletes were already sitting. Lebanon’s version was that the bus was reserved for Lebanon and still the Israelis tried to force their way onto the vehicle. The Lebanese and Israeli athletes ended up riding in separate buses. Israeli Sports Minister condemned the “abhorrent and anti-Semitic behaviour” of the Lebanese. IOC spokesman Mark Adams later spoke with both delegations and both had directly explained what happened and were happy.

 “If they are happy, then we are happy,” he said, declaring the case closed.

South Korea v North Korea

For a change, a moment of hope of better things to come. Gymnasts Lee Eun-ju (South Korea) and Hong Un-jong (North Korea) met in the preliminaries and do what young women everywhere in the world do – took a selfie. The two smiling girls sent a message of friendship that is rare amid the atmosphere of enmity that has prevailed between the two Koreas since their separation in 1948. It was a brief moment of unity – just what the Olympic movement is supposed to be all about.