The XX Olympic Games were held in Munich, Germany in 1972. Many were grew concerned at these games, because they were the first games held in Germany since the Nazis hosted them in 1936. Israeli athletes and trainers were especially nervous, since most of them had family members and friends who were killed during the Holocaust. On the evening of September 4th, the Israeli team went out to see a play and, after, went back to the Olympic Village to sleep. As the athletes slept, eight members of the Palestinian terrorist organization, Black September, jumped over the fence that surrounded the village, took the Israeli athletes hostage, and in the end, killed 11 of the athletes.
According to Eitzen and Sages 5 political uses of sports, I believe the 1972 Olympics is directly correlated with the use of sport as a vehicle of change in society. Initially, the Palestinians seemed to relish the attention. They felt the world had ignored them for decades. The assault and the nature of the Israeli response, thrust the Israeli-Palestinian crisis into the world spotlight, and set the tone for decades of conflict in the middle east, and launched a new era of international terrorism.
Based on my research I would have to say that I do not fully agree with the statement, "Sport is pure and devoid of political interference." Though I don't believe this is the case when it comes to domestic sports, I think that when sports are brought to an international stage, such as the Olympics, or the World Cup, it gives political or terrorist figures the opportunity to spread their agenda and to let people know of their strength. Since these events are watched by many throughout the world, it gives those who look to make change to society the perfect opportunity to do so.
References
Eitzen, D.S & Sage, G.H. (2009). Sociology of North American Sport.
"Olympics Massacre - Munich: The Real Story." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
This was a very intense event, I feel you could have gone a little more in depth about the extent to which it was viewed by the world. Thank you for connecting it to the assigned reading, but go even further by finding additional evidence to support your statement.
ReplyDelete~Brittainy