If Paris still exists by 2024, after the disgraceful rioting and vandalism that have taken place in recent weeks – if Paris hasn’t been utterly defaced, then an Olympic Games will take place.
For an athlete, being chosen to represent your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of sporting achievement.
It provides what is only available to an Olympian – a remarkable and unforgettable Olympic experience.
But, if the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has its way, that will no longer be the case for Australian athletes.
I remember, prior to Tokyo, facing a global pandemic, which itself was characterised by government alarmism and, as we are now learning, dishonesty, the word ‘together’ was added to the official Olympic slogan of Faster, Higher, Stronger.
But as Julian Linden wrote recently, ‘It was a cute gesture to reassure everyone dealing with Covid, that the biggest sporting festival on the planet would be the beacon of hope that things would eventually return to normal.’
As Julian wrote, not everyone got the memo.
Wokeism has overtaken the Australian Olympic Committee.
The nanny state has raised its head to the abject detriment of our athletes.
Put simply, the AOC has ordained that athletes will be banned from staying in the Olympic Village once their events are over.
Go home.
Boot them out of the Village and let them fend for themselves.
Of course, they can stay in Paris if they choose, at their own expense, and they can return for the Closing Ceremony; but for the period that the athlete is booted out, within 48 hours of the athlete’s event finishing, the athletes will pay their own costs, and if they so choose, then come back for the Closing Ceremony.
For some athletes, for example, the men’s rugby sevens, their competition ends the day after the Opening Ceremony.
Get out of the Village; and if you want to hang around to return for the Closing Ceremony, you will face a two-week bill and, at Olympic time, even a grimy hotel room could cost you $600 a night…
Matt Carroll, the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee, says that everyone understands it.
He says, ‘It is not for the wowzers, we are actually doing it for the athletes who are still competing.’
The AOC says there is evidence to prove that, booting the athletes out of the village, once their events are over, will benefit the health and performance of the entire team because they won’t be distracted by any partygoers.
You see, the argument is that Olympians are renowned for some wild celebrations and that Australians are never far from the action.
But don’t we have a person with the pompous title of Chef de Mission?
That is the person, man or woman, who ‘manages’ the team.
So if you are booting out athletes once they have finished competition because you can’t control their behaviour after that, what on earth is the job of the Chef de Mission?
Quite frankly, the athletes should go on strike.
James Magnussen, the former world record holder for the 100 metres freestyle, is right when he said that everyone who makes the Australian team deserves to have the full Olympic experience ‘and that includes staying in the village for the Closing Ceremony and supporting their teammates’.
Magnussen is also right when he argues, ‘Being an Olympian is not just about winning medals. It is a rare achievement that deserves to be properly celebrated, no matter what athletes results are… Most athletes only ever get to one Olympic Games, so just making the team is the reward for a lifetime of hard work. They should be allowed to soak up every moment.’
Then, James Magnussen speaks as a swimmer, ‘Swimmers already can’t go to the Opening Ceremony because we start competing the next day, so they wheel us in with no Opening Ceremony, straight into the competition pool, and always with very lofty expectations. And the moment we are finished, rather than letting our hair down and relaxing and celebrating and feeling like we are part of the greater Australian Olympic Team, you get kicked out of the village and on your bike.’
Says Magnussen, correctly, ‘I know that they are saying that you can still go to the Closing Ceremony, because there is an option to stay around Paris; but based on what my friends and family have told me about trying to find affordable accommodation in an Olympic city, their chances for Paris are Buckley’s and none.’
Remember, these athletes, at an Olympic Games, are providing entertainment worldwide.
They don’t get paid a brass razoo.
Just imagine Elton John singing for millions around the world and getting nothing.
Yet, if you take swimming, historically, we produce the best of the best.
So what this blazer brigade on the AOC, with all sorts of fringe benefits, are now saying to the swimmers is that they will have no Opening Ceremony because you have to be at your best when you dive in tomorrow; and when you jump out, forgive the Australian language, but they are told to bugger off.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience is neutered and the athletes are entitled to feel they are being used.
Grab us the medals; send that Australian flag up the pole in victory; and, then, goodbye.
No chance to support your teammates; no chance to meet athletes from other countries.
Get out of the joint.
Again, as James Magnussen says, toward the end of his career, he and his athlete friends were encouraged to support other athletes in the Olympic Team, whether it was going to the basketball to support the Boomers or going to the soccer or the beach volleyball.
It was an important part of being in an Australian team, because when it is an Olympics on foreign soil, some of our athletes have little crowd support.
I have had a bit to do with international teams and international athletes.
This decision by the AOC is a disgrace.
As things stand, in Paris, Australian athletes will have to vacate the Village within 48 hours of their events finishing.
Matt Carroll, the AOC Chief Executive, said, ‘I have spoken to a few of the athletes and everyone understands.’
So, a few of the athletes speak for everyone?
That is simply not credible.
You mean athletes will put their hand up and say, I will compete, and when I finish, you will boot me out, and I think that is terrific.
It is simply not credible.
It is another case of sporting administrators, the blazer brigade, taking benefits for themselves and using the athletes along the way.
The Olympic movement is funded by a lot of taxpayers’ money.
The government, on behalf of the taxpayers, should intervene and see that this decision is overturned.
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