Politics and Sports

#. Politics and Sports

 

In January, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made an announcement.

It said any political expression by an athlete would be prohibited during the upcoming Olympic Games.

Athletes sometimes use medal ceremonies at international sports tournaments to subtly demonstrate their political beliefs.

These athletes may hold up a fist or get down on one knee in protest.

However, IOC President Thomas Bach said such visible demonstrations would be disallowed.

"The Olympics must never be a platform for political or any other divisive ends, " Bach said.

Some people support the IOC's decision.

They say an international sports tournament is one of the few places where countries can set aside political differences.

It even allows feuding nations to interact in the midst of political tensions.

So, it is inappropriate for athletes to disrupt this neutrality with political statements, they say.

Furthermore, these supporters say that political demonstrations can be distracting to other athletes in the tournament.

These athletes train for many years in order to achieve peak performance during a competition.

So, they should be allowed to focus completely on their goal of winning a medal, and not be diverted by outside issue.

However, the IOC's announcement has been met with objections as well.

These critics say that athletes are first and foremost individuals with personal beliefs.

They have the right to express themselves politically if they choose to do so.

No sports body should be able to censor the athletes in this manner, the critics say.

In addition, the critics say that the demonstrations are usually so subtle that they do not disrupt the tournament.

For example, raising a fist or getting down on one knee during a medal ceremony does not actually affect the competition or other competitors.

So, these critics argue that as long as the protests remain tasteful and discreet, athletes should be allowed to show their political colors.

 

• subtly = subtely 미묘하게, 예민하게, 민감하게, 교활하게

• subtle ˈsʌtl 미묘한, 감지하기 힘든, 교묘한, 영리한

• demonstrate ˈdemənstreɪt  (행동으로) 보여주다 [발휘하다] (=display), 드러내다

• demonstration ˌdemənˈstreɪʃn 시위, 데모 (→march)

• belief bɪˈliːf 신념, 확신 

• fist fɪst 주먹 (→ham-fisted, tight-fisted)

• hold somebody/something up (쓰러지지 않도록) ~을 떠받치다, (하나의 예로서) ~을 들다 [제시하다]

• get down on one knee 한쪽 무릎을 꿇다

• divisive dɪˈvaɪsɪv 분열을 초래하는 (→divide)

• divert daɪ|vɜːrt 방향을 바꾸게 하다 [전환시키다], 우회시키다, (생각·관심을) 다른 데로 돌리다 (=distract)

• diversion daɪ|vɜːrʒn (방향) 바꾸기 [전환], 주의를 딴 데로 돌리게 하는 것

• set something aside (다른 더 중요한 일들 때문에) ~을 고려하지 않다 [무시하다] (=disregard),  ~을 한쪽으로 치워 놓다

• feuding 앙숙의 feud fjuːd (오랜동안의) 불화[반목] / 불화를 빚다

• interact ˌɪntərˈækt 소통하다 [교류하다], 상호 작용을 하다 interact with ~와 상호 작용을 하다

• in the midst of … 의 한가운데에 , 한창일 때

• inappropriate |ɪnə│proʊpriət 부적절한, 부적합한 (↔appropriate)

• disrupt dɪsˈrʌpt 방해하다, 지장을 주다

• statement ˈsteɪtmənt 발언, 성명, 진술, 서술 (→fashion statement) as well 또한, 역시

• objection əbˈdʒekʃn 이의, 반대 (이유) object |ɒbdʒɪkt 물건, 물체 (→UFO) / 반대하다

• meet an objection 반대에 직면하다

• meet with something 받다, (반대 등에) 부닥치다 [맞닥뜨리다], (불쾌한 일을) 겪다 [당하다]

• foremost ˈfɔːrmoʊst 가장 중요한 [유명한], 맨 앞에 위치한

• individual ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl 각각 [개개]의 / 개인

• censor ˈsensə 검열관 / 검열하다, (검열하여) 삭제하다

• in this manner 이런 식으로

• competitor kəmˈpetɪtə 경쟁자[경쟁 상대] ,  (시합) 참가자

• as long as … 하는 동안은, …하는 한은, … 하기만 하면

• tasteful ˈteɪstfl 고상한, 우아한 discreet dɪˈskriːt 신중한, 조심스러운 (=tactful)