Despite of the countless accolades the Olympics is receiving, courtesy of the sportsmanship and camaraderie bestowed by the participants upon another, the world's premier sporting event is not spared from controversy. Listed below are some of the many controversial incidences across the Olympic history.
The Black Panther Salute
In protest of the age-long racial discrimination in the United States, Tommie Smith and John Carlos-bronze and gold medalists respectively in the 1968 Mexico City Games' men's 200 meter race climbed the medal podium barefooted and wearing civil rights movement buttons. While the United States national anthem was being played, they raised their black-gloved fists and heads bowed. Their gesture was later known as the black panther salute in support of the Black Panther Party that advanced social justice. The white Australian silver medalist joined their cause that evening by wearing an OPHR badge. These two outstanding black American athletes were subsequently suspended and banned from the Olympic village for there act was branded a dishonor to the United States.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos in protest during the singing of the U.S. national anthem.
The Basketball Gold Medal Match
In the1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Cold War adversaries met for the gold medal match in men's basketball. During the course of the game it seemed the officials and the referee were on the side of the Russians. At the final three seconds of the game, the score was 50-49 in favor of the Americans. It was Russia's ball in the ensuing seconds, but they failed to score and at just 1 second left to play, one official stopped the game due to an earlier whistle. The clock was reset to 3 seconds again but was showing 0:50 when the play started. Unfortunately, the Russians failed to score and the Americans sensing immediate victory began celebrating. However, due to an error at the start, the game was extended again for another 3 seconds. This time, the Russians did manage to score, winning the gold and ending the undefeated streak of the United States since 1936. In protest, the American cagers did not show up during the medal ceremony and until today the medals remained intact in a vault at the International Olympic Committee headquarters. This infamous event was later dubbed as “the most controversial game in international basketball history.”
South Korean Boxing Fix
Byun Jong-il on the canvas
It appeared during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea that the South Korean boxers themselves were already assured of the gold medal. The great Roy Jones Jr. for one clearly dominated his Korean foe that nowhere the fight was even close. In the end, Park Si-Hun won this match in the light-middleweight division to the dismay of his American opponent who was later to dominate and destroy adversaries in the professional ranks. In the point of view of the spectators, Jones glaringly won the match but the judges insisted Park had won whose wins that propelled him to the finals were all disputable.
In the bamtamweight division on the other hand, Byun Jong-il did something dishonorable to the Games by staying on the canvas motionless when the verdict was announced he had lost to his Bulgarian opponent. Perhaps he did such gesture in frustration with the judges not giving him medal. He lost the fight so badly the judges could not maneuver the result. He refused to dismount the ring for 67 minutes until the organizers turned off all lights.
1912: Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe readied himself for a race during the 1912 Olympic Games
King Gustav V of Swede crowned him “The greatest athlete in the world” by winning both the Decathlon and Pentathlon miles away ahead his closest adversary. Today, winners of the same event also earned the same distinction. Unfortunately, Jim Thorpe was later stripped of his gold medals when the International Olympic Committee discovered that prior to his joining the 1912 Olympics he had already played professional baseball and softball. The incident drew so much controversy that questions about the essence and true meaning of professionalism plunged many into debate. Despite much heated protest, the IOC stood adamant until 1982 when Thorpe was posthumously re-awarded.
The Grand Prix Priest
With four miles remaining, Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil was leading the 2004 Athens Olympics' marathon when he was attacked by a protester in green beret with a placard carrying the line “ The Grand Prix Priest. Israel fulfillment of prophesy says the bible, the second coming is near.” The attacker was Neil Horan, a defrocked Roman Catholic Priest, known for interrupting sporting events to advance his cause: Read the bible for the end is near. De lima, nevertheless recovered and finished the race for third. The good sport Brazilian was resigned to his fate but his officials staged a protest to the IOC to award de Lima a gold medal as well for he was ahead of the race prior to the incident. Unfortunately, the IOC rejected the protest and awarded de Lima instead the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for his sportsmanship.
