The Olympics were
perhaps first politicized in 1936 not by the athletes but by the state
As Hitler wanted to showcase to the
world its domination by the Master Aryan race would await
Effort and best laid plans went down the drain
As Jesse Owens Hitler’s plans with 4 golds restrained
In 1968 this time 2 athletes tried to in sports politics inject
Smith and Thomas on the podium with the black power fist held high and erect
In Tokyo the political protest virus is still alive and well
The USA Women’s Soccer Team kneeling to the need to racial “injustice quell”
Focused on the myth of systematic racism to be stamped out at any cost
These heavily favored athletes by Sweden
were then skunked in a 3 to zip loss
Sadly not only is the U.S. infected by his politicization disease
Costa Rican gymnast Alvarado ended her routine with a kneel and raised fist salute
to the BLM to please
Israeli judoka Butbul reached the quarterfinals because 2 competitors withdrew
to Israel’s policies in Gaza complain
He lost but the protesters will be sent out of the Olympic Village on a plane
Athletes are citizens and should not lose their rights of speech and protest
But to get to the Olympics is more like a paid job from a nation’s largesse
And like the ideal of the ancient Olympics that during the Games saw a truce to
war
The Olympics today should remain not a venue for protests over real or imagined
evils to soar
©
July 26, 2021 The Alaskanpoet
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