While I am writing about the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, it must be reminded that we are still enjoying the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I am also aware that Russia and Georgia are embroiled in a war in which Georgia has been invaded by Russia. It appears that Russia has acquired territory in Georgia with the intention of regime change. I also saw on the internet a segment of Georgian TV in which a reporter was shot by a bullet that came from a Russian Tank in the Ossetia Region. There are also footage of atrocities in Georgia by Russia and refugees heading towards Tblisi.
 
Poland, The Baltic States, and the Ukraine are sending help to Georgia with the hope that there is a resolution. According to Russia, it is Georgia that is committing genocide in the Ossetia Region. The Voice of Russia World Service even has a page dedicated to «victims of genocide by Georgia» The Russia VS Georgia Conflict is occurring during the Beijing Olympics of 2008 and it is a terrible thing that this has to happen.

I am also angered at the fact that Russia has destroyed towns in Georgia and Georgia has replied with force even though Georgia cannot defeat Russia. It appears that the Republicans and Democrats want to add fuel to the fire and salt to an already bleeding wound by vestiges of the Cold War [also called Republicans, Democrats, and Cold War Vestiges in Europe including Moscow] by proposing to move the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia. While I am opposed to invasions and war of any kind, I am reaffirming my opposition the politicization of the Olympics. The Olympics should be seen as a sports events with all nations participating.

Representative Allyson Schwartz, Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Bill Shuster, Republican from Pennsylvania have introduced a resolution to remove the 2014 Olympics from Sochi, Russia. It appears that the United States Congress and House of Representatives want to make the world safe for “democracy” by targeting a sports event such as the Olympics. After all, the Olympics is a favourite punching bag for politicians. As Jesus of Nazareth said: “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
 
Allyson Schwartz condemns Russia for invading Georgia yet voted on continuing the rape of Iraq by the United States of America, and for the continuation of the infamous Patriot Act according to the Young Philly Politics Webpage [which is a webpage dedicated to Progressive Philadelphia Politics]. Progressive Patriots [another webpage gave Bill Shuster a 10 out of 100% for H.R. 6304, the FISH Amendments Act which made the Patriot Act in the USA permanent and gave the US Government powers to monitor every aspect of living in the United States of America [creation of a totalitarian state in USA]. Bill Shuster also supported the US Rape of Iraq. A Politician cannot condemn an invasion of a country if he or she supported the invasion of one country by their own country.

I personally oppose the Russian Presence in Georgia in the same vein that I oppose the United States Presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The posturing of Schwartz and Shuster reminds me of how a certain President called Jimmy Carter decided to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Russia [at that time the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic] as a protest against the invasion of Afghanistan. Jesse Owens before dying of lung cancer protested against Jimmy Carter’s Decision to no avail and this could be appreciated in the article about him by the Viewpaper. Imagine if the attempts to boycott the Berlin [1936] and Beijing [2008] Olympics had succeeded, we would not have Jesse Owens nor Michael Phelps because of the hypocrisy of politicians. I would not imagine what would happen if the Berlin and Beijing Olympics were transferred elsewhere.

The boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 did not function. I even defied it by writing to my family in Cuba [from my house in the USA] , Radio Bucharest, Radio Berlin International, Radio Prague, Radio Polonia, and Radio Budapest and saying that “The Tyrant Carter prohibited the Moscow Olympics”.  I received the souvenirs from the above mentioned sources. The people who went to the Olympics told Carter to “take his boycott elsewhere” and enjoyed the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A boycott would not function neither would the transfer of the 2014 Winter Games from Sochi, Russia since it would be counterproductive and people will go to Sochi, Russia and enjoy the games. The only winners of a move to boycott or move Olympic Games are the politicians with the athletes being the losers.

The conflict between Georgia and Russia as well as Iraq and the USA can be resolved in other arenas without the need to remove the Olympics from one city or boycotting them. Remember, Sports and Politics should not mix.

REFERENCE:

http://www.gpb.ge/st_0.php?lang=eng&tm_id=1&sub_id=0

MSNBC: “Lawmakers Move 14 Olympics from Russia”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26223848/

US House of Representatives:” Members of Congress Call on IOC to Strip Russia of 2014 Russian Winter Olympics»
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa13_schwartz/russianolympicresolution.html

Young Philly Politics: «Joe Sestak and Allyson Schwartz Vote to Continue the War Unabated»
http://youngphillypolitics.com/joe_sestak_and_allyson_schwartz_vote_continue_war_unabated

http://progressivepatriots.com/house/ShusterPA9.html

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31076&cid=206&p=14.08.2008

The Viewpaper: “Jesse Owens: A Great Hero”
http://theviewspaper.net/sports/2008/05/2987