Who Should be Allowed to Compete at the Olympics?

[Ample Prosecco]

I am not finding a subtle way to get round the locked thread and I don't want the controversial case raised. Or indeed any individual. Or this thread will be locked too, plus admin don't need the headache....

BUT there is a principle being discussed:

View A: The Olympics is a great honour in which you represent your country and so you need to have a certain level of moral/ethical suitability to be allowed to take part. If you ever commit a crime, go to jail etc you should be barred for life.

View B: The Olympics is a the greatest test of Sporting Achievement and not a morality test. The only thing that should ban you is cheating, doping or abuses that took part within the sport.

Personally, though certain cases might make my skin crawl, I think the latter view is more how I think. Take hypothetical case of a lad grew up in care, robbed a few cars, went to prison, joined the prison gym, discovered a talent ....

While there is a punishment element to prison but also the idea that a person can be rehabbed and turn their lives around. And I believe in the redemptive power of sport too. So a blanket ban on ex-offenders is definitely not something I'd support, but policing a sort of half ban would be hugely problematic and cases could get mired in legal challenges.

Anyway over to you! Thoughts?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I agree with your viewpoint, I think, so View B. However, I think someone convicted of a seriously violent crime should expect to have to be head and shoulders in front of the national.opposition in order to be picked for any national teams who will be representing their country in many ways, not just sporting prowess, at multi-national events.
I quite agree that there must be an element of rehabilitation in any custodial sentence, so a convicted person who has served their sentence should be able to go back to their previous field of employment, or utilise a talent found while in prison, although there will be some exceptions. I wouldn't expect someone convicted of animal cruelty to go out to take up a post as a zoo keeper for instance!

 

[webble]

I think it maybe needs to depend on the crime, not particularly horse sports but a lot of sports attract and act as a sort of salvation for those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law/ drugs etc for whatever reason. I dont think Rapists/ Animal Abusers/ Child abusers etc should be allowed. Theft, a street fight when you were young, previous drug issue but now you are clean etc should maybe get a pass

 

[humblepie]

Do you remember when it was amateur atheletes only and not professionals? I find it difficult that in some sports I get the impression that it seems to be viewed as just another tournament and not held in particular esteem and sports people only go for their event rather than as it probably was years ago immersing themselves in the whole Olympic experience.

 

[reynold]

Racing is heavily regulated - whatever your views on it.

Trainers can be banned for in some cases up to 10 years. However once they've completed their ban, providing they pass muster, they can resume training and go on to target prestigious races such as Royal Ascot/Cheltenham.

So I'm with the camp that is in favour of do the crime, do the time, hopefully come out rehabbed and proceed forward in the hope of not repeating the same mistakes that got you into trouble.

 

[rara007]

B. It’s elite sport.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I agree that someone who cheated or committed a crime during/concerned with their sport should be banned. The other competitors should be able to have confidence regards who they are competing against and who they will be sharing changing rooms with.

Regards crimes committed outside the sport I think it should depend on the age of the perpetrator. A person who commits a crime when too young to fully understand the implications or to have good impulse control should get a second chance.
There are precedents where someone convicted of a crime serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence is barred for life (from being an MP for example). I think it is reasonable to expect a mentally competent adult to understand that some actions have permanent consequences.

Edited- I just read that back & it sounds really judgemental . Difficult isn't it, but I don't see how else to protect the special honour of being an Olympian.

 

[teapot]

Should someone represent their country, arguably the highest honour anyone can be asked to do, if they’ve committed a crime that would get them sacked in any other job/industry? I’m not so sure.

Would you want a convicted abuser or assaulter in a team environment which the Olympics very much is - I wouldn’t. It’s definitely elite sport but that doesn’t make you immune to taking responsibility for your actions imho.

Has the honour of representing your country declined in value? Look at the England men’s rugby team - so many players are going to the French clubs and giving up the chance to pull on a white shirt in the process.

 

[SEL]

B although I find the current issue distasteful.

Do you remember Mike Tyson? UK laws should have prevented him coming here to fight but he was granted some form of dispensation (too long ago to remember what) & I found that disappointing. Almost saying his sporting prowess outweighed his criminal conviction - but he had served his time

 

[Morwenna]

Should someone represent their country, arguably the highest honour anyone can be asked to do, if they’ve committed a crime that would get them sacked in any other job/industry? I’m not so sure.

Would you want a convicted abuser or assaulter in a team environment which the Olympics very much is - I wouldn’t. It’s definitely elite sport but that doesn’t make you immune to taking responsibility for your actions imho.

Has the honour of representing your country declined in value? Look at the England men’s rugby team - so many players are going to the French clubs and giving up the chance to pull on a white shirt in the process.

Olympics 2024: Convicted rapist Steven van de Velde to compete in volleyball in Paris

Dutchman Steven van de Velde, who was sentenced to four years in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old British girl, is set to compete in the Paris Olympics.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[EarsofaSnowman]

Given every country's laws and legal framework are different, how could a level playing field be created for option A?

Individual countries could refuse to put forward an athlete who had certain convictions, but the athlete can then argue that in country B they wouldn't have been convicted on the evidence presented, and in country C it's not even considered a crime. (eta this comment is made in general terms and not in the context of any of the recent examples).

Even bringing the weight of public opinion into the mix is fraught with difficulties given the spread of cultures both of those taking part, and of host nations.

 

[U.N.Owen]

And yet the Japanese gymnastics team captain was sent home and career over for being caught smoking

Olympics 2024: Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata sent home for smoking violation

Shoko Miyata has been sent home before the Paris Olympics for smoking, in violation of Japan Gymnastics Association rules.

www.google.com

 

[Parrotperson]

I cannot begin to fathom that awful Dutchman being allowed anywhere near the Olympics

He travelled here to rape that poor girl. He knew how old she was. He went to prison for a year.

Hitting a horse seems minor in comparison to him being allowed anywhere near young people in Paris or anywhere that tbh.

He’s been allowed to resume his life. Showed no remorse.

He raped her.

She was 12.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

And yet the Japanese gymnastics team captain was sent home and career over for being caught smoking

Olympics 2024: Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata sent home for smoking violation

Shoko Miyata has been sent home before the Paris Olympics for smoking, in violation of Japan Gymnastics Association rules.

www.google.com

Because he was in violation of the Japanese rules, which presumably he knew about before he had a smoke.

 

[U.N.Owen]

Because he was in violation of the Japanese rules, which presumably he knew about before he had a smoke.

I know, but it seems wild that one country can find smoking the worst and take her home and another find things not so much

 

[suebou]

I’m not defending him at all but he was found guilty and served his time. Lots of criminals do this, he will be on a register and unable to be near children I’m pretty certain but most of the western world subscribes to once you’ve accepted your punishment, you are free to live your life….( as long as you don’t break your restrictions)

 

[equinerebel]

There are some crimes that are simply too awful. Representing your country at the Olympics is an honour. I wouldn’t want someone convicted of a serious crime representing the country I identify as part of regardless of whether they’d win a medal or not.

Serious crimes IMO, including but not limited to; sexual abuse, child abuse, terrorism, murder.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I know, but it seems wild that one country can find smoking the worst and take her home and another find things not so much

It may not be the worst thing that Japan would send someone home for but it is against their rules, so the competitor who broke that rule has to go home.

 

[Cloball]

Aside from the sporting side do host nations want offenders of certain crimes travelling into their countries. You can't get visas for some countries I don't think sporting prowess should necessarily trump that.