Scrapbook Item 4: 2012 Olympic Logo Considered Racist

Link to this article: http://www.newsytype.com/4520-2012-olympics-logo/

In class on October 13, 2011, we talked about specific events that impacted the Olympics in the upcoming years. Many dealt with boycotts or actions that took a toll on outside of countries with threats or propaganda or other sorts. One problem that escalated with the Olympics coming up in the next year was the the new logo was considered racist in the eyes of Iran. They believe the logo to be spelling out "Zion" and it is racist towards Israel. They are threatening the IOC that they will keep their athletes home for the 2012 Olympics if this logo is to continue to be the main one.

In Coakley's text on pages 450-458, it talks about Olympic history and if it is really special as we make it out to be. We put a lot of stress on the Olympics every four years and each year, whether it is big or small, there is no way that they IOC can make each individual country that is participating in the games happy one hundred percent of the time. There are ways that the IOC can make it easier on themselves when preparing the games but it is hard to make all those people happy and not find even the smallest thing that upsets a group of individuals. Each country has their own view and values on different activities which ends up making things hard to accomplish.

Coakley talks about how there is so many issues with the games that have led to different outbreaks. People end up bribing to host the games, the boycotts if countries do not like what other countries have done in the past or the choices of the IOC, etc. With the global processes that are going on in society, they link together with international sports played around the world. If there was anyway that the IOC could eliminate the politics from the Olympics and please all of the countries that are participating then there would be no problems. The only issue with that statement is that we do not live in the perfect world on Earth like we wish we all did and sometimes perceive to believe.

Although Iran does not like the design, it clearly states the reasoning to why it is designed this particular way and it is not racist towards any other countries. There are always going to be issues between countries because nothing can ever be truly perfect. The IOC and all participants just need to take a step back and breathe by getting themselves prepared for the games in less than 12 months. The games will be starting soon and the countries should be on some good terms before they arrive in London during the month of August. I believe that Iran can look past it and the countries should be on better terms before the games begin. If politics would stay out of sporting events everything would run a lot smoother but like stated above, we do not live in the perfect world that we wish we did and there is always room to change and improve in the future.