IOC President Rogge’s call for Bolt to show respect…?

Question

[… Regarding IOC President Rogge’s call for Bolt to show respect for rivals…]

*Sub-questions:

+Do you think Bolt was ‘singled out’ (maybe even discriminated against)?

+Weren’t there, and aren’t there many other athletes who do not shake hands etc, etc?

[My own comment:

After all, isn’t the REAL game about winning, legally, by any means possible, with your own hard effort and earning the medal (and the ‘optional’ glory), regardless of whether people THINK you/ your team/ your country/ sport deserve it?]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/indepth/olympics/s/afp/080821/sports/oly2008_athletics_bolt_rogge

Answer 1

I don't think it will worry him he has two Golds maybe three after the relay and a World record I think he was singled out because he was so successful but I bet the whole Jamaican team will get a rapturous welcome from those that will count to them his countrymen.

I didn't see anything wrong with what he did all sprinters carry on a bit when they win the blue ribbon event on the world stage.

Answer 2

Yes he was clearly singled out, but if he is wise he will listen to the Olympic elders. Most of them have been in similar circumstances so they can give advice to cope with the pressure of it all.

He was not discriminated against. A public message from the head IOC honcho to the current leading athlete is as good as a message to all the athletes.

Answer 3

thumping chest doesn't mean insult other runners.if you see NBA there are a lot of thumping chest after a brilliant dunking,

Answer 4

Okay, you are competing with the best in the world. Everything is complete... Well, amost. (Wish there could be cheerleaders around) Superb ambience. Imagine, you have always dream of being in the middle of some football (soccer) pitch say, Old Trafford, Anfield, Emirates or Stamford Bridge with the fans chanting your name and all... And holy cow, you scored a goal. You know what you're gonna do next. RUNNN!!! SHOUT!!! JUMP!! Do the cradle-the-baby or machine gun or show the hush sign towards the opposition team and fans celebrations. Sepp Blater never said a word. So back to Olympic and Bolt. He did the same. Rogge should never say a word. Merci.

Answer 5

I think he was singled out, not discriminated against. And with good reason, the whole purpose of the Olympics is pure competition AND good sportsmanship. If you act arrogant, that's not in the Olympic spirit, and I wouldn't be surprised if he got punished for that. If I was in charge I would consider punishing him for that, as well as punishing a score of other athletes with the same attitude. But as the guy above pointed out, a message to Bolt is a message to everyone.

Answer 6

LOL... How is it insulting to thump you chest before you cross the finish line?

That is not showing your competitors how badly you can beat them... Crossing the line half a second ahead of them in a 10 second race is showing them how badlly you can beat them!

They figured out how badly they were getting beaten when all they could say 10 metres ahead of them was a singlet with the word Jamaica on the back!

d**n... they were so far behind him that they wouldn't be able to see him thumping his chest!

Jeez what next... maybe he should be told not to win by so much!

Politically correct garbage... I say rub it in! Half the game in these sprints is how you psych your opponents out before the race... and you KNOW that everyone from those races is going to be terrified of him next time! Bolt would have been a fool to pass up that chance!

Lastly, did you see any of the other runners looking offended? I didn't! I saw guys hug him and pat him on the back and say some pretty amazing things about him in the media.

Rogge has stuck a Belgian foot in his big mouth and this is a non event!