It’s a sad commentary, on the eve of the 17th Winter Olympiad, the purists dream of immersion in the beauty, grace, speed and power of the world’s finest athletes has lost much of its luster. Perhaps, however, like many other adolescent fantasies, the image of true amateur athletes from around the globe simply competing to prove who is the fastest, strongest, or most skilled was never more than a well-merchandised mirage.
While a sense of regional and nationalistic pride has always been part of the Olympic tradition, this century has borne witness to several incidents where politics and terrorism have produced ugly and tragic consequences; most notably at the 1936 and 1972 Games.
Increasingly, noteworthy performances, some which fail to produce gold, silver or bronze, fall victim to national medal tallies. During the Cold War, we were often more concerned with whether Americans acquired more medals than Soviets or East Germans rather than whether the most talented athletes won.
Yet, for those who witnessed Torvell and Dean’s flawless and sensual interpretation of Ravel’s Bolero, Franz Klammer’s out-of-control downhill to win the gold before his home town friends or the U.S. hockey team’s first miracle on ice in 1960 … nationalities were forgotten in the truest spirit of athletic competition.
As the hundreds of athletes who have descended on Lillehammer begin a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, many will find themselves competing not only with their fellow athletes, but with the media circus surrounding Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.
Until the American press invaded the small Norwegian town, its foreign counterpart paid little attention to the matter. In Europe, the tragic death of a 26-year old downhiller, the mysterious disappearance of Norwegian X-country skier and a luge accident costing the German coach his leg have been far more newsworthy.
Meantime, few American editorialists have missed an opportunity to defend or condemn Tonya Harding. Many, wishing she’d withdraw, cite her close association with the crew of bungling thugs who admitted to plotting and executing the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. They delight in detailing the gospel of her abusive ex-husband’s plea bargain testimony, uncorroborated and circumstantial evidence and her recent admission she discovered her former husband and body guard were part of the conspiracy upon returning to Oregon from the Nationals.
Fortunately, American jurisprudence precludes innuendo, guilt-by-association and a failure to reveal what one may learn after-the-fact from being criminal acts. However, it does guarantee is due process.
Others self-righteous individuals argue Olympic participation is a privilege, not a right. They contend, whether or not she’s guilty, Tonya violated a code of conduct, and has thus run amuck of the ideals of the U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). Perhaps they’ve forgotten the USOC’s constitution charters it to act as an advocate, protecting the right of each athlete to compete … not as a prosecutor or arbitrator.
The first assault on Tonya’s Olympic status came from the USFSA. Lacking hard evidence of wrongdoing and clearly fearing a massive lawsuit, they ducked the issue by deferring a disciplinary hearing until after the Olympics.
In the process, they dumped the problem of cashiering Tonya, together with 400 pages of affidavits, court documents and other evidence in the hands of the USOC, which meets this Tuesday and then has until the 21st to make any changes in the woman’s figure skating team.
USOC executive director Schiller said the hearing has more to do with “sportsmanship and fair play” than criminal culpability. While they may question her judgement, her rights of free speech or silence must not be subject to USOC sanctioning.
Meantime, when the organization’s president LeRoy Walker adds, “it’s a matter of giving Tonya Harding a chance to respond” … one has to ask, since when does any American have to prove their innocence.
If, as many contend, our Olympic teams represent America … then we have a right to demand their selection and participation status affirmatively reflect the uniquely American principals which are embodied in our constitution.
While subsequent revelations and trials may determine she played a role in the planning and execution of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, until then, Tonya Harding must be presumed innocent. At this point, however, not only has she not been convicted … she ha not even been charged with a crime!
Voltaire understood the principal stake when he remarked, “It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” As Americans, we should demand no less from the USOC!
If the USOC elects to dump Tonya … it should legally stripped of all future responsibilities having to do with the Olympic eligibility.
In the meantime, perhaps the media will permit Nancy and Tonya to prepare for their February 23rd competition, absent inane questions from mindless reporters seeking sensational headlines!
