Saturday, July 21, 2012
"I HAVE TO TRAIN LIKE AN OLYMPIAN NOW": The new nation of South Sudan (anthem here) does not yet have a National Olympic Committee, but it does have an Olympian. Native son (and Florida-based Green Card holder) Guor Marial will be allowed to compete under the Olympic flag, along with three athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles, and they will march in the Opening Ceremonies on that basis.
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I kind of wish the story had mentioned where such athletes march in the Opening Ceremonies. Right behind Greece in the #2 spot? In the penultimate spot ahead of Britain? Alphabetically, between Norway and Oman? Wiki claims second-to-last, but we know how that is. (Also, there's the usual eye roll over the name "Chinese Taipei" for international sports, but whatever.)
ReplyDeleteBut more importantly, I think as corrupt and weird as the IOC is it's nice to see that ocasionally they can do something right and give athletes without a committee the chance to compete.
According to Wikipedia (same disclaimer), that's when the East Timor/unaffiliated Olympians entered in 2000.
ReplyDeleteMy sense is that NBC talks about "Chinese Taipei" is the most natural thing in the world. It can't not be in the General Electric stylebook.
ReplyDelete<span>My sense is that NBC talks about "Chinese Taipei" as though it's the most natural thing in the world. It can't not be in the General Electric stylebook. </span>
ReplyDeleteI had recently signed the change.org petition for Marial to be allowed to compete. I don't know what the delay was in granting him the clearance. But I am very happy for him. And my second thought was also: hmm, wonder when the team under the Olympic flag enters...
ReplyDeleteMarial went to my high school! We didn't overlap at aall, but I know all of the families who hosted him after his uncle moved away from NH and can safely say that he deserves this :-)
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