Hi wetinterests,
The Olympic Games are always hosted by a city - not by a country.
War on Terrorism:
http://www.azstarnet.com/attack/indepth/id-0208oly.html
"The telegram was as blunt as it was urgent: "WE REGRET OWING TO
PROTRACTED HOSTILITIES WITH NO PROSPECT IMMEDIATE PEACE HAVE DECIDED
CANCEL GAMES STOP."
So wrote Japan's Tokugawa Soyeshima on July 16, 1938, informing the
International Olympic Committee that his country wouldn't be able to
host the 1940 Winter Olympics in Sapporo and the Summer Games in Tokyo
because it was busy fighting China on what would turn out to be the
eve of World War II.
Another time, another war, and another Olympics organizer took up his
pen to compose another message: "The Games will go on and should go
on."
Mitt Romney, president of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic organizing
committee, wrote this four months ago, shortly after his country
launched a war on terrorism in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Along
with International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, he told
Olympic athletes and administrators in the letter: "The celebration of
the athletic pursuits and achievements of the world's youth should be
an answer to violence, not a victim to it.""
----------------
Syndney 2000
http://www.wsd1.org/earlgrey/Grp1Sydney.htm
"The Olympic Games consist of the Summer Games and the Winter Games.
From 1896 to 1992, the Olympics were held every four years, except in
1916 during World War I, and in 1940 and 1944 during World War II. The
Winter Games, which were established in 1924, took place the same year
as the Summer Games. Beginning in 1994, the Winter and Summer Games
were divided and scheduled on four-year cycles two years apart."
-----------------
Playing It Safe: (after 9/11)
http://www.law.harvard.edu/alumni/bulletin/2002/spring/feature_1-2.html
"Interviewed in his office in late October, Romney had spent the
previous day responding to inquiries about an International Olympic
Committee official who was quoted as saying that a country at war
should not host the Olympics. The official said he was misquoted,
spoke to Romney, offered unqualified support for the Salt Lake City
Games. But the questions still lingered, as they had since September
11: Would the Games go on? Should the Games go on?
"I think it's going to be clear that some people will not want to
proceed with the Games," said Romney. "There will be some people who
consider the financial considerations and are concerned financially.
There will be others who think about political implications and may
want to withdraw for some reason. But I think when you consider the
sacrifices made by the athletes who get ready for an Olympic Games and
the years of training and coaching and the expense they take on, as
well as the personal sacrifice they make, you have to proceed with the
Olympic Games if it's at all possible.""
----------------
Interesting Facts at:
http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1948
THE GAMES OF RENEWAL
"After a 12-year break, caused by the Second World War, these V Winter
Games were named the "Games of Renewal". Neither Japan nor Germany
were invited to Switzerland, the memories of the war being too fresh."
and "The 1940 Winter Olympics were scheduled for Sapporo, Japan. War
with China forced the Japanese to admit, in July 1938, that they would
be unable to host the Games. St. Moritz was chosen as an alternative
site, but the continuing dispute about ski instructors led the Swiss
to withdraw as well. The Germans volunteered Garmisch-Partenkirchen in
July 1939, but four months later the reality of World War II forced
the cancellation of the Olympics. The first postwar Games were held in
St. Moritz in 1948. Germany and Japan were barred from competing, but
everyone else took part eagerly, and it was clear that the Winter
Olympics had successfully survived the 12-year hiatus. For the first
time, North Americans won gold medals in figure skating."
--------------
History of the Olympic Games (Ancient to Modern)
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:i_8kk1Ogg5YC:www.latech.edu/tech/education/cicciarella/hpe202/olympic_history.ppt+IOC+rules+concerning+host+country+at+war&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Google Search: "IOC + war" "Olympic Games History" "olympic games
host country war" "IOC rules regulations"
Best regards,
tlspiegel
Google Answers Researcher |
Clarification of Answer by
tlspiegel-ga
on
03 Jan 2003 09:37 PST
Hi wetinterests,
There is no provision prohibiting a host city/country regarding war.
That's the bottom line. But... in the host city contract there always
is a clause that provides if there is a war in the country, IOC has
the right to terminate the games if they feel it's appropriate.
"The only situation would be outside circumstances such as World War
III, preventing traveling throughout the world, making it impossible
for the delegations to come," Carrard said. "In that case, we would
see what could or could not be done. We are not stupid, of course. But
we cannot speculate or make assumptions."
However the thought has been and will be in debate as the article
quoted from 2001: "But the International Olympic Committee reiterated
that the games would go on as planned in February, saying that only
"World War III" could lead to a possible change."
[edited]..... "there is no provision in the Olympic Charter, the
IOC's official rule book, that says the games cannot be held in a
country which is at war.
Carrard said he believed Heiberg may have been referring to terms of
the host city contract, a document signed by the IOC with every
Olympic host city.
If you go to the following link you can read the entire article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/news/2001/10/23/ioc_saltlake_ap/
Regards,
tlspiegel
Google Answers Researcher
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