10X 3,278 Posted August 11, 2019 The Pan Am Games are wrapping up today in Lima, Peru. For most international sports, in this hemisphere, the Pan Am games, the World Cup, and the Olympics are the big three stages on which athletes compete. Team USA sent 7 pistol, 7 rifle, and 8 shotgun competitors to the games. Kim Rhode (Trap), the only person to win medals in 6 consecutive summer Olympics, was chosen as the flag bearer, leading the entire US delegation into the opening ceremonies. Team USA did well, winning 10 gold medals, 8 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals. Team USA wraps up Pan Am games competition I had to hunt to find the results, they're not considered newsworthy by the media. What is getting a lot of coverage is the US fencer who took a knee on the podium after winning a gold medal, to protest, among other things, what he views as insufficient gun control in the US. Fencer takes knee in Pan Am games medal ceremony, in protest of perceived lack of gun control in the US So this douche, adept at hacking at people with swords (ok, foils), takes the podium to call for more gun control? Besides demonstrating a staggering inability to perceive irony, he insults his 22 teammates on USA Shooting, he insults the host country, and he insults the country he represents. Makes me sad... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel 7,148 Posted August 12, 2019 Unbelievable! What a way for that fencer to taint an otherwise very favorable performance by Team USA. WHY must everyone with a podium highjack it with politics these days? I'm soooo SICK of that. Thanks for reporting on this event btw. I like to hear about this kind of international competition - you're the person on here who seems to be most tuned into that... understandably, due to your own unique shooting background. You get a big thumbs up: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sniper 6,372 Posted August 12, 2019 10 hours ago, 10X said: So this douche, adept at hacking at people with swords (ok, foils), takes the podium to call for more gun control? A 26 year old punk, that thinks he knows what's best for the country. He should be removed from the team. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bklynracer 1,259 Posted August 12, 2019 6 minutes ago, Sniper said: A 26 year old punk, that thinks he knows what's best for the country. He should be removed from the team. This is from the article, he should be taken off the team. Imboden’s protest contravened an agreement all athletes on the U.S. team signed that states they will not “make remarks or release propaganda of political, religious or racial nature, or any other kind” during the Games. “Every athlete competing at the 2019 Pan American Games commits to terms of eligibility, including to refrain from demonstrations that are political in nature,” USOPC spokesman Mark Jones to Reuters in a statement. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sniper 6,372 Posted August 12, 2019 Looks like a certain fencer will be looking for employment soon at McDonalds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BobA 1,235 Posted August 12, 2019 17 minutes ago, Sniper said: Looks like a certain fencer will be looking for employment soon at McDonalds. Where he will be asking for $15.00 an hour no doubt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brucin 918 Posted August 12, 2019 Weren't two black athletes who gave the black power salute on the podium at the 68 Olympics stripped of their medals? That seems like an appropriate response in this situation. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,278 Posted January 9, 2020 For what it's worth, the IOC banned any such political statements from the 2020 Olympic Games. Political protests by athletes in the 2020 Olympics IOC Rule 50 So Race Imboden, if he's there, can't set down his sword to rail against guns. Colin Kaepernick, should whining become an Olympic sport, can't take a knee. From the IOC rule: This is why it is important, on both a personal and a global level, that we keep the venues, the Olympic Village and the podium neutral and free from any form of political, religious or ethnic demonstrations. If we do not, the life’s work of the athletes around us could be tarnished, and the world would quickly no longer be able to look at us competing and living respectfully together It's well written--it bans protest or political statements of any kind by athletes, officials, or coaches while on the field of play, in the Olympic village, or in any medal, opening or closing ceremony. It does not restrict what the athletes say in interviews, on social media, or in closed team meetings. It doesn't specify penalties, leaving those up to the the IOC, national Olympic committee, and whatever international federation governs that sport, but presumably suspensions and being stripped of medals would be options. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRIZ 3,365 Posted January 9, 2020 On 8/11/2019 at 10:00 PM, brucin said: Weren't two black athletes who gave the black power salute on the podium at the 68 Olympics stripped of their medals? That seems like an appropriate response in this situation. No they weren't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel 7,148 Posted January 9, 2020 2 hours ago, 10X said: For what it's worth, the IOC banned any such political statements from the 2020 Olympic Games. Political protests by athletes in the 2020 Olympics IOC Rule 50 Now, if we could only clone this for the NFL... NBA... NHL... Academy Awards... Golden Globes... etc. - people could actually enjoy their entertainment again! Wouldn't that be nice? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites