The International Olympic Committee claims that the Olympic Games are an apolitical arena where the focus remains “on athletes’ performances, sport and the international unity and harmony that the Olympic Movement seeks to advance.” This is clarified by Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, the set of rules and guidelines for the Olympics, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
In theory, it makes sense for the IOC to maintain a neutral stance and make the Olympics about sports above all else. However, that hope is impossible given today’s political climate as athletes are berated with questions regarding the social and political issues in the countries they are representing.
In particular, athletes representing the United States have often found themselves caught between a rock and a hard place when asked how it feels to bear the flag of a nation in such disarray.
Hunter Hess, an American freestyle skier, described having “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S.
“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said Feb. 6. “I think for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.”
President Donald Trump responded to Hess’ comments in a Feb. 8 social media post, calling him “a real Loser” and saying it was “hard to root for” him. Trump added that if Hess felt uncomfortable with the direction of the country under the current administration, “he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team.”
Vice President JD Vance also criticized athletes for speaking out while representing the U.S. in Milan, Italy, saying “you’re not there to pop off about politics.”
In an ideal world, I believe U.S. Olympians would prefer to take pride in wearing the red, white and blue and beam with nationalism. Yet, it can be incredibly hard to do so when the actions of the current administration do not reflect the values and beliefs of many Americans. Now is not the time to stand pat and stay quiet, and Hess — along with other U.S. Olympians who have expressed discomfort — should not feel threatened by insults from politicians who disagree with them.
Competing for Team USA does not mean that you have to agree with everything going on in American politics. The U.S. is so much more than whoever is holding office, and no athlete should feel obliged to be a living endorsement of everything going on in their country.
Hess seems to understand what it truly means to represent his home country. For him, competing on a global stage is not about impressing the suits in Washington. Hess is out there skiing for the people and ideals he believes makes the U.S. worth representing, which is more patriotic than Trump or Vance seem willing to recognize.
