Spitz Raises Spectre of US Missing Olympics

United States Olympic hero Mark Spitz has raised the spectre of an American withdrawal from this summer’s Athens Games due to security concerns.

 

 

Spitz, who won seven swimming golds at the 1972 Olympics in Munich when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by terrorists, believes the US team is at this stage not certain to show up in Greece.

 

With ongoing conflicts involving the US in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as heightened terrorist fears since the events of September 11 2001, Spitz claims American politicians will still be keeping an open mind on whether to send a team to Athens.

 

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We are looking under the microscope at all the different terrorist acts and we know there is a high degree of probability that something could happen in Athens.

 

“Would that be political suicide to send a team there if you were the Bush administration?

 

“If you were to yank the carpet out from under the American team and nothing happened, would that be because they are only after Americans? If that does happen in will happen in the 11th hour and 59th minute.

 

“I would say that about six months ago it was highly unlikely but each day as it goes on with current world affairs it becomes more probable than not that ongoing conversations will take place as to how important it is to put athletes in harms way.”

 

However, a spokesman for the US Olympic Committee said: “Today there is absolutely no consideration given to the notion our team will not be in Athens.” 

We pretty much have to. If won't don't the olympics would collapse at the feet of terrorism.

Yes, dont they kind of have to. When was the last time US didnt travel to the olmpyics?

Yes, dont they kind of have to.  When was the last time US didnt travel to the olmpyics?

The 1980 boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

The 1980 boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

Ohh, I wasn't aware that we ever boycotted the olympics.

Ohh, I wasn't aware that we ever boycotted the olympics.

Then the USSR reciprocated by boycotting the 1984 Olympics in LA.

Then the USSR reciprocated by boycotting the 1984 Olympics in LA.

Ah, bring back the good old days of the cold war.

two words: Election year

 

You bet your ass we will be there

two words: Election year

 

You bet your ass we will be there

It bit Jimmy Carter in the ass!

 

By the way, I didn't see anywhere in the story where it say what Mark Spitz is. Why is he commenting on this? Is he on the committee? Is he gonna swim? What?

Yes, dont they kind of have to.  When was the last time US didnt travel to the olmpyics?

1980 To protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

1980  To protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

I bet the rest of the world won't show up to protest our invasion of Iraq. Record gold medal count fo the US!!

We pretty much have to.  If won't don't the olympics would collapse at the feet of terrorism.

Ding Dong.

 

 

The goal of a terrorist, by defenition, is to disrupt his opponents way of life through violent means to achieve a goal. That being the case, the most potent weapon against terrorism is normalcy. When we dont allow terrorists to change our behaivior we win.

Wimps...this happens all the time in wrestling. The World Championships have had this. Granted, the countries are different. Last year Iran and I want to say a few others didnt travel here. US has also not travelled to the Middle East. The US will be there to kick some ass.

I will say this year the risk is especially high.

 

From what I have read, athletes may have to be housed in docked cruise ships. That puts them at even higher risk.

Spitz is an idiot --

 

Where was he in 72 when 11 israeli's were taken hostage -- New York f***in' City -- That' right he was done with the olympics at that point and was watching it all go down on TV --

 

The famous Sports Illustrated cover of him with 7 gold around his neck was taken a day before he won the seventh -- one was a teammates.

Everything about the events of the 1972 Olympics is so unsettling.

 

Its amazing how unprepared the police were. How uncoordinated all the rescue plans were, and even how easy it was for the terrorists to carry out the plan.

 

The 2002 SI issue about the 72 Olympics even mentions that drunk american athletes helped the terrorists scale the fences of the Olympic dorms.

Everything about the events of the 1972 Olympics is so unsettling.

 

Its amazing how unprepared the police were.  How uncoordinated all the rescue plans were, and even how easy it was for the terrorists to carry out the plan. 

 

The 2002 SI issue about the 72 Olympics even mentions that drunk american athletes helped the terrorists scale the fences of the Olympic dorms.

Yah I remember reading that and it was f***ed up...really f***ed up.

Oh well, it will more gold medals for us.

Oh well, it will more gold medals for us. 

Thorpe's goin down

 

 

that is if he doesn't false start