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United States becomes too involved
Posted: Thursday December 16, 1999 02:06 PM
Excuse me for asking, but does the United States have to be the world's policeman in every aspect of life as we know it? I'm referring to the recent grilling of International Olympic Committee President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, at the hands of the United States Congress, during which Texas Republican representative, Joe Barton, decided to take it upon himself to request Mr Samaranch's resignation as head of the IOC. Now while the USA is a democracy, which prides itself on free-speech, can someone please explain why the head of an independent international organization such as the IOC should have to answer to Mr. Barton and his colleagues? Especially when he's already been given a vote of confidence by the people who chose him as their leader. Of course I'm not so naive as to think that the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, and subsequent allegations about Atlanta's successful bid for the 1996 summer games, should have been exclusively handled by sports authorities. There was far too much at stake, the corruption had nothing to do with the athletes, and it was essentially a legal issue. However, while I can see why the United States lawmakers should want to be involved in the specifics of the issues involving their own people, I can't quite see why that should extend to giving them the right to a generic indictment of Mr Samaranch's competence to lead what is an independent multi-national organization.
Granted I may be an intellectual minnow when it comes to such issues. In fact when it come to politics, where black can mean white depending on the context, I'm probably an intellectual amoeba. However I'd assume I have no less knowledge than the man or woman in the street, who perhaps, like me, is wondering why we need so much government in everything we do. If the other countries that form part of the Olympic family followed the lead of the United States, the remainder of Mr. Samaranch's reign as IOC President would be spent in the dock. And to what end? The damage was done, it can't be redressed. The culprits, or scapegoats, depending on your interpretation, have been punished. The organization has made an attempt at reform, with its fifty recommendations. And the leader has been given a mandate to stay on and preside over what will hopefully be a brighter future. So why the need to pillory the man still further? In my view that can only be counterproductive. By continuing to undermine the credibility of a man, and more importantly, an organization, that's already on the ropes, the United States is merely prolonging a problem not solving it. So come on America, let's stop the quest for a pound of flesh and start looking forward rather than back. Terry Baddoo is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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