Cancel the Olympic Games

The Olympics are a sham.

The current Olympic competitions are such a far cry from what was intended that I believe they should be discontinued. Radical? Yes, it is a radical idea.

But consider what has become of the Olympic games. A Russian athlete who tested positive for a banned stamina-enhancing drug was allowed to compete. A Black American athlete who tested positive for marijuana before the delayed summer games was not allowed to compete. And the Russian skater was allowed to compete because officials felt that denying her that right would have caused psychological damage. What do they think was the result when she fell during competition and was immediately berated by her coach?

Professional athletes now are a frequent part of the competition, rather than the games' original intent of celebrating amateur athletes. Professional tennis and basketball players are allowed to compete.

The games are frequently embroiled in political controversies. Rather than celebrating the unity of the world, the Olympics now are little more than a backdrop for the bickering and boycotts of various countries that disagree with the host country's handling of issues such as doping or human rights. Officially, the Olympic games are supposed to be politically neutral. That is hardly the case these days.

The way the Russian coach treated the presumed favorite to win a gold medal in women's free skate (who had previously tested positive for a banned substance, and who fell four times during competition) was unforgivable. A 15-year-old girl who crumbled under the pressure and controversy was confronted by a blame-throwing coach, who should have been the first to console her. The same coach reportedly has left a long line of other psychologically scarred skaters due to her mistreatment of them. Let us not forget, this skater, as are most, is still a child.

I haven't watched this year's winter games in China. I have no interest in winter sports such as skiing or skating, although the athleticism of the athletes is amazing. I refuse to watch anything that involves a country I despise for its human rights and environmental abuses. China is hardly a role model for the world.

I feel for the athletes whose lives have been devoted to long hours of training each day for years on end, only to have the chance of winning a gold medal stolen by a competitor with ann unfair advantage due to state-sponsored doping. 

Perhaps it is time to at least pause the Olympic games .The pursuit of glory and gold medals at any cost must be stopped.