Five ugliest moments of Olympics (so far)

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By now you have heard about them. At team photo shoots for an ad, the Spanish women, left, and men reached to their faces and pulled the outsides of their eyes upward to make them slant. The players insisted that what they were doing was paying tribute to their Chinese uniform sponsor. Right. It's disturbing enough that the teams thought this was a good idea, but didn't anyone have the presence of mind to say "Uh, this isn't a good idea, gang."

If this story sounds familiar, that's because it is. Iranian swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei withdrew from a race last week that just happened to include Israeli Tom Beeri. The Iranians say Alirezaei was ill, which sounds a little bogus when you remember that four years ago, they refused to allow judo athlete Arash Miresmaeili to fight against an Israeli. It's the Olympics, guys. Israeli athletes are here. Either get used to it or save yourself the airfare.

According to Chinese reports, some of China's gymnasts are too young to be competing here. And truth is, when they walk past you, you wonder if they are on their way to see Blue's Clues on TV. Still, you have to decide which is worse: the Chinese maybe fudging birth certificates or the always-opinionated Bela Karolyi suggesting that the Chinese were "using half-people."

Okay, bronze medals are a little disappointing, especially if an athlete won the silver at the previous Games, as Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler Ara Abrahamian did. But Abrahamian was so upset by losing his semifinal match this year to Andrea Minguzzi of Italy that he dropped his bronze in the middle of the mat and walked out, saying he was retiring from the sport.

At the Olympics, they reward excellence. They place the winners on a pedestal, and they play their country's anthems. But what about the spoilsports and the whiners and the embarrassments? Shouldn't they get some recognition, too?

"His behavior was not in the Olympic spirit of respect for his fellow athletes."

Giselle Davies, IOC spokesman, on Ara Abrahamian being stripped of his bronze medal (Story, 11C)

Comments on this article

by Tad Nathaniel

Aug 20, 2008 9:32 AM

Time-slip, if you will, back to the 1950-1960's. The boss (of course, male) walks into the office, and pats his female secretary's rear end. He says, " I like them round and plump." Now, someone from the 21st century tells this boss that he has done and said an awful thing, and he is being downright sexist. His response: "I was giving my secretary a friendly greeting. It was just harmless fun. It is absurd for anyone to make a big thing of it. How could women possibly take offense at this? I'll have you know that I am friends with many women!" Dear stupid Spaniards, don' t you think it's about time you learned that it is offensive when the people you direct your words and actions think it's offensive. The one dishing it out has no say in whether people should be offended or not. Join us. We have already moved into the 21st century. Hope you can catch up.

by mike	Aug 18, 2008 11:57 AM
I do Mark. Millions of others do as well. Many of those so called jocks work full time to allow them the means to participate in their activity. You are an ignorant American. Agreed John the DVD commercial was in bad taste.

by John	Aug 17, 2008 9:19 PM
I'd have to say the most disgusting moment was, minutes after Phelps won his 8th gold medal, NBC was showing a commerical for the Michael Phelps DVD. They wasted no time in trying to make some money of him.

by Issywise	Aug 17, 2008 8:31 PM
Gee, I came to this article to point out that it is one more instance of the press focusing on the bad and it turned out to be important, relevant and proof that I'm a reactionary anti-press bigot. Sorry sir. Good job.

by mark	Aug 17, 2008 8:30 PM
Who gives a damn about the olympics anyway? I can think of many other more enjoyable ways to waste my time. These jocks are not living in the real world, hopefully they will get jobs and start paying taxes.

by luke	Aug 17, 2008 8:29 PM
Gary , where. Are we need to hook up for a beer in Beijing!