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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGermany walks out of Olympics match after racist attacks by Honduras team.
Shame on Honduras. Such overt racism has no place in the Olympics. Good for Germany for standing up for what is right.
WAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) Germanys Olympic soccer team walked off the field during a preparation match for the Tokyo Games on Saturday in response to alleged racist abuse from an opposing Honduras player toward German defender Jordan Torunarigha.
The players left the field together with five minutes remaining in the game after Torunarigha was racially insulted, the German soccer federation said on Twitter.
If one of our players is racially abused, its not an option for us to keep playing, Germany coach Stefan Kuntz said.It was hard to get him in, he was terribly upset because he said he was repeatedly racially abused, Kuntz continued. For us its clear, this violates our values, we cannot tolerate it. Well take our player completely under our protection.
https://apnews.com/article/sports-2020-tokyo-olympics-africa-germany-middle-east-03672d7998b1c1772968b8aa33e80fc0
hlthe2b
(102,225 posts)I know it is idealistic to think so, but I still do believe in the original purpose of these games, despite all the incidents and decades of reason to be cynical.
PatSeg
(47,397 posts)shouldn't even be an "idealistic" goal. It should be the accepted norm in any civilized society, in all circumstances. Integrity, respect, and courtesy should be as important as athletic ability.
malaise
(268,918 posts)Expose the racists everywhere.
How sad that this is likely to be the only mention of Honduras in the Olympic football. Less racist talk and more football would help.
DFW
(54,341 posts)I wonder what the Hondureños were thinking when they brought this guy along with them. They must have known about him before they let him board the plane. Did they think he would remain quiet, or that no one would notice? German citizens born in Africa, Asia or the Middle East hardly raise eyebrows any more in most of Germany. If members of a soccer team from Central America aren't aware of that, it sure as hell isn't the Germans' fault.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)All students are taught about the horrors and genocide during the Third Reich. Their school trips to concentration camps make a lasting impression.
wryter2000
(46,036 posts)But Republicans are belly-aching about something we dont even teach in K-12.
DFW
(54,341 posts)A new generation is growing up with a less close contact to the generation that can tell first hand stories. Today's schoolchildren--by far not all of them, but many--no longer meet living relatives (i.e. grandparents) who tell them horror stories they witnessed. They get taken to the KZ sites, but often take the tours with detached ("OK, whatever" ) attitudes, with iphone earplugs in their ears and music to block out the "boring" history lesson. Those who went to school under the socialists in the East were taught that their whole population had no connection whatsoever to the horrors committed by the Nazis. All the Nazis and ex-Nazis were in the west, according to what the SED taught them in school. NOW the children there get taught the standard West German curriculum, but anyone under the age of 45 or so got the old Eastern propaganda drilled into them. Most now know it was BS, but some don't.
The German education system still has retained some of its Darwinian aspects. It has rigid standards, and children in secondary school go through a merciless natural selection to weed out "inferior" students, when some of the brightest get left behind merely because they don't speak up often enough in class.
To the government's credit, it is still their intention to make sure that all schoolchildren understand what the Nazis did, and who they were. Nazi propaganda is still forbidden by law, and even Fox "News" was refused a license to broadcast there because their propaganda style of reporting was just too close for comfort.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)The Olympics should be about sportsmanship, but they are really just about money 💰.
Traildogbob
(8,713 posts)I have watched a lot of soccer over the last 2+ months. Many international tournaments and Friendly matches. (I so love commercial free) Multiple times games were temporarily halted because of fans chanting racial slurs at opposing players. The world has been trumped. Fans could not wait to return to live games, and this is how they act. Invisible Sky spirit mist be so proud of his image.
certainot
(9,090 posts)it on 'foreigners'. that's happening everywhere but probably a lot worse in countries where poverty and geographical considerations make radio more important
stopdiggin
(11,295 posts)soccer (futball) fandom has been awash in racism for years. Great sport - really sh*tty fans (in some parts of the the world).
(I have no idea if it's worse now .. it's quite possible given the political climate)
Traildogbob
(8,713 posts)NBA fans spitting on black athletes and pouring popcorn on their heads. And White female Fox hosts telling them to shut up and dribble. Dance for my team monkey and shut your mouth. Run for our golds and then get out of our face. Just cause whites wear your jersey if you win games for the white fans doesnt mean you can protest police murders in peace. Jesus fucking Christ humans suck. White ones especially. Side note .Im white.
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)If they are already behaving this way during a prep-match, how are they going to behave when a medal is at stake?
Does nothing to foster goodwill between nations to allow this type of behavior. To let it go unpunished.
Kudos on team Germany for standing up for its players.
Yes, the offending team apologized, but so?
They didn't know racism was wrong before this happened?
Of course they knew.
So did the offending player.
Ban him from participating at the very least.
Racism creates a hostile environment.
Why expect the athletes to tolerate such ignorance?
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)But they let a player stay on after being an abusive racist at an olympic event? WTF
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)Shaking my damn head.
intheflow
(28,462 posts)It's like the Olympics of racist Olympics.
stopdiggin
(11,295 posts)it's a pretty weak analogy.
Champp
(2,114 posts)As role models, the Republicans have pissed upon and poisoned the very ideas of decency, honesty, and respect. Wanker slobs around the world--like this Honduran a-hole--have taken notice, and mindlessly mimic Republican boorishness.
Mysterian
(4,585 posts)for standing up, sticking together and being such great role models.