Well, the Olympics have officially begun, and I know plenty of people who are very excited!
I used to get caught up in the hubbub, although admittedly I don't follow most sports (and, aside from Swimming, I don't really care for any of the events). Even still, there's an undeniable energy surrounding a global event and its history of goodwill. I was even going to attend an Opening Ceremony reception this past Friday morning before work (alas, the snooze button got the better of me, and I eventually got out of bed and went straight to work sans Olympics).
However, maybe it's just living in COVID times, or perhaps we are just becoming more aware of the inequity associated with the Games, but I am less enthused than usual this Olympics. First learning about the Olympic committee refusing to allow Black swimmers to wear special caps designed for their hair, then about runner Sha'Carri Richardson being disqualified due to Marijuana usage (with the drug labeled as "performance enhancing"), it is becoming evident that BIPOC athletes are continuing to be singled out negatively versus their white counterparts.
For example, while Ms. Richardson was denied entry to the games after testing positive for Marijuana, Soccer player Megan Rapinoe was touted for her use of CBD in her training regimen in a recent Forbes article. (**note**the main difference in Rapinoe's usage is that CBD products do not contain THC, thus technically falling under a different category of supplement).
I know nothing about drugs, but it's very hard to deny the history of criminalization that has been waged against BIPOC for drug usage, and this recent incident is one in a long line of examples.
So while I will root for team USA during the Olympic Games, I sincerely hope this incident sparks enough outrage to encourage some much-needed reform in how the Olympic Committee defines and addresses drug/supplement usage, and that they do not pick and choose who policies apply to.
-Ello (he/him/his)
References:
https://www.revolt.tv/news/2021/7/23/22590921/shacarri-richardson-trends-twitter-megan-rapinoe-cbd
I made a very similar post about this! I'm also ready for things to change. It's time to stop criminalizing BIPOC for recreational drug use. We also need to stop the rules and regulations regarding women's clothing! They can definitely keep wearing bikinis and leotards if they want to, but I read an article about a whole team being fined for wanting to wear something else.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Abby! I will definitely need to check out your post -- such a great point re: rules regarding women's clothing. Someone I know shared a feminist "Bingo" game on IG where you had to mark every time something happened to female athletes during the Olympics that didn't happen to their male counterparts (ex. references to their attire, the camera panning up their body, referring to an athletic event followed by the "women's" event).
Delete