Italian Olympic Committee

Today we visited the Italian Olympic Committee headquarters, along with some of the facilities used that athletes use to train for the big games. What made the visit so interesting was the deep history that was still present throughout.

Benito Mussolini had the idea to rebuild the Roman Empire and the Roman man. Mussolini used sport as propaganda. He used it to show Roman strength and Roman power all while spreading his ideas of fascism in his country and across the world. Mussolini still has his present felt at the olympic headquarters which he created himself, that today can still be seen. Many people argue whether or not the Italian Olympic committee should have these reminders still around their facilities. Some say they should not be around for what it means especially in todays world, while others argue its apart of Italian History that should be forgot so the mistakes of the past don't happen again.

Here in the United States we have seen the Olympic Games not only for sport. Although politics and sports should never mix, sometimes sport can be used to serve a greater cause or to bring more light to a greater issue that is back home. In todays world I don't believe we are capable of using sport for political and social manipulation, although it is very much possible.

Athletes themselves who have represented the stars and stripes have at times brought social issues that they thought were important to the Olympic Games. Such as in 1968 at the Olympic Games in Mexico when African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony raised the fist in the Black Power salute to bring attention to the inequality back home. This past year Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy became the first openly gay American Olympians. Despite the current administration's stance on the LGBTQ community, these athletes showed that any one can compete for gold.

Sports allow people to come together and compete. They should not be mixed with politics however, sometimes sport is the only way to get a message across. Athletes know the world is watching.