Mr. Smith is in Paris. Smith is an Olympic gold medalist. Even if you don’t remember his departure, you can’t miss his raised fist.
October 16, 1968. Olympic Games in Mexico. American Tommy Smith finished first in the 200m race, Australian Peter Norman second, fractions of a second ahead of John Carlos. Both African-Americans entered the ceremony in black socks and barefoot. Smith wore a black scarf. He raised his gloved right hand in his black fist, Carlos his left. Norman took the podium wearing the Olympic Campaign for Human Rights pin already worn by his fellow athletes.
The sequence of Smith and Carlos is as expected. Punishment. The sequence for the white Norman was worse. He left the championship, but did not regret his attitude in Mexico. It was a conscious choice, a matter of principle. In October 2006 he died of a seizure. Carlos and Smith carried the coffin on their shoulders.
Would the latter, aged 80, raise his fist again? “I would do it every day. When I die, there will be something left of me.” The gesture, when there were no platforms to protest. This is Palamas’ “truth” in the authenticity of the “ancient spirit”. At the great celebration, it was cut off.
The current generation of athletes is more activist, writes the FT Paris. The Olympics could be the hottest ever. Will they be the most political? A lot of material has accumulated. Black people from Ukraine to Gaza.
You are embarrassed and confused because no reliable way has yet been found to connect the Games with the message with which the former organizers enriched them. The truce. The “great” and the “beautiful” of peace gain light and importance.