On This Day in History: 1976: African countries boycott Olympics
――Micky's comment: There were numerous boycotting in the past Olympics,
the Beijing Olympics has more sins attached with it and deserves to be
boycotted. ――
1976: African countries boycott Olympics
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/17/newsid_3555000/3555450....
The opening ceremony of the 21st Olympic Games in Montreal has been
marred by the withdrawal of 25 African countries.
They are all protesting at New Zealand's sporting links with South Africa.
The International Olympic Committee's refusal to ban New Zealand, whose
rugby team is currently touring South Africa, has resulted in the boycott.
South Africa has been banned from the Olympics since 1964 for its
refusal to condemn apartheid.
'Illogical'
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Olympic Committee said the All Blacks
tour of South Africa had been arranged by the New Zealand Rugby Union
which was an autonomous body and nothing to do with the Olympics.
He said it was illogical to single out New Zealand as it was one of 26
countries to have played sport in South Africa during the past year.
More than 300 competitors will now not take part in the Games which will
mean many events will have to be cancelled or re-scheduled.
Athletics events will be particularly affected by the absence of Filbert
Bayi from Tanzania, who holds the world record in the 1500m and John
Akii-Bua of Uganda, world record-holder in the 400 metres hurdles.
The latest country to announce its withdrawal was Kenya. In a statement
issued just hours before the opening ceremony, the country's foreign
minister James Osogo said: "The government and the people of Kenya hold
the view that principles are more precious than medals."
He said the decision by the IOC not to ban New Zealand would give
"comfort and respectability to the South African racist regime and
encourage it to continue to defy world opinion."
The IOC will now have to decide what sanctions should be imposed on the
boycotting countries, who risk being expelled from the Olympic movement.
Approximately 20 of the 26 countries who have withdrawn from the
competition had already travelled to Montreal but will now return home.
The list of those boycotting the Olympics is: Libya, Iraq, Kenya,
Zambia, Nigeria, Gambia, Sudan, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria,
Ethiopia, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Gabon, Chad, Togo,
Niger, Congo, Mauritius, Upper Volta and Malawi.
Egypt did not take part in today's opening ceremony but has not yet
formally announced its withdrawal. Taiwan withdrew on the grounds that
the Canadian government refused to allow her to compete under the name
of the Republic of China.
There are already fears the Commonwealth Games due to be held in
Edmonton, Canada in two years time will be affected by the African boycott.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/17/newsid_3555000/3555450....
