If you’ve never watched the Tour de France on TV (bicycle race for the uninitiated), you should. Like me, you don’t have to know much if anything about cycling to enjoy watching. The scenery is absolutely incredible, the fans that line the roads are at the very least colorful and often crazy and the finish at the end of each day can be a rush.
So whilst watching the Tour De France this year, I was at first intrigued by the fact that although riders compete for personal fame and glory, they race as part of a team and will subordinate personal ambition for the good of the team. But upon reflection, considering that the teams, and hence the riders, are subsidized by corporate sponsors, it’s not at all surprising – they’re smart enough not to bite the hand that feeds them.
Which brings me to the subject of this post.
According to the BBC, certain Welsh politicians have their knickers in knots over the insistence of the International Olympic Committee that athletes from Wales not wave the Welsh Dragon flag at the upcoming Olympic ceremonies. The IOC has banned any flags that could be perceived as a “political gesture.” In other words, any flags other than those from participating countries.
Shadow Sports Minister Paul Davies AM said: “This has serious implications for freedom of expression and the rights of supporters and athletes to celebrate their success.”
I’m not sure what “freedom of expression” has to do with this. If the athletes are there as members of the U.K. team and it’s the U.K. that’s footing the bill, it seems deceptive to use the venue to promote a separate agenda.