Episode Overview

Title: Are the Olympics an Appropriate Place for Protest?
Podcast: American History Hotline
Host: Bob Crawford
Guest: Jules Boykoff (author, political scientist, and former professional athlete)
Date: February 11, 2026

In this episode, Bob Crawford sits down with Jules Boykoff, a leading expert on the politics of the Olympics, to answer a listener’s question about the long-standing intersection of protest and the Olympic Games. They trace the history of political activism at the Olympics, debate whether the Games are a successful forum for change, discuss their impact on host cities, and dissect myths around the supposed neutrality of sport.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Olympics and Politics: An Inextricable Relationship

• Olympic Leaders’ Claims of Neutrality
  • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims to be apolitical, a tradition dating back to founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
  • Boykoff argues this is a myth: “If you look at the political history of the Olympics, you look at athlete activists who've taken political stands…those are all political.” (Jules Boykoff, 02:40)
  • He cites political scientist Harold Lasswell: “Politics is about who gets what, where and when.” By this standard, the Olympics are deeply political (03:15).

Iconic Acts of Protest at the Games

• 1968 Mexico City Olympics

  • The Black Power Salute: Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists on the medal stand, supported by silver medalist Peter Norman (Australia) who wore an “OPHR” (Olympic Project for Human Rights) button.
  • Smith and Carlos “thrust their black glove fists into the Mexico City sky, and mayhem broke from there. ... [It’s] an iconic moment of world history. If you poke your head into various bedrooms around the globe, you'll see a poster from that event up.” (Jules Boykoff, 05:50)
  • Other, lesser-known acts: Wyomia Tyus protested with black shorts and dedicated her gold medal to Smith and Carlos (07:24).
  • Significant costs: Smith and Carlos suffered career and personal setbacks, only being formally honored decades later (09:36).

• Other Examples Across Olympic History

  • 1906 Athens: Peter O’Connor, an Irish athlete forced to compete under the British flag, climbed the medal stand flagpole to raise the Irish flag (08:04).
  • 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Raven Saunders crossed arms overhead on the medal stand to represent “all oppressed people everywhere” (08:34).

• Insight: Activism at the Olympics often reflects larger social movements—when public activism is strong, athletes find space to speak out (06:34).

The IOC’s Response and Athlete Risk

• The IOC instituted rules against political speech at Olympic venues. Athletes can face dismissal—though enforcement is inconsistent (32:23).
• Political activism at the Games is never easy: “These athletes get a lot of pushback, especially now…with the venom flung around social media, they really get hit hard when they take a stand.” (Jules Boykoff, 10:41)
• Notable parallel: Colin Kaepernick’s NFL protest (kneeling during the national anthem) leads to career impact, and similar consequences can hit Olympic athletes (10:41).

The Olympics as a Tool for National Agendas

• 1936 Berlin Olympics
  • Hosted by Nazi Germany, exploited by Hitler for propaganda despite his initial ambivalence.
  • “The Nazis actually created the Olympic torch relay…the same one that we use today.” (12:12)
  • Western media (e.g., The New York Times) praised Hitler during the Games, boosting his image (12:32).
  • Jesse Owens’ victories countered Nazi racial ideology, but Hitler “was not happy…he just kind of glossed over it, celebrated the athletes he wanted to celebrate, and moved on with his show.” (13:44)

The Political Power of Boycotts

• 1980 U.S.-led Boycott of Moscow Olympics
  • In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, deeply unpopular among American athletes (14:58).
  • Boykoff draws a parallel: growing calls in Europe to boycott American-hosted events (World Cup, LA 2028 Olympics) over U.S. policy (15:13).
  • “Boycotts are in the air” and reflect the recurring political leverage of international sports (17:29).

The Olympics’ Impact on Host Cities

• Who Benefits?
  • “For whom do the Olympics boom?” Generally, the IOC, politicians, and construction firms benefit; everyday residents often bear costs (22:53).
  • Every Olympics since 1960 has had cost overruns, “and that tends to fall on the backs of taxpayers.” (23:48)
  • Issues include militarized policing, displacement of residents, and failed promises regarding environmental sustainability (25:00).
  • “77,000 people were displaced by the Rio Olympics … many of those folks [suffered] when I lived there” (24:23).
  • Fewer cities are bidding due to awareness of these problems (26:30).
• Why Do Cities Compete?
  • Some seek prestige and tradition; others are motivated by possible (but rare) local benefits, like Lake Placid’s lasting impact on winter sports (27:36).

Dark Chapters and Systemic Issues

• Munich 1972 Terror Attack

  • Black September, a militant Palestinian group, carried out a massacre of Israeli athletes (28:57).
  • The then-Olympic chief, Avery Brundage, insisted the Games continue, reflecting disregard for the tragedy (29:32).

• Athlete Exploitation

  • Olympic athletes receive a small share of revenue: “In the Olympic Sphere, they get 4.1% of the revenues. 0.5% go directly to the pockets of athletes.” (31:05)
  • Olympic rules prohibiting political statements date only from after 1968 (31:45).

Alternative and Counter-Olympics

• Exclusion-led Alternatives
  • Women’s Olympics (1920s/30s) formed in response to exclusion from early Olympic competitions—helped force IOC change (36:07).
  • Workers’ Olympics: open to all, embraced by European socialists and communists (36:39).
  • Poetry was once an Olympic event—won by de Coubertin under multiple pen names (37:10).
• Modern Anti-Olympics Movement
  • Groups like “NOlympics LA” (founded 2017) seek abolition, not just reform, of the Olympics due to displacement, militarization, and other harms (39:08).

The Dual Nature of the Olympics: Unity and Division

• The Olympics still have the power to “bring us together”—within families, communities, and even across global divides (32:49).
• But awareness of political, economic, and social issues is growing, and these conversations now “crack open” through debate and reflection while watching the Games (33:19).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The [IOC] spends a lot of time telling us that, in fact, they’re not [political]…But if you look at the political history of the Olympics, you look at athlete activists who've taken political stands…Those are all political.”
  — Jules Boykoff (02:35)

• “That moment from 1968... was an iconic moment of world history. If you poke your head into various bedrooms around the entire globe, you'll see a poster from that event.”
  — Jules Boykoff on the Black Power Salute (06:28)

• “Every single Olympics going back to 1960 has had cost overruns. Every single Olympics. And that tends to fall on the backs of taxpayers.”
  — Jules Boykoff (23:48)

• “Across the history of the Olympics, when you have thriving political and social movements in the streets, that makes space for athletes to become athlete activists.”
  — Jules Boykoff (06:38)

• “You could argue that the Olympics, while they're wonderful for athletes in many ways, it's also a bit of an exploitation machine.”
  — Jules Boykoff (31:25)

• “[Avery Brundage], this guy was a real piece of work … the athletes we mentioned before, John Carlos and Tommy Smith … called him ‘Slavery Avery Brundage’ ... he was infamous for his anti-Black racism.”
  — Jules Boykoff (29:37)

• [On boycotts:] “I think there's going to be some boycott discussions in the air over the next year ... we're experiencing right now that sort of political intensity in the sports world that we haven't really seen since the 1980, 84 period.”
  — Jules Boykoff (16:33)

Important Timestamps

• 02:35 – Myth of Olympic neutrality and the inherently political nature of the Games
• 05:50 – The 1968 Black Power Salute: context and impact
• 08:04 – 1906 Athens: Peter O’Connor’s Irish flag protest
• 08:34 – Raven Saunders’ protest in Tokyo 2020
• 10:41 – Public reaction and backlash to athlete activism, parallels with Colin Kaepernick
• 12:12 – 1936 Berlin: Hitler’s use of the Games for propaganda, invention of torch relay
• 13:44 – Jesse Owens’ victories and Nazi response
• 14:58 – The 1980 Moscow Olympic boycott and its ongoing relevance
• 22:53 – How Olympics impact host cities; who truly benefits
• 23:48 – Consistent cost overruns and taxpayer burdens
• 25:00 – Displacement and “greenwashing” failures
• 27:36 – Lake Placid as an example of rare local Olympic benefit
• 28:57 – Munich 1972: Terror attack and response
• 31:05 – Athlete exploitation and revenue share
• 32:23 – Rules banning political protest by athletes
• 36:07 – Women’s and Workers’ Olympics as historical alternatives
• 39:08 – Modern anti-Olympics movements, like NOlympics LA

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Bob Crawford and Jules Boykoff debunk the myth of Olympic apoliticism, tracing a history rich in athlete protest, national propaganda, and political maneuvering. They emphasize that activism at the Games is never without consequence but often sparks debate and, occasionally, meaningful change. As mega-events place increasing strain on host cities—and as global movements push for reform or abolition—the question of whether the Olympics are an appropriate place for protest is not only historical, but deeply contemporary.

For more on the political and social impact of the Olympics, check out Jules Boykoff’s book: What Are the Olympics For?