5 Sporting Events That Have Been Boycotted
The ex-captain of the German national football team, Philippe Lahm, has announced his boycott of the 2022 World Cup. He has announced that he will not accompany the German team to Qatar in November. His decision is purely political: he is protesting against the disregard for human rights in the United Arab Emirates. He urges players to take responsibility: “As a player, you can no longer pretend you don’t know. Philippe Lahm is not the first athlete to boycott a competition.
1st boycott of the NBA in 2020
In 2020, several NBA games were canceled after the Milwaukee Bucks team was boycotted. After the killing of Jacob Blake, an African American national, by a police officer in Kenosha, unrest has multiplied across the country to seek justice. The team then refused to play their game against Orlando to show their support for the Black Lives Matter cause. The NBA was thus forced to cancel the game and the following two.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained traction in the sports world. Football, baseball and even tennis games have been canceled to support the fight against racism in the United States.
2. The 1980 Moscow Olympics
After the USSR military intervention in Afghanistan in 1979, US President Jimmy Carter called on American athletes to boycott the Moscow Olympics. More than fifty countries followed the United States in refusing to send their athletes to boycott the Moscow Summer Games. In total, only 81 countries took part. Athletes from countries boycotting the Games were also able to participate, but their flags were not displayed and their national anthems were not played.
3. Indian Wells Open: 14-year boycott by the Williams sisters
The famous Williams sisters have not set foot at the Indian Wells Open for 14 years. Serena and Venus Williams refused to play the tournament from 2002 to 2015. In 2001, the two women were set to meet in the semifinals, but Venus was injured and retired. Serena Williams advances to the final and meets Kim Clijsters. The eldest of the Williams sisters wins the final set, winning against public boos and racial slurs. History had turned the world of tennis upside down.
4. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
The US has announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. In the midst of the trade war against China, the Americans have announced that no official United States representative will be present at the Winter Games. The White House justified its decision with the genocide of the Uyghurs and the military occupation of Tibet by China. Great Britain, Australia and Canada quickly followed suit. Then, in January 2022, the Netherlands and Denmark also joined the diplomatic boycott.
5. The 1970 Chess Olympiad
Several teams and several players boycotted the 1970 Chess Olympiad in protest against apartheid, a system of oppression and domination of one racial group over another and the inclusion of South Africa. The players either never showed up or withdrew from the competition. After that, South Africa is excluded from the tournament and cannot participate until 1992.