ay oe ~ et ow |e Nat WORLD Talking Sports Class struggle — in sports? Seventy-four countries and thousands of athletes, coaches and Officials took part in Moscow’s Goodwill Games, July 5-16 and participated in 18 sporting events. : It was in May 1984 the U.S. Olympic Committee and the USSR National Olympic Committee signed the agreement to alter- natively host such games every four years. Games Two will be hosted in Detroit in 1990. - What, then, is the significance of these new international games? First, they are not meant to compete with or replace the Olympics. Second, they are an effort for the development of — exactly — goodwill among athletes and peoples of the two coun- tries and all other countries who participate on the invitation of the Soviet and U.S. Olympic committees. Here it should be noted that the USA and USSR have not competed in international sports in such a complete way since the Montreal Games in 1976. The new games therefore offer an opportunity for these states to show their progress in the development of elite sports. But the most significant contribution made by the games is to world peace and mutual understanding. Judging from the overall quality of the Moscow Games, we can say with confidence they surpassed many other international athletic meetings in organization, participation, technology, art form,'etc. As one U.S. commentator said, ‘‘these ’86 Games are making history.” Another example of the outdated, undemocratic and politically-biased character of the management of international sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is seen recently by its rejection of the Kampuchean people’s right to have their athletes represent Kampuchea in the international sporting arena. : IOC President Juan Samaranz likes to argue that-he isn’t a politician and that his administration keeps politics out of every- day practices. This simply isn’t true. Contrary to Samaranz’ statement, the IOC has shown itself to be pliable to the wishes of such sporting interests as Puma, Adidas, Tiger; the capitalist TV networks and to their obedient servants in the international fed-, erations like the multi-millionaire Mr. Rana. Marat Gramov, President of the USSR Olympic Committee, has repeatedly told Samaranz that the further commercialization of the Olympic Movement runs counter to every effort to assist sports in the developing world and harms efforts by the Olym- pic’s solidarity program of Sport Aid to these countries. Gramov further argues that the introduction of professionals into the Olympic movement will only serve to further increase the control (and profit) by monopolies in sport as well as widen the gap between sport and fitness in the developed capitalist states and the so-called third world. 3 Despite calls from these countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, from UNESCO, and from the socialist countries, the IOC seems only to move further toward the exploitation of athletes, spectators and the people’s right to.sports and physical education. : It will be interesting to see the official reaction of the Canadian Olympic Association and the Canadian National Federation of Sports concerning the democratization of the Olympic Move- ment and the burning issue of introduction of professionals in the next Olympic Games. As we wonder who will emerge the winner — the interests of the financial elite in sports and. those bodies’ cooperation with them or public fitness and sporting services — the class struggle in sports goes on. — Ambrose Alexandrakis Ambrose Alexandrakis has written his thesis proposal on The Demo- cratization- of the Olympic Movement and the ‘‘United Nations’ ”’ Proposal for Olympic Change. ©) md =p on = 'T. “= | = 7] L Fy 4 As events around the struggle against South Afri- can apartheid continued to make headlines, the Trib- une spoke with Yusuf Saloojee, Canadian represent- ative of the African National Congress. Q. What is the reaction of the ANC to the July 23 speech by President Reagan? A. Reagan’s statement on South Africa will do the following. It will generate anti-American feel- ing among the Black people of South Africa. He clearly shows his unwillingness to do anything con- crete. Rather than instilling a feeling of hopeless-* hess, it will inspire our people to say ‘“‘we will have to take things into our own hands.” We clearly see those, like Ronald Reagan, crying out for a “peaceful” solution while at the same time robbing South Africa of any possibility of a peaceful solution. The signal Reagan gives to our ‘people is: you are left to yourselves. : If we are left to ourselves we will use the onl “sanctions” we have; and that is armed struggle. The decision has been made for us once more, and this time by Reagan. By asserting that sanctions will hurt South Afri- ca’s Blacks, Reagan joins Britain’s Margaret Thatcher as a self-proclaimed spokesperson for our people. But our people have said loud and clear that sanctions are needed against apartheid — and they ‘are needed now. Reagan’s speech showed the high- est degree of insensitivity coupled with stupidity. Q. What is your reaction to Reagan’s advice to Botha that he shouldn’t have to negotiate with the ANC? . “A. Here again Reagan clearly displays his com- plete lack of understanding of South African real- ity. It’s the people inside South Africa, and not only because the ANC says so, who have called for the unbanning of the ANC. They have made it quite clear to the world that the ANC leads the struggle. It makes clear that Reagan is committed to sup- porting white rule, via his policy of “constructive engagement” or by any other means. Q. The ANC has recently said that Botha chose the path of confrontation and repression based on his gamble that the U.S., Britain, West Germa Japan would not impose total sanctions. All@™ ing Reagan and Thatcher, would you say is paying off for apartheid? A. So far it seems to be an accurate calé but it is undoubtedly a short-term proP Repercussions to what Botha is doing, thé killings, the mass arrests and the news blae going far beyond South Africa’s borders. What Reagan, Thatcher, Kohl and ofl doing will explode in their faces as a result 0 i sure in their own countries. This is seen 10 : Senate and in the crisis in Thatcher’s 10 It’s ‘seen in the Commonwealth as well. Q. Do you have a comment on news rep the U.S. CIA and British intelligence have beth _ing information about ANC activities to S0 ~ ca’s police? A. This isn’t new to us. We’ve known for) that administration after administration in! have not supported the aspirations and st™ our people. é Rather, through a variety of different P° the latest being “constructive engagemen! * have done everything they could to ensure ; white domination continues. Henry Kiss! ” the early 1970s authored a secret document ; the Tar Baby Policy, or Memorandum 37; 4 clearly described U.S. policy for southern * In it he clearly said that the United State | publicly condemning apartheid, will pr ensure the maintenance of white rule becuas’ in the U:S. national interests. adh And, as part of this policy, the U.S. makes! ligence available to Pretoria. We know es Angola the CIA operated with a heavy hat : undermine the MPLA. This activity continU® It’s a well known fact that South Africa> ” into Mozambique was possible only bec@!” intelligence provided by CIA agents ope! diplomats in Mozambique itself. i Therefore, the record is clear. Washingt? no intention of undermining the aparthel 5. Reagan’s latest speech simply shows the U: behave in the future as it has in the past. For all your travel needs: big or small. Let Globé Tours find the best way for you. GLOBE TOUF? 2679 East Hastings St Vancouver, B.C. — V5K 125 Phone: 253-1221 Opening of Goodwill Games in Moscow. 10'e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 30, 1986