Olympic hypocrisy exposed as war rages in Europe
According to Armands Puče in LA.LV, the upcoming Olympic year arrives not with hope or unity, but with unresolved violence in Europe and uncomfortable moral compromises inside international sport.
A symbol that raises uncomfortable questions
According to Puče’s column published by LA.LV, a Christmas card sent out by the president of the Latvian Olympic Committee sparked his reflection. Alongside familiar sports imagery, the card featured a casino chip, a detail Puče interprets as telling.
He suggests it may point to efforts to secure gambling revenue for sport, or to the broader gamble Olympic officials are taking by trying to balance sport, money and geopolitics. In either case, Puče argues the symbol exposes a deeper confusion about values rather than festive optimism.
The myth of sport without politics
Puče writes that the long repeated claim that sport exists outside politics no longer holds up. According to his argument, modern Olympic sport is built first on commercial interests, while ideals such as fair play and unity are reduced to ceremonial language.
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Referring to the ongoing war launched by Russia against Ukraine, Puče rejects descriptions of sport as a force for peace. He criticizes international Olympic leaders for downplaying the conflict by arguing that wars have always existed, suggesting this logic treats mass violence as background noise rather than a moral rupture.
Neutral flags and selective blindness
According to Puče, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral symbols does not separate sport from war, it disguises responsibility. He challenges the argument that athletes should not be punished, saying this mirrors Kremlin narratives that deny state accountability for aggression.
In his view, such compromises amount to institutional dishonesty. He characterizes the International Olympic Committee as an organization willing to overlook war crimes in order to preserve events, sponsors and television schedules.
Why boycotts still matter
Puče also disputes claims that boycotts are ineffective. According to his commentary, the Olympics are not a charitable project but an expensive enterprise funded by taxpayers and host nations.
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He argues that participation itself sends a political signal, whether acknowledged or not. From this perspective, silence and neutrality become choices with consequences, not harmless positions.
When symbols replace moral clarity
Returning to the casino chip image, Puče concludes that life and politics cannot be treated like a game of chance. According to his assessment, staging the Olympics during wartime turns the event into a moral test rather than a celebration of sport.
He argues that this moment demands clarity from states and sporting institutions alike. Hiding behind slogans, symbols and carefully designed neutrality, Puče warns, risks normalizing violence instead of confronting it.
Sources, LA.LV
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