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National Review, Sept 1, 2008

We have been here before. In 1936 and 1980, as now, the Olympics were held in powerful despotic states, which used the games as a promotional spectacle and imposed various restrictions on journalists, athletes, and their own by-standing subjects. Compared with the great crimes of these regimes, or even their business as usual, their Olympic misdeeds were small potatoes.

Compared with the ideal of sportsmanship, they seem black. Yet the Olympic movement invites these situations. Its structure promotes nationalism, and the cult of fitness and team spirit fits easily with nationalism and statism of the worst kind. The Olympics has no antibodies for fighting the totalitarian temptation. In 30 years, we will be having the same qualms about another Olympics, in another unsavory country. The sandlot and the major leagues look awfully good right now.