You are going to hear a lot of bull over the next few weeks from columnists about how sport and politics shouldn’t mix and the woke thought police are intervening where they shouldn’t. Ironically - it is politically motivated. Here’s why it is utter bullsh*t. A thread 🧵
1️⃣ Politics and sport have always been interlinked. Sport reflects society - and society reflects sport ⚽️
2️⃣ Cricket in England used to be structured between amateurs (the aristocracy/gentlemen) and professionals (traditionally working class). Gentlemen vs Players was only disbanded in 1962. This phenomenon requires a whole different thread 🏏
3️⃣ South Africa cricket tour of England - 1970. Big protests built up against South Africa's apartheid regime, the series was cancelled at short notice by the English Cricket Council, following intervention by the Home Secretary, James Callaghan.
4️⃣ Moscow Olympics - 1980. Famous woke zealot Margaret Thatcher supported the boycott of the Moscow Olympics as punishment for Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 65 nations refused to participate in the games, 80 countries sent athletes. 🎽
5️⃣ Pussy Riot at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot were beaten with whips by Cossacks as they performed an protest song in Sochi, during the 2014 Winter Olympics. The band said the Games were a political event, and were fiercely critical of Putin
6️⃣ Kathrine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon in 1967 - Switzer broke the rules & became the first known woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967, entering the all-male marathon using her initials not full name. Race director Jock Semple tried to physically pull her out of the race
7️⃣ John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the Mexico Olympics raise a fist in solidarity with those fighting for greater equality, justice and human rights. "You could have heard a frog piss on cotton. There's something awful about hearing 50,000 people go silent"
8️⃣ There are literally thousands of other examples - take your pick. Sport has always had political elements to it. Always will do. It often leads to positive change in society. As such - non-progressives don't like it.
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