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How will this impact the @iswimleague’s decision to have their season in Budapest this fall? @MHodler @emgergo @EndofSportPod
“Viktor Orbán...has identified the most important task as preventing new cases being imported.... https://twitter.com/katistraner/status/1304040585674645504
“Viktor Orbán...has identified the most important task as preventing new cases being imported.... https://twitter.com/katistraner/status/1304040585674645504
...The country has closed its borders to everyone but citizens and permanent residents for the month of September.“
How are they going to welcome mainly Western (white) swimmers for a championship w/closed borders?
Which ppl will they target as the ones “importing” the virus?
How are they going to welcome mainly Western (white) swimmers for a championship w/closed borders?
Which ppl will they target as the ones “importing” the virus?
Per @swimswamnews report from ISL’s press conference about how they will hold the season in *mid-Oct to mid-Nov.*
This is barely a month away! https://swimswam.com/isl-confirms-budapest-as-location-for-season-2-tokyo-could-host-finale/
This is barely a month away! https://swimswam.com/isl-confirms-budapest-as-location-for-season-2-tokyo-could-host-finale/
As a former swimmer, it really, really pains me to say this:
The ISL is working w/an *authoritarian state* in order to pursue their season.
The ISL is working w/an *authoritarian state* in order to pursue their season.
Their decision seems to reinforce the Int’l Ski Federation president’s 2019 point that:
“For us, everything is easier in dictatorships.” https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1075192/kasper-causes-controversy-after-claiming-easier-for-ioc-to-organise-olympic-games-in-dictatorships
“For us, everything is easier in dictatorships.” https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1075192/kasper-causes-controversy-after-claiming-easier-for-ioc-to-organise-olympic-games-in-dictatorships
Hoping that w/the resurgence of BLM in the US & Western world, a Western-dominated pro sports league will think more a/b the issues of working w/:
an authoritarian state that spews hugely racist propaganda, eliminated gender studies, controls the press & courts, etc.
an authoritarian state that spews hugely racist propaganda, eliminated gender studies, controls the press & courts, etc.
Some will say that I’m being overly critical.
ISL is doing great things to promote swimming, pay athletes, help them increase their brand for sponsorships, etc.
This is GREAT for a sport where most athletes struggle to get a paycheck, to be athletes! I support these things!
ISL is doing great things to promote swimming, pay athletes, help them increase their brand for sponsorships, etc.
This is GREAT for a sport where most athletes struggle to get a paycheck, to be athletes! I support these things!
I study Hungarian athletes under communism, and I get it: some athletes don’t have much of a choice.
And sometimes authoritarian govts provide more opportunities for athletes to support themselves $$, than what they’d get in “democracies.” This is what I argue in my research.
And sometimes authoritarian govts provide more opportunities for athletes to support themselves $$, than what they’d get in “democracies.” This is what I argue in my research.
But pls, pls think a/b the implications of working with authoritarian states.
What kinds of harmful, discriminatory policies will the govt pass in order to make conditions safe for athletes? What freedoms will be oppressed?
What kinds of harmful, discriminatory policies will the govt pass in order to make conditions safe for athletes? What freedoms will be oppressed?
Reminder: Orbán used Covid to entrench his political power. In May-June, he enacted an emergency bill that:
- forbade press from “scaremongering” a/b pandemic
- took money from local communities to fight pandemic
- enacted an anti-trans bill
& more https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/16/hungary-debates-end-to-emergency-powers-but-new-law-opens-up-potential-to-re-apply-them
- forbade press from “scaremongering” a/b pandemic
- took money from local communities to fight pandemic
- enacted an anti-trans bill
& more https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/16/hungary-debates-end-to-emergency-powers-but-new-law-opens-up-potential-to-re-apply-them
Though the bill lapsed in June, the govt then passed legislation to end the “state of danger.” What does this mean?
Human rights orgs have categorically said (in above piece) the legislation will make it EASIER for him to rule by decree. Any and all freedoms will be at stake.
Human rights orgs have categorically said (in above piece) the legislation will make it EASIER for him to rule by decree. Any and all freedoms will be at stake.
Happy to talk through these things more, as I’m sure that Hungarian political experts & independent news sources will too @liliebayer @b_novak @direkt36
It won’t be easy, but there are ways to further athletes’ aims & ensure that people aren’t being oppressed in the process.
It won’t be easy, but there are ways to further athletes’ aims & ensure that people aren’t being oppressed in the process.
