In a recent episode of ‘Coffee with Kenny’, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace announced he would be boycotting this year’s Summer Olympics. While he didn’t delve into specific reasons or political views, it’s clear his decision is influenced by the numerous controversies that have plagued the event since it began on July 26 and will continue until August 11. Wallace remarked, “They screwed up at the start,” hinting at the turmoil surrounding the Games.
NASCAR won’t return to NBC Sports until August 11, so fans of competitive sports might turn to the Olympics for their entertainment fix. Wallace, a self-professed lover of competition, shared, “I like competition. I wanna see who’s the fastest runner, I wanna see who’s the fastest swimmer…it’s the Summer Olympics, and I wanna see who’s the best. But on the other hand, I can’t do it.”
This naturally raises the question: Why is Kenny Wallace abstaining from watching the Paris Olympics? What political reasons are driving his protest against this global sporting event? Wallace explained, “I do not want to watch those Olympics because I wanna protest. Usually, I just do what I wanna do but, ‘Herman don’t talk about politics; you’ll lose half of your friends’…so I’m not gonna talk about politics…I’m gonna boycott these Olympics. I’m not gonna watch ’em because they screwed up at the start.”
Although Wallace didn’t specify how the officials have “screwed up,” let’s delve into the controversies that have overshadowed the start of these prestigious games.
Several controversies have indeed marred the beginning of the 2024 Olympics.
Back in September 2023, reports surfaced that then-French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera had announced a ban on French athletes wearing hijabs, citing the state’s secular rules. Given that France is home to one of Europe’s largest Muslim communities, this decision sparked considerable backlash.
In another controversy, Nike’s track kit for women was criticized by retired American track and field athlete Lauren Fleshman, who called it “a costume born of patriarchal forces.” The high-cut bikini line leotard was deemed too revealing by many athletes, including Fleshman.
US Paralympic athlete Jaleen Roberts echoed these sentiments, stating, “This mannequin is standing still and everything’s showing… imagine MID FLIGHT.”
A further scandal erupted when a spy drone was discovered hovering over New Zealand’s women’s soccer team during practice. The police identified the pilot as a member of Team Canada, the defending champions. Consequently, Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman and two other staff members were ejected, and the Canadian Olympic Committee issued a public apology. The committee also mandated ethics training for the implicated soccer team staff.
Adding to the controversies, Japan’s star gymnast Shoko Miyata withdrew from competition after violating the team’s code of conduct by drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Although the legal drinking age in Japan is 20, officials emphasized that breaching the team’s code was the greater offense.
Other notable incidents include British rider Charlotte Dujardin’s withdrawal following accusations of whipping her horse during a past practice session. Additionally, Israeli athletes were banned from participating in the Olympics due to their country’s recent attacks on Gaza, which resulted in a significant number of deaths.
These controversies have cast a shadow over the 2024 Summer Olympics, leaving many, like Kenny Wallace, disenchanted and opting for protest over participation.
