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| Target for hate: Team USA |
| 2004-03-26 |
| Many people in this world hate perennial winners. Many people in this world hate the United States. Whether it is hockey, athletics, boxing, volleyball or soccer (above), athletes from the United States are in for a tough time from the fans at the Athens Olympics. --REUTERS Which means that Team USA, the New York Yankees of Olympic sports, is expecting one ugly road trip this August in Athens - a place not exactly brimming with affection for the red, white and blue. ’The world,’ says US swimmer Lindsay Benko, ’is a different place right now.’ And that venom is building as the US military continues its Iraqi occupation. Mexican fans recently chanted ’Osama, Osama’ during a home soccer match against the US team. On March 11, Athens protesters staged an anti-American rally, reciting ’Sept 11 every day.’ Against that angry backdrop, Olympic officials are bracing athletes for what may be the toughest crowd ever faced by the Americans. That is where Sean McCann becomes one of America’s best medal hopes. Not on the playing field or pool - but on the couch. TARGET FOR HATE Spat at.. ’We got in the habit of faking, taking a few steps as though we were going to exit. They would spit. And before they could re-load, we would sprint into the tunnel.’ - Three-time US gold medallist Karch Kiraly sharing his volleyball war stories with some of the current crop of American Olympians. Stark reminder... ’Osama, Osama.’ - Chanting by Mexican fans recently during a home soccer match against the US team 9/11 every day... ’Sept 11 every day.’ - What Athens protesters recited during an anti-American rally on March 11 As head of sports psychology at the US Olympic Committee, he teaches athletes to visualise any competition surprises, including unruly fans. Even more, he is telling them how to use negative chants to their advantage. ’We’re emphasising staying on the offensive,’ he said. ’There’s no better feeling than taking a hostile crowd out of it because they have nothing to cheer for. The key is not getting into a bunker mentality.’ McCann, one of 10 sports psychologists who will accompany the team to Athens, has also equipped hundreds of American athletes with canned crowd noise so they can practise amid a human din. Supplied by the Denver Broncos, the recordings were made at Kansas City Chiefs games. ’That’s got to pump you up, that many people cheering against you,’ said Benko, a gold medallist on the 4x200-metre freestyle relay team at the 2000 Games. In Sydney, crowds yelled louder for the US swimmers’ opponents, she said. It gave her a gentle taste of what she might face this August. ’You can use that,’ she said. ’People don’t like United States swimming because of our history. We’re so dominant. They want to beat us any way. So we’re used to it in that manner.’ But harsh words may give way to nasty tactics. As part of the preparation, three-time gold medallist Karch Kiraly also shared his volleyball war stories with some of the current crop of Olympians. He described being pelted with ice cubes, raw eggs, tomatoes and D-cell batteries while playing in Argentina. In Brazil, assaults on the Americans came from spitting fans perched above the court’s exit. ’We got in the habit of faking, taking a few steps as though we were going to exit. They would spit. And before they could reload, we would sprint into the tunnel,’ Kiraly said. ’One of the main things I told this batch of athletes is that we have a lot to be thankful for in this country.’ Beyond pep talks, Olympic officials will also try to replicate a home-court feel in Athens. The USOC has rented the American College of Greece to set up a high-performance training centre complete with gyms, an Olympic-sized pool, a track and lounges - a secure refuge where the US team can work out in solitude, meet coaches or temporarily slip away from the hustle of the Olympic village. They can play video games, visit an Internet cafe and eat home-style food like pasta, steak and burgers - basically get an inoculation of Americana. ’It will be controlled by us as far as who comes in,’ said Steve Roush, USOC director of sports partnerships. ’You will see it as it stands today, with nothing necessarily distinguishing it as American.’ That, of course, is for security reasons. And Athens will be soaked in Olympic-sized safety measures to ward off - or respond to - possible terrorist attacks. The Greek government plans to deploy 10,000 soldiers, 40,000 police officers and 1,400 security cameras near Olympic venues while a no-fly zone will be imposed over the city. The only things hovering above will be a fleet of surveillance craft: helicopters and a blimp. It is all part of a nearly US$1 billion (S$1.7 billion) plan by Greece to keep the peace. Armed guards will accompany athletes from ’high-profile’ countries, riding buses and escorting them in town. At the same time, Nato will supply Awacs reconnaissance planes to monitor Greek airspace and ships to patrol international sea lanes. Remember the Goodwill Games? These will be remembered as the Guard Well Games. ’You have to keep alerting the athletes to be more aware of their surroundings because they do become very focused (on sports),’ said Larry Buendorf, chief of security for the USOC. ’But generally, I try to keep the security part away from the athletes and tell them to get on with what they came here to do.’ Still, Benko says her fears rose after the recent train bombings in Madrid. So, despite the many layers of security in Athens, she may head home after the swimming competition ends. This means her Olympic stay will last just eight days. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #10 I wonder why Aris hasn't chimed in here...his country. Greece is going to be very hostile and it will have an effect on people's attitudes in this country. AS Conservitard said, it will make for a lot of angry voters in November...and they won't be angry at Bush. |
| Posted by: RMcLeod 2004-03-27 2:33:53 AM |
| #9 Oh, but Pappy, these are Australians. They don't like arrogance, and are very proud of the fact. They also don't like bragging, as they tell you every chance they get. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-03-26 3:21:01 PM |
| #8 IF there are chants of "Osama" or spitting on our atheletes and it's broadcast to America, there are going to be some ANGRY voters for November. |
| Posted by: Conservitard 2004-03-26 3:18:25 PM |
| #7 There's nothing left to do but go for the gold! Dennis Miller had an Olympic guy on last night, they want to win 100 medals. Should try for 101 just to piss everyone off. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-03-26 2:26:00 PM |
| #6 Athletes with egos? Say it ain't so, Melba! |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-03-26 1:33:39 PM |
| #5 In Sydney, crowds yelled louder for the US swimmers’ opponents, she said. Er, that's because their main opponents were the Australians. Also, some of the US swimmers were arrogant fucks. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-03-26 12:58:14 PM |
| #4 godd catch vamark! |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-03-26 12:34:54 PM |
| #3 The hockey team will be in for a particularly tough time in Athens - they'll be in the wrong city, and two years early. |
| Posted by: VAMark 2004-03-26 12:32:12 PM |
| #2 Its a different world than Munich in '72, but not at all funny its still the same people from a particular religon that need to be guarded against. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-03-26 11:16:06 AM |
| #1 It's sad that kids just pursuing their dreams are made the scapegoat. These athletes have no stake in politics - leave'em alone for God sakes. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-03-26 10:41:50 AM |