Olympic Athletes on Representing the U.S. Amid Division (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: I think it's, it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It's a little hard just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S. I feel heartbroken about what's happened in the United States.
[00:00:23] Speaker 2: I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure that we're treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. And I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that's the America that we're trying to represent.
[00:00:47] Speaker 3: Yeah the political divide in the United States is very prevalent and competition and sports is always a way to bring people together and I think the Olympics is a great spot in that where it brings every country and all athletes and all aspects of people from everywhere together.
- Representing the U.S. can evoke mixed emotions during periods of national unrest.
- Athletes may feel they don’t embody or endorse all actions of their country simply by wearing the flag.
- A central aspiration is an America that protects rights and treats all people with love and respect.
- Sports and the Olympics are viewed as powerful venues for unity amid political division.
- International competition can showcase shared humanity across countries and cultures.