The History of Antisemitism & The Olympics
There is a long history of antisemitism that dates back millennia. Jewish people know that and we don’t forget it. In fact, God told us to remember. So remembrance is a part of the Jewish soul and faith. Time and again God commanded His people to remember and never forget, beginning with Egypt and down through the ages. Without going through centuries of world history, it is no surprise that when we come to the present day, we find that the oldest hatred is still around.
It is no surprise to see that the Olympics is a hotspot for antisemitism. It is a gathering spot for all the nations to come together. Just think of it as getting the whole family together for the holidays. You know, the family who doesn’t like each other all that much? From Nazi Germany to Russia in the 1980s and even in the games taking place right now in Tokyo, Jews have often not felt welcome.
Let’s explore how antisemitism has affected the Olympics over time and why that is simply one spoke in the wheel that leads to a new world order that the Bible speaks of at the end of the age.
1936 Olympics: Berlin
The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin were a global spectacle of Nazi propaganda, but despite the exclusionary principles of the games, countries around the world still agreed to participate.
The 1936 Olympics had one goal: To show off Adolf Hitler's power and ability as the leader of Germany. Countries from all over came together at these summer Olympics that year - not because they wanted to give into fascist ideology but rather so their athletes could experience this once-in-a-lifetime event without having any political tension interfere with it too much.
Hitler's Nazi dictatorship camouflaged its racist, militaristic character while hosting the Summer Olympics in 1936. They exploited the Games to bedazzle many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany but when it was over they revealed their true colors by soft-pedaling antisemitic agenda and plans for territorial expansion.
When the United States rejected a proposed boycott of the 1936 Olympics, they missed an opportunity to stand against Hitler and Nazi tyranny. The Games were where Germany's expansionist policies accelerated, culminating in World War II and the Holocaust.
Despite the antisemitic Nazi system, in 1936, Jesse Owens competed and won four gold medals - every event he participated in. When Hitler walked into the stadium to congratulate him for his achievements, instead of giving a customary salute (which was seen as an acceptance of Nazism), Jesse decided not to give any kind of salute - which is more than other competitors who had won did during that time period.
1972 Olympics: The Massacre in Munich
In 1972, the Munich Olympic Games were in full swing when Palestinian terrorists broke into a dormitory and killed two of its Israeli athletes as well as taking nine more hostages before killing them all with gunfire during an attempted rescue operation by German police officers. This event was to change how Jews felt about these games forevermore.
“The heart of America goes out to you, to the bereaved families, and to the Israeli people in the tragedy that has struck your Olympic athletes. This tragic and senseless act is a perversion of all the hopes and aspirations of mankind which the Olympic games symbolize. In a larger sense, it is a tragedy for all the peoples and nations of the world. We mourn with you the deaths of your innocent and brave athletes, and we share with you the determination that the spirit of brotherhood and peace they represented shall in the end persevere.” - Richard Nixon to Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir
After the massacre in Munich, Jews no longer felt comfortable participating in these games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed on a series of new security measures to ensure that such an incident would not happen again. They were going to have more people guarding each athlete and be prepared if there was ever another attack.
The recent Olympics opening ceremony in Tokyo remembered the Israeli Olympic team members killed by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Munich Olympics. This is a rarity, as it has been 49 years since they were last acknowledged with a moment of silence during an international event like this one.
The move was welcomed by relatives of the victims, some of whom were in the stadium, and Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The Israelis murdered in Munich had names.
We remember them.
David Berger, 28, weightlifter
Ze'ev Friedman, 28, weightlifter
Yossef Gutfreund, 40, wrestling referee
Eliezer Halfin, 24, wrestler
Yossef Romano, 32, weightlifter
Amitzur Shapira, 40, track coach
Kehat Shorr, 53, shooting coach
Mark Slavin, 18, wrestler
Andre Spitzer, 27, fencing coach
Yakov Springer, 51, weightlifting judge
Moshe Weinberg, 33, wrestling coach
A Recent History Of Hatred
Israel's lack of representation at the 1980 Moscow Olympics was a protest against two things: The Soviet invasion and occupation in Afghanistan, as well as their opposition to Israel and Zionism.
When the 2004 Olympic Games came around, Arash Miresmaeili was set to face Israeli Ehud Vaks in a match. However, his Iranian government did not want him competing against any Israelis because of their political differences and he would be disqualified for being overweight if he were to have faced off with Ehud. The International Judo Federation conducted an investigation that found out this wasn't true but they awarded him US$125,000 from prize money anyways--a sum paid only to gold medal winners by Iran's rules--despite knowing it didn't happen intentionally on purpose like some believed
Saudi Arabian judoka, Joud Fahmy, forfeited her match in the 2016 Summer Olympics to avoid competing against Israeli Gili Cohen. Later on, during this same Olympic event, Israel's Or Sasson defeated Egypt's Islam El Shahaby after their round one fight ended with a victory for Sasson. After it was over and before shaking hands (as is customary between opponents at an international sporting competition like these two men were engaged in) - which would have been considered symbolic of peace - El Shayab refused the gesture from his opponent by refusing to shake hands.
In the lead-up to the opening ceremony, the Lebanese delegation was assigned to the same bus as the Israeli delegation. Salim al-Haj Nicolas, the head of the Lebanese team, admitted that he ordered the bus door to be closed against the Israeli team and that the Lebanese demanded the Israelis not board the bus.
The Israeli Olympic sailor Udi Gal said they decided to travel separately in order to prevent an "international and physical incident."
He later added, “How could they let this happen on the eve of the Olympic Games? Isn't this the opposite of what the Olympics represents?"
Antisemitism in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Despite an acknowledgment of the atrocities that took place in 1972, the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 have not been free and clear of antisemitism. The governing body of judo has been firm in its anti-discrimination policies and strong support of Israel's right to compete in recent years.
In April, the IJF suspended Iran for four years because the nation refused to allow its fighters to face Israelis. The IJF said Iran's policies were revealed when former Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei claimed he was ordered to lose in the semifinals of the 2019 world championships in Tokyo to avoid potentially facing Israeli world champion Sagi Muki in the finals.
2021 Israeli Olympic hopeful, Tohar Butbul, could only shake his head in resignation after the Israeli judo star's first two potential opponents dropped out of the Tokyo Olympics shortly before they would have faced him.
Algeria's Fetih Nourine withdrew from the Games on Saturday when he learned he would meet Butbul if he advanced to the second round Monday, explicitly citing his support for Palestinians for his decision.
On Monday, Sudan's Mohamed Abdalrasool didn't show up to face Butbul in their round despite weighing in earlier. Abdalrasool didn't make a public statement about his decision, but Butbul said his team was told Abdalrasool had a shoulder injury - a reason that didn't exactly convince Butbul or the Israeli team.
Nourine and his coach were swiftly suspended by the International Judo Federation last weekend. The Algerian Olympic committee withdrew both men's accreditations and made plans to send them home.
Where is all of this headed?
Antisemitism has been a part of the Olympics for decades, and it's led to many Jews being unwelcome in certain parts of the world. There are still many Jews who are being treated differently in parts of the world.
Growing up, if you were to ask me my favorite part of the Olympic games, I would probably have told you it was the opening ceremonies. Without a doubt, I love sports and certainly love watching the world’s best athletes compete for the prize. But the parade of nations, all coming together, great music, the arrival of those who beat their bodies to get to this point and proudly bear their country’s flag - it is simply inspiring and beautiful.
If I had my own, “I have a dream” speech, it would be from Revelation 7:9-10.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Can you imagine the scene? Every tribe, tongue, nation, gathered together in a much different parade of nations, with shouts of joy to the King of kings, the Prince of Peace. Antisemitism will be a thing of the past. Racism will be a thing of the past. Injustice will be a thing of the past. Politics will be a thing of the past.
That is what the world needs.
Unfortunately, our world feels nowhere close to that moment. Violence, racism, and division plague us from every side. All of this should come as no surprise. And what about the Jewish people? The Jewish people have once again found themselves alone in the world, without a friend.
The history of antisemitism in the Olympics up to the present day is part of a growing destabilization taking place in the world. America is a vital part of that destabilization that is spreading to the world. As America goes, so will go the world. Americans disrespecting America and the flag give permission for the other countries of the world to disrespect America and our allies.
What we are witnessing take place in the world is what the Bible said the world would look like in the last days. The Olympics is a microcosm of what’s going on in the world, and we should recognize that there is a bigger picture. These episodes give permission for further growing instability in the world and that will ultimately take a special person (the Antichrist) to bring a solution and peace, with Israel as a central player in the scenario.
If you look at Scripture, this antisemitism will continue until the very end. There will be a great war where all of the nations of the earth will come against the nation of Israel. Things will look bleak for Israel as nations bring about an onslaught like the world has never seen. When it seems like all hope is lost, the Messiah will return to rescue Israel and set up His rule on the earth. He will usher in a period of peace and truth not known since Adam was created.
Instead of facing persecution, the Jewish people will be free to live under God's rule once again (Revelation 20:1-3).
As followers of Jesus the Messiah, we must pray for Israel every day! The prophecies are being fulfilled before our eyes, and the rise of Islam in our day is a sign of the end times. The Bible says that there are those who would seek to destroy you, but they shall not prevail against you (Deuteronomy 7:22). When the chips are down, the Jewish people will have a powerful advocate on their side. The Lord will return to rescue Israel and set up His Millennial reign!
