Section: Sport
In 1956, boycotting sport was a no-holds-barred act

In 1956, boycotting sport was a no-holds-barred act

ARTICLE LONG FORMAT, Yves Di Cristino | Entre la Chine en février et le Qatar en novembre, le monde du sport n’aura sans doute jamais été autant confronté à des tentatives timides de boycott d’événements majeurs depuis plus de six décennies. Les Etats-Unis avaient bien fait l’impasse sur les Jeux olympiques de 1980 à Moscou en pleine guerre froide, mais peu rappellent l’année 1956, si particulière à tous égards. Et cela nous concerne aussi, en tant que Suisses, car la Confédération avait, comme sept autres nations, fièrement décidé de boycotter les JO de Melbourne. Les raisons, quant à elles, vont dans tous les sens.

Anti-racism: the day sport lost its innocence

The sporting world reacted boldly and energetically to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has now made it standard practice to set up an anti-racism podium before every Grand Prix this season. On a black-tinted podium, he knelt on the ground and raised his fist to the sky in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement. For their part, American professional basketball players have long been accustomed to the practice on NBA floors, and awareness of the fight against all forms of discrimination is gaining ground. But are there any risks in dramatizing this lifelong struggle? Flashback to the Olympic Games of 1936 and 1968.
What place does play have in modern soccer?

What place does play have in modern soccer?

Once again this year, the soccer World Cup has probably kept spectators from all countries and all walks of life on the edge of their seats. The ideal opportunity to look back at the transformations of modern soccer and their consequences for what still constitutes the essence of the king of sports: the game.