Political games foster fears for Olympics

Will ongoing political games disrupt upcoming international sports competitions, including the FIFA World Cup in Russia and the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Crimea and other parts of Ukraine in 2014, is now calling out U.S. President Donald Trump for his aggressive threats against North Korea. Putin himself strategically held off on his Ukrainian adventures until after his country played host to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

He undoubtedly had wanted to avoid another boycott like the one the U.S. initiated for the 1980 Summer Olympic Games after the Soviet war in Afghanistan. (The Soviets returned the favour by boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.)

Wide-ranging economic and other sanctions have been imposed on Russia since its annexation of Crimea — most recently strengthened by the U.S. Congress after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.

So it would seem to be a legitimate question whether any country might lean toward keeping its national soccer team from playing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosted by Russia next June-July.

Normally, athletes from around the world also would be looking forward to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

But with all the recent North Korean and U.S. threats of war as an “option,” would you want Canadian athletes to run into a target zone?