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U.S. team banned from flag-waving
ATHENS, Greece -- American athletes have been urged to tone down patriotic celebrations during the Athens Games as the U.S. team prepares to go into competition against the backdrop of a domestic doping scandal and amid security fears.
While other teams have draped national flags from their balconies in the Olympic village, U.S. team officials have warned their athletes to refrain from displaying the Stars and Stripes.
"We have asked them not to hang the flag all over the place," said United States Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr.
Scherr said team officials were also concerned to avoid a repeat of the controversial behavior of the American 4x100 meters relay team after they took gold in Sydney four years ago.
Olympic 100m champion Maurice Greene and his teammates took off their vests and wrapped themselves in the U.S. flag in celebration -- a reaction which Scherr said had been over the top.
"That was absolutely improper and something we have taken great measures to have our athletes not do," said Scherr.
"They didn't mean any disrespect. They were excited but I think those athletes would do things differently now."
But Greene, who defends his 100m title in Athens, said it was impossible to predict how an athlete would react to the excitement of winning a gold medal.
"This doesn't just go for American athletes, it goes for every athlete competing," said Greene.
"You don't know what they will do after winning a gold medal. Nothing is planned, it's done on emotion, you have no control.
"I can guarantee the athletes are not trying to offend anyone, they respect each other and each other's countries. We apologized for offending anybody at that time, we didn't mean it."
Greco-Roman wrestling medal hope Jim Gruenwald also articulated the dilemma U.S. athletes are facing.
"I'm an American and I'm not going to tone it down," said Gruenwald.
"Being an American means we're free. We have a right to voice an opinion. But we also have to be responsible."
From CNN.com
ATHENS, Greece -- American athletes have been urged to tone down patriotic celebrations during the Athens Games as the U.S. team prepares to go into competition against the backdrop of a domestic doping scandal and amid security fears.
While other teams have draped national flags from their balconies in the Olympic village, U.S. team officials have warned their athletes to refrain from displaying the Stars and Stripes.
"We have asked them not to hang the flag all over the place," said United States Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr.
Scherr said team officials were also concerned to avoid a repeat of the controversial behavior of the American 4x100 meters relay team after they took gold in Sydney four years ago.
Olympic 100m champion Maurice Greene and his teammates took off their vests and wrapped themselves in the U.S. flag in celebration -- a reaction which Scherr said had been over the top.
"That was absolutely improper and something we have taken great measures to have our athletes not do," said Scherr.
"They didn't mean any disrespect. They were excited but I think those athletes would do things differently now."
But Greene, who defends his 100m title in Athens, said it was impossible to predict how an athlete would react to the excitement of winning a gold medal.
"This doesn't just go for American athletes, it goes for every athlete competing," said Greene.
"You don't know what they will do after winning a gold medal. Nothing is planned, it's done on emotion, you have no control.
"I can guarantee the athletes are not trying to offend anyone, they respect each other and each other's countries. We apologized for offending anybody at that time, we didn't mean it."
Greco-Roman wrestling medal hope Jim Gruenwald also articulated the dilemma U.S. athletes are facing.
"I'm an American and I'm not going to tone it down," said Gruenwald.
"Being an American means we're free. We have a right to voice an opinion. But we also have to be responsible."
From CNN.com
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