This is my first Op-Ed ever, in the Ottawa Citizen.

The Olympic Games are not only the most competitive and watched sports event. The Games also have a unique spirit of understanding, diversity and equality. The Olympic Charter says participants are committed to “social responsibility” and “peaceful society.” Yet, over the duration of the London Olympics, three athletes have been sent home for racist tweets or extremist right-wing associations. Their actions — and the reactions of their Olympic committees — show that the Olympic spirit has a dark underbelly of hate. The Olympics rely on and feed nationalism, but they do not want to be associated with the devaluation of outsiders that comes with the nationalism they foster.

The entire piece: here.

A prior version exists as a blog post complete with references and all. Looking forward to comments.