Lance Neita | Not normal times for America

The preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in America are being sidetracked by reports of concerns around security, hospitality, travel bans, and visa accessibility.

Doubts are mounting as some countries and organising bodies are expressing fear that rigid immigration rules and long visa waiting times will make it difficult for supporters and even players to enter the United States for the games.

Under normal circumstances the question of accommodating the anticipated 40 million visitors expected for the World Cup, the Olympics and Para Olympics, the 2025 Ryder Cup, and America’s 250th birthday, would be of little problem to the host country.

Unfortunately these are not normal times for America as widespread trade tariffs, impromptu military style deportations, and proposed travel bans have posed problems to would be visitors who are worried about their immunity or credibility at the immigration counters.

VISA WAIT

A spokesman for the US Travel Association has highlighted visa wait times as a particular problem area, with approval period for some countries that may reach the World Cup – such as Colombia – currently running at nearly two years.

“People want to come, but they’re not coming. It gets down to a perception in instances that people aren’t welcome. We’re very concerned.”

The US will co-host the World Cup with Mexico and Canada, although most of the games will take place in the US.

The governing sports bodies like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been in discussions with the government and the overriding assumption among those involved including new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, is that President Trump will assure the 2028 Games are a success.

Jamaica has also been keeping watch and we are going full speed ahead with our preparations backed by a recent $250 million support programme announced by the Jamaica Olympic Association.

Jamaica realises that we are not immune to any of these provocative orders being flaunted around regarding tariffs and deportation. Nevertheless our psyche is such that with all the power struggles and the political one-upmanship threatening sports today, we are worthy and welcome competitors at any level, be it boxing, bob-sleighing, cricket, athletics, football, cycling, rugby, equestrian jumping, swimming, dominoes, hockey, chess, gymnastics, fencing, volleyball, table tennis, bridge, lacrosse, netball, martial arts, rugby, basketball, baseball, and you name it.

So bring on the tariffs if you will, Jamaica is going to the World Cup.

As for the 2028 Olympics, the world has come to accept that the games cannot be the same without the black, green and gold.

One remembers that Brazil was on tenterhooks in 2016 praying that Bolt would grace the games in Rio de Janeiro that year.

And why not. While the world was stirring up doubts and fears over the Zika virus, terrorism, and Brazil’s economic woes, it was Bolt the hosts were counting on to bring dazzle and panache to the games.

He was to be the breaking news, and as in Beijing, Berlin and Britain, he would be Brazil’s personality of the games. Brazil was gambling everything on his performance to earn them a five-star rating for the tournament. And he did.

WHEN EMPEROR RULED OVER THE OLYMPICS

The first Olympic Games, now called the Ancient Olympics, was staged in Athens in 766 BC. The great sprint rivalries of that period may have generated the same kind of excitement as in the modern games, but for entirely different reasons. It turns out that in the 720 BC games a runner named Oriphos won his race in a record time. What caused the excitement, however, was that his shorts fell off while running and he completed the event in his birthday suit.

After Rome conquered Greece in the mid-second century the games continued to be held in Greece, but, like Mr. Oriphos’ shorts, the standards fell.

But watch out, world, there was a year when the sanctity of the games was compromised by political power and personal ambition.

This farcical event occurred in AD 67, during the reign of one of the most notorious emperors of the Roman Empire, Nero Germanicus.

Nero’s participation in the games marked a significant shift in the purpose and nature of the Olympic Games. Back in Rome, his key activities included drinking, lounging and cavorting about town causing trouble. He took that behaviour with him when backed by a massive entourage, he forced his way arbitrarily into the Greek Olympics, entered every event, and declared himself winner of all.

And in one notorious, and for me hilarious moment, that decadent wine bibber Emperor Nero entered a chariot race only to embarrass everyone by declaring himself winner even after he fell out of his chariot.

This was justified by stating that he would have won had he been able to complete the race, a clear indication of the influence his status had on the conduct and outcomes of the games. However, the precedent he set for political interference in the games was a contributing factor to the decline of the Olympic Games in the centuries that followed. His involvement took the focus away from individual athletic prowess and placed it instead on political power and personal prestige.

The mega sporting events planned for America in the near term pose similar challenges. Who knows, if the uncertainties and the potential boycotts threatening the next World Cup or Olympic games are allowed to continue, they may end up as a one man show, with only one standout, like Emperor Nero, leading the band. May his shorts stay up if he decides to enter the race.

Lance Neita is a political satirist, historian and author. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and lanceneita@hotmail.com