Olympic Athletes Wrapping Themselves in Their Country's Flag

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

I don't have a problem with them doing this, afterall, they are just showing their pride and happiness for their country, but, I am just curious, as to when the athletes started to do this.

I don't remember them doing this 40 years ago.

nomless · ‎03-10-2010

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
I don't have a problem with them doing this, afterall, they are just showing their pride and happiness for their country, but, I am just curious, as to when the athletes started to do this.

I don't remember them doing this 40 years ago.

@Plaid Pants2, I don't know when it happened for the first time, but Jenner did it in 1976, according to this article. So the custom goes back at least 40 years.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I find it disrespectful. Our flag is not a blanket. I don't care who you are. It's just not right.

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

1980 miracle on ice ice hockey player jim craig.....

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
I find it disrespectful. Our flag is not a blanket. I don't care who you are. It's just not right.

It's also not a deity...

They're not burning it, stomping on it or otherwise showing any disrespect for it whatsoever... On the contrary, it would seem they're displaying the flag of the country under whose auspices they're competing...

In my pantry with my cupcakes...

Preds · ‎12-17-2012

I have never thought about the "Why?". Perhaps they are tired, proud and wrapping in the glory of what they stand for. Perhaps they want to feel the love of and for their homeland ... like a child wrapped in their blanket. No disrespect, but pride.

I've held flags to my chest and cried. Not to disrespect the flag, but to cherish its meaning.

Fate whispers to her, "You cannot withstand the storm." She whispers back, "I am the storm."

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@stevieb wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I find it disrespectful. Our flag is not a blanket. I don't care who you are. It's just not right.
It's also not a deity...

They're not burning it, stomping on it or otherwise showing any disrespect for it whatsoever... On the contrary, it would seem they're displaying the flag of the country under whose auspices they're competing...

I was taught to respect and treat our flag as if it were a body itself.

@sidsmom might know more about this.

ChynnaBlue · ‎05-22-2012

@nomless wrote:
@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
I don't have a problem with them doing this, afterall, they are just showing their pride and happiness for their country, but, I am just curious, as to when the athletes started to do this.

I don't remember them doing this 40 years ago.

@Plaid Pants2, I don't know when it happened for the first time, but Jenner did it in 1976, according to this article. So the custom goes back at least 40 years.

I can't find the place in that article where it says Bruce Jenner did this. The article mentions flag only twice and reads:

The victory set off a spontaneous burst of emotion and patriotism. As he came across the line, Jenner thrust his arms in the air and somebody came out of the stands waving a small American flag; Jenner took it in his left hand and waved it as he walked around the track.

In the stands on the back-stretch, a huge bicentennial flag was unfurled and Bruce Jenner began to jog in a victory trot, fresh and exhilarated in victory, as others were collapsing at the finish line.

So he waved a small flag as he walked around the track and then a large flag came out and Jenner ran around, but nothing says he wrapped the larger flag around himself. The article has some pictures, but none show Jenner wrapped up in a flag.

Did I miss something?

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sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

By 1984, displaying flags amid "U-S-A! U-S-A!" chants had become tradition after medal-winning performances and have become almost mandatory since. And, rather than the little flags Foreman and Jenner waved, there are now full-scale flags being carried by victorious Olympians.

http://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/story/_/id/8184851/2012-olympics-american-flag-post-olympic...

********************************************
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
@stevieb wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I find it disrespectful. Our flag is not a blanket. I don't care who you are. It's just not right.
It's also not a deity...

They're not burning it, stomping on it or otherwise showing any disrespect for it whatsoever... On the contrary, it would seem they're displaying the flag of the country under whose auspices they're competing...
I was taught to respect and treat our flag as if it were a body itself.
@sidsmom might know more about this.

This is one of the craziest, off kilter posts I have seen in a long time.

The athletes are proud to be competing on behalf of their country.

That's a beautiful thing, not something to nit-pick.