Korean Women's Hockey Team
Questions:
1. How much influence do you believe sports has on diplomacy?
2. Why would North Korea do this despite their previous actions?
3. Should the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions encourage more mixed teams?
- Aaron, Art K., and Kiran
I believe sports has much influence on diplomacy. I feel this because sports can do things like bring people together in times of need. For example, after the Boston marathon bombing, everyone in Boston, no matter who they were, felt connected. In times like these when people feel connected through sports, they can come to realize things and learn important lessons that are bigger than themselves. In this current case, the Olympics has brought North Korea and South Korea, who have been basically fighting a war for 50+ years, together. As a result of them competing together, there are rumors that they may meet to attempt to make a treaty. Secondly, I think North Korea chose to do this, despite their previous actions, because they want to gain national recognition and show of their country pride. Lastly, I do not think they should encouraged more mixed team. In this case, with such a complicated history between North and South Korea I feel it is acceptable. However, with any other country I feel it would be unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI think that sports are kind of like a universal language - it really brings people together even if it wasnt imaginable before. The fact that north and south korea came together to compete as one might not have made a hughe impact, but i think subcontiously it is helping unification in the world. Sports can be emotional, political, factual, and just fun and i think that because it is such a big deal around the world. I dont think there should be mixed teams because that kind of breaks the freindly competition there is right now in the olympics. I think that North Korea could be having a change of wind in the way that they are running their country.
ReplyDeleteI believe that sports have a very strong influence on diplomacy. I think this because sports brings many young people together regardless of race, religion, & ethnicity. All athletes have one common goal: to win, so when the Korea team was brought together, it was said in the article how all the meetings and meals were together and how this is their family. No matter what, sports teams always demonstrate a sense of unity. I think North Korea did this despite their previous actions because they probably saw it as a good opportunity for the two countries to come together. I don't think the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions should encourage mixed teams besides North Korea and South Korea because the beauty of the olympics is being able to represent you country. By mixing teams, it takes away that special feeling.
ReplyDeleteI believe that sports has a major influence on diplomacy. People go to sports for unity throughout the good and the bad times. Sports is universal, and everyone can enjoy it. During the Olympics, the Korean team represented togetherness. This was a major step in the right direction because two countries that have been against each other for many years finally united. This really shows how powerful the Olympics can really be. I think that North Korea decided to do this because they wanted to shine a positive light on the Koreas during the Olympics. They knew that the whole world would be focused on Korea for a couple of weeks, so they wanted to make a positive impact. I think that they also saw sports as a good way to come together with South Korea. Although I do think it was acceptable with the Koreas in this case, I do not think that the Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions should encourage mixed teams because there is really no need for this. What makes these events so cool is that the best athletes from each country get to compete against each other with the pride of representing their own countries. If you started to mix teams, this pride would really not exist anymore.
ReplyDeleteI believe diplomacy has a major influence on sports because it brings people together. The article states that, “the spirit of unity and teamwork that the Korean squad has shown is proof that it's succeeding in meeting its off-ice goals”. Despite North Korea’s previous actions, teaming up with South Korea probably changed the way many people in the world perceive them. By these two countries putting aside their differences, other countries can look at this as an example of putting their citizens first. I believe the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions should not encourage more mixed teams because this defeats the purpose of countries coming together to compete as one against other countries.
ReplyDeleteI think sports has a lot of influence on diplomacy. It is a way to keep peace with your team and others. Although there are arch rivals like the yankees and red sox, I think this is part of what makes sports fun. I think north korea did this in part to make peace with south korea. By them creating a combined hockey team, it was a way of moving on from what happened in the past, and putting it behind them. Yes. I think this would be helpful, especially when there’s a rough history like with north and south Korea. Creating mixed teams could be a good way to “bond” with someone you don’t really talk to, and a way to make peace with that person.
ReplyDeleteSports in our world has brought upon increased communication between countries, many of whom have heavy tensions against each other. Most recently, in the Olympics, North Korea has shown signals where they are willing to come to the table on issues with other countries. With the 2018 Olympics taking place inside South Korea, it seems inevitable to send all their athletes and officials to the region, without pursuing talks with South Korea. North Korea traditionally attends the Olympics, so it seems like the perfect time to end their silence against having talks with South Korea. Not only that, but they are currently being treated as a unified team, with both Korea’s being together. Having both countries hating each other, while being on the same team does not make so much sense. North Korea, with the increase in sanctions against them, realizes their need to end this down trend, and try to provide better for their people. With the continuing trend of no communication, and increasing sanctions, North Korea’s people will suffer more. The International Olympic Committee should not play a part in what a teams roster should be. While it should be obvious that Canada and the United States should not be together in the Olympics, teams like North Korea and South Korea should be allowed to do it at both countries discretion. Many countries who have a reasonable past history as a unified nation should be able to decide for themselves on if they will be together as a team in the Olympics. It is of low chance countries would abuse a right given to them like this.
ReplyDeleteI believe sports are one of the biggest influencers on diplomacy. It increases diversity, relationships between countries, and they are fun to watch and play. The Korean Women's Hockey Team is a good example of how sports can affect foreign relationships as well as an attempt to fix issues in a certain country. In current day, North and South Korea are seen as potentially dangerous countries as well as impractical. These are due to the government (or lack thereof in some cases) as well as their relationship with other nations. Other nations do not want to associate with them sometimes and their own people can not leave and some are malnourished and starving. This hockey team proved more than the fact that they are a team. They are a union of players who have gone through all of the struggles that Koreans have gone through. They came together on the world's biggest stage of sports and showed that they have a sense of pride and unity as a country as well as with the world. Mixed teams should be encouraged because it could potentially sew up gaps in countries' relationships as well as their own country. It increases diversity and can be essential to fixing existing problems in the world we live in now.
ReplyDeleteI think that sports can have a big impact on the way fans act and influence their fans beliefs but I don't believe sports can influence on the diplomacy. Today we talked about the effect Lebron James has his fans and what he thought after the anchor from fox bashed him for speaking his reactions, I feel like this is the same idea, players affects their fans but not the overall picture of the deal. I think North Korea was trying to show unity and making a gesture to South Korean to find a middle for their fighting. These athletes showed the ability for two countries to come back together and I think that was the main idea of why North Korea would do this. I don’t think that the International Olympic Committee and the other groups should encourage more mixed teams because the Olympic games have been a tradition for years and should be kept that way. I think that what the North Koreans did was amazing but the Olympic teams shouldn’t be changed because of this action.
ReplyDeleteI believe sports can have a very big impact on diplomacy. Sports is something that is so widespread and universal that It can help bring people together. The sport of hockey was able to do this to two waring nations. It is amazing how a sport can do such a thing, and it shows how much power sports have. Secondly, despite North Koreas previous actions, i think they went through with the combination of the two hockey team because they are trying to make peace. People think North Korea is trying to come up with a peace treaty and this combination could be North Korea showing showing signs of peace. Finally, I do not think the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions should encourage more mixed teams. I think this is just unnecessary and the Korean hockey team was just a special case.
ReplyDeleteI believe that sports can influence diplomacy greatly. The unification of teams battling against each other or playing together in a sports match can, and has lead to better foreign relationships between countries. The women's Korean olympic team showed a prime example of this where both North and South Korean played fought hard as a team together against their Swedish opponents. The Women on the hcokey team showed people from the two nations that it is very possible for people in the two countries to get along together and become friendly with one another. I feel that even though North Korea has previously been against statements and actions of the South Korean government, the country wanted to show the world that it is very possible for the two countries to get along peacefully. I feel that North Korea wanted to come off as a "good country" because of their participation with the South Koreans in Women's hockey. I feel that the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions should not influence more mixed teams because I feel that governments should be able to make these important choices between each other without the influence of others. This would help assure that the potential combination of Countries teams are not just for media purposes.
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ReplyDeleteSports have a very strong influence on diplomacy. Sports have the ability to unite regions, despite cultural beliefs. This is shown in this article as North Korea and South Korea united as one hockey team to compete in the Olympics. With "South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, and Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un" in attendance, the team consisting of both North Koreans and South Koreans was able to put aside cultural differences, and play together as one. In my opinion, I think that North Korea decided to do this because of all the hatred other nations have towards them. As mentioned in the article, the North Koreans were "out there, we just can't tell who's who". I was told that the team is working out in mixed groups." It is no doubt that if the North Koreans were to go out on the rink in one line, there would be several disrespectful remarks from the crowd. It was in North Korean's best interest to join to together with South Korea in competiton. While I do believe it would be a good idea for the International Olympic Committee, governments, and other global competitions to encourage mixed teams, I do not think that it is necessary. The Korean hockey team was a different scenario, and i think that there would have been chaos if the two Korean nations were to not join together as one team.
ReplyDeleteI think that sports has a big influence on diplomacy. The public watch and follow sports all year round, through good and bad. It brings people together despite differences in religion, race, gender, etc. Sports is universal and people around the world share the excitement, enjoyment and love of the same sport. During the Olympics, the Korean team represented diplomacy. North and South Koreans have had controversial views as they had a broken relationship. Combining team was a major step to achieving unity. The Olympics are a time where this is supposed to happen. It is a time where different nations come together to respectively compete other countries. The Koreans wanted to give on a positive and unified impression to the everyone as their worldwide view has not been so positive. They used a worldwide event to showcase their collaboration and help the relationship between the two nations. I think that most teams should remain separate. Each nation should represent themselves unless they do not have a certain number of members. Each competitor attends the Olympics because of their skill and desire to represent their own country. Their national pride would change if the countries teams combined.
ReplyDeleteSports have a unifying ability unlike any other common denominator. They put aside peoples differences in culture, political views, or any other social division by simply using a game as a platform to bring people together. As far as establishing diplomacy, sports help connect nations with otherwise troubling histories, such as north and south Korea. I think North Korea took part in this joint team effort to show that the love of hockey (or sport) is far greater and willing to to be shared than any political or historical divide could ever keep 2 countries that used to be one apart. This was also a good move on North korea's part to show their progress of interactions with the south. Although political ideas and change may not have been exchanged, this was an easy way to bond the two nations together. In the future I do think the Olympic Committee should permit combinations of teams like this in certain instances. For example, i dont think the USA should just be allowed to team up with any other country, but if a divided country is in the olympics and wishes to compete as one, for social symbolism more so than as an athletic advantage, they should be allowed to do so. The olympics are about uniting the worlds nations through sport, and what s a better demonstration as such then this joint team between the two rival countries that used to be one.
ReplyDeleteSports have the power to influence diplomacy greatly. Through sports, every comes together to share one common goal: Win. During this time, problems seem to be put aside. Everyone is there to win and everybody's mind is set on that. Therefore, it brings countries like North Korea and South Korea together. In the future, I don't think the Olympic Comittee should allow joint teams like this unless its a situation similar to this one. I don't believe two teams like the US and Canada should just randomly team up. But in the situation of the Koreas, i feel that it was a good decision as it worked to help unify an otherwise completely divided part of the world. I think North Korea did this to show how much pride they have in their nation to show that they want their athletes competing among the best in the world.
ReplyDeleteSports have a huge influence on diplomacy. Sports creates a sense of community in which everyone is equal and people seem to put their past issues to the side and focus on whats right in front of them, whether its on a field, court, or rink. When North Korea and South Korea joined teams it showed there was no divide you were either good or bad at hockey. I think North Korea did this to show national pride and a sense of unity with other countries. They have been out of the loop for so long so maybe this is a sign they may change there ways and cooperate with other countries. Despite the fact that North and South Korea joined teams it would be unwise for other countries to mix teams basically on the terms of fair play. Some teams would be too hard to beat based on their skill in the respective sport. I think the olympics should allow this with maybe two conflicting countries to show a sense of unity but shouldn't do this with every country.
ReplyDeleteSports has a major impact on diplomacy. Sports has the power to bring people together from all different walks of life, especially at the Olympics. Korea did this to help there off-ice relationship as countries. North and South Korea hope to strengthen their relations and this was a stepping stone in getting there. I think it is a great idea because you have two divided countries routing for the same team. The Olympics committee should definitely support things like this because the whole point in the Olympics is bringing the world together through sports. In the end that is what is important, not which country has the most gold medals.
ReplyDeleteI think sports has a lot of influence on diplomacy. Mostly in a good way. Sports can be used to unite countries together because citizens and leaders of the counties can share the love for sports. North Korea might have done this because they are looking for change. They have been stereotyped as a bad country mainly because of their leader Kim Jong Un. By partaking in the olympics they are taking a step forward to unite themselves with the rest of the world. If teams are very small then they should be encouraged to unite with other countries near or around them. It would be good for the unity of the world
ReplyDeleteI believe sports have a major impact on diplomacy because it brings people from various nations and religions together to compete and/or team up. The place where I believe it happens the most is in the olympics, because it's all the nations competing. North and South Korea teamed up and strengthen their relationship to make it far in the olympics. North Korea mainly did this to improve their statistic downfall. I believe the commities should encourage more mixed teams because it'll get people to work together and it'll be fun and interesting for the audience.
ReplyDeleteSports doesn't have a large enough influence of international diplomacy. In most nations around the world, sports is the number one pastime of the people. In Spain, fights break out between supporters of Barcelona and Real Madrid at the often biannual El Clásico. Right here in America, I still feel the bad blood every time I walk into Yankee Stadium as a Red Sox fan, with seemingly built up anger in the entire section around me, especially when celebrating a go-ahead David Ortiz home run. The point is, the main passion of large portions of the world’s population revolves around sports, so naturally these sports should have a large influence on diplomacy. If as many people were concerned with the Cuban Debt Crisis as the outcome of the Super Bowl it would be one of the largest conflicts our nation faces today. It is vital that governments around the world recognize that sports is more than just a game. It's a passion, a desire, a love, that is often lost when living life in "the real world." But as we see today, sports simply doesn't have enough of an impact on diplomacy, if something the opposite. During the World Cup, sports fans don't applaud the better team for winning, rather they rage in the streets of Newcastle claiming FIFA paid the ref. Among people within a country it certainly doesn't help, and it doesn't do much better in the central government either. How often at a presidential debate is a question about sports raised? An issue that more people care about rather than refugees in Beirut. How often do head officials of nations come together and create solutions to conflicts over watching a back and forth match of their favorite sport? The answer is never. In today's world, politics are as separate as can be from sports, and that notion can and should change.
ReplyDeleteIs Kim Jong-un trying to takeover the world with some evil Emperor Palpatine esc plan, probably not. Sure his actions are awful and very well could lead to a nuclear war, but I'm still not convinced Mr. Jong-un takes his stances based on evil. He's young, wildly inexperienced and incapable of doing the job that is called upon him, and he is doing his best, which in the eyes of many is the worst. I'm not defending anything Jong-un has said or done, rather just saying that Kim obviously isn't qualified for the job, and was put in an impossible situation, So if my hypothesis is correct and Kim Jong-un isn't evil, and definitely isn't good, what is he? A loose cannon. There is no telling what Kim Jong-un will say or do, he's simply impossible to read. One day he is threatening to blow Guam off the face of the Earth and the next he's playing basketball with the worm, Dennis Rodman. All issues with North Korea seemingly give the final say to Jong-un, so I hypothesize the issue was raised to Jong-un and he, like a loose cannon, without proper thought, agreed to it while shoving a steaming hot bowl of Bulgogi down his throat. I understand this response is far fetched and most likely incorrect, but with questions surrounding North Korea, you have to respond like a psycho, idiot, loose cannon, like Kim Jong-un.
DeleteThe International Olympic Committee and other nation-based competitions should absolutely not encourage mixed Olympic teams in the future. The Olympic Games specifically is the competition of nations around the world to see which is the best nation that respective year, at certain respective sports, not to see which group of nations are best. Firstly, it would be unfair if certain teams started merging to create super teams. England currently is a powerhouse in soccer, but add the rest of Great Britain with Gareth Bale on the wing, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu in midfield with Ashley Williams and Ben Davies in defense and their almost unstoppable. Secondly, merging teams would also destroy the aspect of national pride. It always feels great to win a gold medal. Your countries athletes outlasted the rest and took home a gold. Would it still feel so great if you took home the gold with the help of Mexico and Canada? Let me answer that for you, no. Lastly, The Olympic Games are one of the last major traditions the world as a unit still has. It would ruin tradition to start majorly editing and changing how things are done. One minor crack, can lead to complete destruction and the last thing anyone wants to see is a complete overhaul of the way things are done in the seemingly all-joyous Olympic Games. As far as governments go, sure. From their perspective they don't care as long as they're benefitted. As I stated previously, governments have nothing to do with sports anymore, they're seemingly completely separate. If Pakistan and India want to combine, from the point of view of a nation's government it can't really do much harm. From an Olympic's fan's perspective however, mixed-teams doesn't have many, if any benefits.
DeleteI believe that sport has influence on diplomacy because it brings people from around the world together. The competitive nature of sports helps create a bond between all nations of the world. tThe sportsmanship in sports throughout the nations, shows how much of an impact sports has on diplomacy. I think North Korea joined with South Korea for the olympics to show unity between the two countries. I think it was a gesture towards creating peace between the north and the south, and I think this will impact the future relationship between the two countries. I don't think countries should mix teams together because I think it would impact the sports world in a negative way. I think mixed teams should only apply to very smaller countries like north and south Korea.
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