Olympics 1992

Saturday 25 July 1992 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An Olympic Games unsullied by political protest, boycotts, violence or drug scandals is long overdue. Indeed, there is a sense in which the Games themselves are on trial over the next fortnight. Some all-too familiar charges are in the air again: that the Games are too commercial, embrace too many sports, are altogether unwieldy. Even the most fervent Olympian might concede that the way the Games have developed in the last two decades has not been entirely healthy, and that their reputation needs restoring. The athletes in Barcelona cannot solve the Games' problems on their own, but of course it is to them that we look to have our faith restored. What we want are inspiring performances, or at least brave and honest ones. Who will provide them? As the lone superpower the Americans should lead the way, with Africa surely taking another big step towards world sport's centre stage. Meanwhile, what comes out of the remnants of the old Soviet Union and eastern Europe will provide one of the Games' greatest fascinations. On these pages we concentrate on the leading Britons. We look at the competition day by day, and at the athletes for whom Barcelona represents the culmination of a lot of hard work, and the chance to claim the glory still unique to the Olympics.

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in