The article discusses Kirsty Coventry's emotional response to the disqualification of Ukrainian athlete Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch, likening it to 'crocodile tears' since she, as the IOC chair, was crying over her own decision.
The article reflects on the notion of 'crocodile tears', which refers to insincere displays of emotion. It begins with a humorous anecdote about mafia members crying over the death of their boss, only for it to be revealed that this death would occur the next day. This sets the stage for the author's critique of Olympic chair Kirsty Coventry, who shed tears over the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch. Heraskewytsch was disqualified after displaying images of athletes killed in the conflict against Russia on his helmet, bringing attention to the struggle of Ukrainian athletes in the current geopolitical climate.
The article argues that Coventry's emotional reaction comes across as disingenuous, as she is indeed the one who made the disqualification decision, hence the comparison to crocodile tears, which originated from ancient texts describing crocodiles crying while consuming their prey. The implications of Coventry's tears raise questions about the sincerity of emotional responses from authority figures, particularly in the context of their own decisions that negatively impact others.
By invoking a historical reference to Pliny the Elder, the term 'crocodile tears' enriches the discussion about the authenticity of expressions of sorrow in situations of political and competitive tension. The discourse surrounding the IOC's decisions and their worldwide impact on athletes, especially from war-torn nations like Ukraine, highlights the moral complexities faced by governing bodies in international sports.
