Sometimes Sports Isn't Enough

The Olympics kick off today in Beijing and it is fair to say that the whole world is watching. While these Games are not without controversy particularly on China's part, for the next two weeks the big stories will be about the athletes, competition, and medal counts. And that's a good thing. The Olympics remind us every 4 years that it is possible to compete not only on the battlefield or in the conference room, but also on the field of play. To be cliche about it, sports can bring us all together. And perhaps the best example of that is "soccer diplomacy," the possible improvement of relations between countries stemming from cultural and competitive exchange from international soccer competition.

But sometimes sports just isn't enough to surpass the political barriers. On September 6, the U.S. Men's National Soccer team travels south to Cuba to compete in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier. Unfortunately, Sam's Army (the National Team supporter's club) and all other Americans have to stay home. According to a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Association:

U.S. Soccer has been informed by the United States Department of Treasury (the United States Government agency of jurisdiction with respect to regulating travel to Cuba), that travel to Cuba for tourism or for the purposes of observing specific public performances, including sporting events, is prohibited under U.S. law.

Talk about home field advantage for the Cubans. Fortunately, a month later, the Cubans will travel here to Washington, DC to play the Americans in the home-leg on October 11 at RFK Stadium.

So while we celebrate all of the "pageantry" and "unity" of the Olympic games over the next few weeks, let's also keep in mind the limitations of the event and realize that it won't change everything (or possibly anything). Still, the more we all get to know each other - whether at the Olympics or down in Havana - the more possibilities there are for a positive future based on mutual understanding.