Why not?

Gooo team!

The Turin Olympics commence today. 79 countries are fielding teams, including the US Virgin Islands. Guam and Puerto Rico, though not in these winter games, are expected to send contingents to 2008’s Beijing summer Olympics.

So what? Why are Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands especially noteworthy? I'm glad you asked! And if you didn't, I hate you. Those places are, of course, not real countries. And not in the sense that Canada isn’t a real country, but actually, technically, *really* not real countries. They are territories of the United States. Not states, per se, but special districts. Residents of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have no voting representation in Congress – only a single, non-voting delegate for each of them. Exactly like the District of Columbia.

Why, then, do Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands get to send teams to the Olympics while DC does not? Wouldn’t the capital of the United States sending an independent delegation to the Olympics be a great way to bring the District’s lack of voting rights to the attention of other Americans? Isn’t it hypocritical for the country that claims to be the “great arsenal of democracy” to deny full voting rights to the residents of its capital city?

The answer to the latter two questions is, simply, yes. The answer to the first question, however, may turn out to be because no one thought to try it before.

Until now, that is. The District of Columbia Olympic Committee was formed last year with the intention of sending a team to the Turin Olympics to compete in curling in order to raise awareness of the District’s unique and unfortunate situation. They didn’t get organized in time to have a real shot, but are sure to try again for the 2008 games.

I think it’s a great idea, and I love their Canadian beer, hockey-look-alike jerseys.

Tags: fun politics sports