The Olympic Games have a meaning that goes beyond athletics, one Penn State professor says.
The games capture the context of a moment in history and what it means, said Lorraine Dowler, geography professor. Patriotism during the Olympics is related to the world political spectrum at the time, she said.
At the height of the Cold War in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the games played out as a showdown of democracy versus communism, Dowler said. At the time, the Soviet Union and the United States were political enemies and rivals in virtually everything from athletics to aerospace technology, she said.
"The United States boycotted the 1980 summer games in Moscow to make a political statement," Dowler said.
A few months later when Lake Placid, New York hosted the 1980 winter games, the Soviets were in attendance. The political rivals faced off at the hockey rink in a game that would be dubbed by Americans as the "miracle on ice."
In her senior year of college at the time, Dowler remembers being in a bar and celebrating when the United States hockey team, comprised of amateurs, defeated a heavily favored team of Soviet Union professionals in the semifinal game. The U.S. team went on to defeat Finland for the gold medal.
"Winning the gold in the 1980 games was significant for the nation in light of the Cold War," said Michael Finley (senior-geography).
As the 2002 winter games got underway in the United States for the first time since 1980, the Cold War is a shadow of the past and the United States faces a new enemy, terrorism, in world politics.
Although the Cold War is long over, the patriotism of some of those who witnessed the "miracle on ice" remains.
"It's interesting that the 1980 United States hockey team lit the torch," Dowler said. "Choosing the hockey team was a deliberate attempt to bring back the pride and strength citizens of the United States felt after the 'miracle on ice.' "
The geo-political structure of the world is a good indication to the shape that the Olympics will take, Dowler said.
The al-Qaida terror network does not have an Olympic team, she added.
Dowler said she believes the number of medals United States' athletes win at this Olympics is more important than the events they win.
"A high medal count is a sign of resilience and shows Americans how strong the country still is," Dowler said. "If the United States wins the gold medal this year, it will become one of many medals."
Although the United States will not face an "enemy" in this year's hockey tournament, the excitement of Olympic hockey has not diminished.
"While I don't carry a do or die mindset, it's nice to see your country win a hockey game," said Doug Grane (junior-geography).
With players from the National Hockey League now competing in the Olympics the teams are more balanced than in 1980, Finley said.
"If the United States wins, it won't be a miracle on ice," Finley said. "It still will be good to know that the United States has world class hockey players."
Team USA currently has a 2-0-1 record after the round robin portion of this year's tournament and will face Germany in a quarterfinal match up at 10:15 p.m.today.
