Utah Governor Criticizes Political Questions to Athletes at Winter Olympics
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, made headlines on Tuesday during his visit to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. While he was primarily there to discuss Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2034 Winter Games, Cox took the opportunity to voice his disapproval of reporters asking political questions to athletes competing in the event.
Cox's Critique of Media Questions
In a statement to the media, Cox expressed his frustration with the line of questioning directed at athletes. "I know the media loves this stuff," Cox remarked. "It gets a lot of clicks." He went on to emphasize his belief that the focus should remain on sports rather than politics. "I hate the questions you ask the athletes," he added. "These are kids out there competing. I think you should be asking them about their sports and about their competition and let the politics take care of the politics."
Avoiding Criticism of Former President Trump
Despite his strong stance on political questions, Cox notably avoided any direct rebuke of former President Donald Trump. This comes in the wake of Trump's recent comments about U.S. freestyle skier Hunter Hess. Hess, a freeski halfpipe competitor, had expressed dissent at the Games regarding upheaval in the United States, including the killings of two protesters in Minneapolis during demonstrations against migrant raids. Hess stated, "It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of. Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything going on in the U.S."
In response, Trump called Hess a "real loser" and expressed disappointment that he was part of the U.S. squad. When asked about the tense relationship between Trump and the athletes, Cox chose to focus on unity and free speech rather than criticize the former president. "Look, we love our athletes and we're grateful for our athletes," Cox said. "We recognize there are lots of divisions in our country and in our world today. I love that we get to live in a country where people get to speak their minds. That's true of athletes, it's true of governors, it's true of presidents, it's true of every individual in our country. And I'm grateful for that, and again we care about unity, we believe this (the 2034 Olympics) is an opportunity to bring people together."
Broader Context of Athlete Activism
Cox's comments come amid a backdrop of increased political expression by athletes at the Winter Olympics. Several competitors have spoken out against Trump and his administration, including British American freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who is competing for Great Britain this time. Kenworthy made a bold statement by writing the message "fuck ice" in the snow, which he claimed was done with urine, as a protest against immigration enforcement policies. He also reported receiving hateful messages, with some wishing harm upon him.
This situation highlights the ongoing debate about the role of politics in sports, with Cox advocating for a separation between athletic competition and political discourse, while athletes continue to use their platforms to voice opinions on contentious issues.
