Local Olympics alumni weigh in on torch relay protests

As the Olympic torch has journeyed across continents and countries en route to Beijing for the Summer Games, it has met with numerous protests due to China’s occupation of Tibet. Protestors have demonstrated at relay stops in London, Paris and San Francisco.Closer to the North Shore, locals with Olympic ties expressed sympathy for the athletes who may feel overshadowed by the demonstrations, and discussed what the protests mean for this year’s Games.Mike Eruzione of Winthrop and Jim Pedro of Lynn are familiar names to area sports fans. Eruzione scored the winning goal for the US men’s hockey team in a historic matchup against the Soviets en route to a gold-medal campaign in the 1980 Winter Games. Pedro won two bronze medals for the US in judo in two separate Summer Games (1996, 2004), appearing in four total (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004). Both men said they hope current Olympians aren’t lost in the controversy.”I sympathize with the athletes,” Eruzione said. “I hope it doesn’t get to a point where athletes suffer. I am not involved in the Olympic movement who decides what cities represent the Olympics, but I like to think they should have done a little more research into the backlash of giving the Games (to China).”Maybe China is very worthy. A lot of people feel that way. I feel for the athletes who are shut down, shut off.””We bring the best athletes in the world together to compete in friendly competition,” Pedro said. “Athletes dedicate their lifetime to this one moment. All those years dedicated, the hard work, it’s a shame people decide to use a public venue to speak out.”China has occupied Tibet since 1951. Its human-rights policy there has drawn criticism from the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, as well as from activists worldwide.The current protests connected to the torch relay represent a familiar phenomenon, said Eli Wolff, a manager of research for the Northeastern University-based Center for the Study of Sport in Society.”Sport is used often as a platform for human rights and social changes,” said Wolff, a former Paralympian. “With this particular instance, historically, oftentimes tension is noticeable when games are used as a platform.”Eruzione was asked whether he sees similarities between the tensions connected to the Beijing Games and those related to the Winter Games in Lake Placid, which occurred the year after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, angering the US.”I don’t think so,” he said. “What people are dealing with now is the country of China, the way they handled politics. In 1980, it was the US versus the Soviets, what we were going through as a country.”North Shore fans remember the ending of the Lake Placid Games thanks to Eruzione’s efforts, Al Michaels’ call, and the movie “Miracle.” The Beijing Games are drawing attention even before they begin.”I think, in some ways, the torch became a symbol for China and human-rights issues,” Wolff said. “They’re not really protesting the actual torch relay.”Yet they can certainly impact its route. In San Francisco, the lone American stop, city officials changed the course to avoid demonstrators.”If (the Olympics) were held elsewhere, people in San Francisco would embrace the torch,” Eruzione said. “Where the Olympics is held is upsetting people.””I don’t think the Olympic Games are in jeopardy of taking place,” Pedro said; however, he added, “It is certainly a shame that they have to redirect the course.”The demonstrators have gotten the media’s focus, but Eruzione brings a different perspective. In 2002, he and his former Olympic teammates lit the ceremonial cauldron for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.”To me, I think it was the ultimate honor,” he said. “It was an amazing feeling of pride to be able to do something so special to represent your country.”He added, “They try to encourage many people (in torch relays). I was involved with torch runs before. Handicapped people, mentally challenged kids, senior citizens, soldiers, they run the