Every race is stereotyped where people label a group of people as all having the same image or characteristics for example people say that black people are faster at sprinting than white people. This isn’t a racist comment as it is the truth. Scientists have found that Athletes of West African descent which include most African American, Caribbean and black British athletes have a physique that is suited to explosive events, requiring sprinting and jumping. Such athletes possess what biologists call a mesomorphic physique with bigger, more visible muscles including a larger chest.Their muscles contain a higher proportion of fast-twitch fibres than do whites or East Africans.

Athletes of West African descent also possess less body fat, a higher centre of gravity, narrower hips, and higher levels of testosterone in their blood. Sporting. There are myths that are formed based on this information that isn’t true like ‘Black men can’t swim’. These myths can lead to putting a person off a certain race from entering the Olympics. They may start the particular sport because of the stereotype. Stacking is where players are put into positions and sports based of their ethnic background.A linked theory is called ‘centrality’; this is where the dominant group in society does the dominant role in a team.

There has always been racism in the Olympics one of the biggest issues was in 1936 at the Berlin games. Jesse Owens, (one of the greatest track and field athletes of all times) came to the Games holding two world records, one in the running broad jump and the 100m dash. He won them again in the Games and also won the 200m and was a member of the winning U.

S. relay team. In all four events, Owens either equalled the existing Olympic record or broke world records.He went home with four gold medals. His three other African Americans teammates also won Olympic medals. But Hitler refused to recognize the achievements of Owens and his “black auxiliaries” as he called them. Hitler walked out of the stadium when the time came to congratulate and present them with their well-won medals. He did not want to shake hands with black people who he considered inferior to his Aryan race.

The 1960’s saw the human rights issues finally catch up with the Olympic games. South Africa had a policy of separation called “Apartheid” between the white and black population.Similar to the policies of Germany during the ’30’s and ’40’s, blacks were considered third class citizens and were segregated from all social and political activities in that country. White only teams finally offended the I.

O. C. to the extent that in 1959 they accused South Africa of violating Olympic principles. The South Africans replied that the blacks were not of Olympic calibre.

It took the I. O. C. five more years before ruling that they could no longer compete in the Olympic games, beginning with Tokyo in 1964.

In another case of racism in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, two African American sprinters, Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised a black-gloved fist (the Black power salute) while on the victory stand to protest U. S. racial policies, causing acts of hooliganism and fighting among the Americans in the stadium. Both athletes were expelled from the Games and they were sent home like criminals. Carlos claimed that “Ours was not a political act; it was a moral act-and that’s all right. ” The 1972 Munich Games began much the same as any other Games.On the 11th day however, an Arab terrorist band broke into the Olympic village and invaded the Israeli apartment building.

The Arab terrorist kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes and held them hostage in an apartment the whole day, murdering two of them in the process. As time as gone on roles of black people have changed. Nowadays there are many black role models for example there is Denise Lewis. She encourages young black girls to partake in athletics.

More and more people of different origins are taking part in sports that they are expected not to take part in.