The role of sports chaplains is not being taken seriously by organizers of the Olympic Games that open on Friday in
Sydney, Christian leaders in Australia claim. Writes Dave Crampton.
Although a group of about 80 chaplains representing 28 faith groups -- including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism,
and Buddhism -- has been assembled, their scheduling makes it impossible for athletes needing their services to see the
same person on consecutive days, a departure from the Summer Olympics in Atlanta four years ago. At the same time,
Christian leaders contend, veteran Australian Institute of Sport chaplains for swimming and athletics were passed over
in favor of volunteers.
More than 23,000 athletes and administrators are expected to arrive at the Olympic Village by Friday.
The manager of Olympic Village Religious Services, Father Jim Boland, disputes critics of the chaplaincy program and
said the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) has "bent over backwards" to provide a credible
service. "They've gone far beyond what they have to do," he said. "The IOC (International Olympic Committee) contract
allowed for one room, but they've provided five prayer rooms and two counseling rooms." Chaplains will be available 24
hours a day throughout the two weeks of the Games, Boland said.
Olympics organizers do not understand the nature of sports chaplaincy work, some Christian leaders maintain, an
ignorance that is reflected in a schedule in which chaplains have been assigned to six-hour shifts every three days and
may not enter the religious services center at any other time.
"SOCOG's organizers failed to realize that sports' chaplaincy is based . on relationships and availability," said
Anglican Bishop Brian King of Sydney. "This is especially needed in spontaneous situations, such as grief counseling
after an athlete's loss or injury. This failure resulted in chaplains being rostered six hours every third day, which is
a very controlled and artificial offering, unlike in previous Games."
King, who also chairs Quest, an interdenominational group coordinating church volunteers at the Olympics, told Newsroom
that organizing committee officials appear to regard chaplains as just another group of volunteers. Quest is
coordinating 160 church-run, sports clinics that will provide 1,000 volunteers to the Games.
Australian cricket chaplain Mark Tronson, who has been involved with Olympic Religious Services since 1984, said the
roster system is impractical. "Athletes invariably look for someone they know, or someone with whom they' ve struck up
an initial conversation," he said.
Chaplains already have dealt with major incidents at the Sydney Games, including the death of Nigerian hurdler Hyginus
Anayo Anugo, killed in a car accident last Thursday. They counseled his fiance and Nigerian team members, who are the
largest group to use the religious service center so far.
"Past experience has shown that these (Olympic) athletes seek advice about their future, and a continuity of chaplaincy
has proven very helpful," King said.
Boland said that despite religious differences among the chaplains, the volunteers are working together well. "There are
five faiths who are opposed, who are in the center under one roof, side by side and accepting each other's spirituality
and encouraging them in their faith -- it's beautiful," he told Newsroom.
While Boland and other Christians disagree about the organization of chaplaincy services in these Olympic Games, they
agree that including a float of drag queens in the closing ceremonies is inappropriate. The gay community in Sydney, the
largest in Australia, welcomes the controversial float, which is scheduled to appear as part of a tribute to the film
"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," which features drag queens.
"I`m not impressed that the drag queens will be there -- the excuse is that it is advertising the film industry," Boland
said.
Christian Democrat leader Fred Nile said the float does not represent Australian culture, or values. "The blatant
condoning of a public homosexual display will not enhance the Olympic games, nor Australia as host to the games," he
added.
"It is very revealing that Christians can be restricted from even wearing a T-shirt with a gospel theme, while something
that represents a standard of confused sexuality can get such prominent exhibition," complained Sydney Anglican
Archbishop Harry Goodhew.
King said concerns of Christians are being ignored by Olympic organizers in favor of minority views. A proposal to open
the ceremonies with a multi-faith prayer was rejected by the SOCOG, for example. "Now we have a situation (the parade)
where a minority group (homosexuals) is given preference over the majority of people who believe in God," he said.
ENDS