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We need your help to strike a blow for democracy for the people of DC. Please take a minute, and send a message to the International Olympic Committee. Tell the IOC to recognize the DC team. Tell the IOC to support democracy. Tell the IOC to LET DC PLAY!
Enter your email below to get started.
"Now It's Time to Represent!"
- Mike Panetta, DCOC Chairman and U.S. "Shadow" Representative (D-DC)
Just like many good ideas, this one started over a few beers at the Adams Mill Bar several years ago. I was watching the 2004 Olympic opening ceremonies and said to myself, "That looks cool, I wish I could march in the opening ceremonies." Being way past my prime athletically to make any U.S. team, I began to think about what tropical countries would be open to me sliding them a few bucks to make me a winter athlete - after all whose job would I be taking?
Then something weird happened a few days later. The U.S. Men's Basketball Team lost to the Puerto Rican Olympic team in a stunning upset. Like many Americans, my biggest questions were: "Why the hell does Puerto Rico have a team? Aren't they part of the United States?" I did a little looking around and found out that not only does Puerto Rico have a team, but so does Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands - all part of the United States.
The wheels started turning in my head. I knew that Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while part of the United States, each only have one, non-voting delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. The District of Columbia also only has one, non-voting delegate in the U.S. House. However, unlike those other American territories DC lacks its own Olympic committee.
That is until now. Together with some friends and co-workers who live in the District we started a movement -- the District of Columbia Olympic Committee. The first team we organized in 2006 was curling, but now with the summer games approaching, we are looking people who want to join the speed walking team. So, if you live in the District and want to compete sign up today!
If the District is going to be lumped in with the other red-headed stepchildren of American representative democracy, we should at least be able to compete with our own Olympic teams like other territories.
We're doing to this to both have fun and make a point about representative democracy in our city. Please help us out by taking action to petition the International Olympic Committee to recognize the DCOC and then spread the word to others about this effort.
If you like the idea, please step up and help out. If you don't like the idea, just step back and don't become a DCOC-blocker!
- Mike Panetta, DCOC Chairman
mike.panetta@gmail.com
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*Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or authorized by the US Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or any other official Olympic committee. |