Every two years, the world gathers for the Olympic Games, meant to unite all races, religions, creeds, colors, nations, and people. Starting in 776 BC, the Olympics, which occurred every four years, brought together competitors from every Greek city-state, in competition with each other, for grand supremacy in sport. But while today the focus tends to fall on the sports and athletes, the ideals of the Olympiad, both in ancient times and today, ring throughout time. Wars were put on hold, armies marched home, and then those same warring nations came together to compete in track, field, wrestling, and other competitions.

In the modern Olympics, which began in 1896 under the purview of the International Olympic Committee, who still runs the games to this day, athletes representing every corner of the globe still gather to challenge one another, and stand for their respective nations, before all the world. This creates a fantastic international public relations opportunity for the competing nations and for the concept of peace in our time. However, the modern Olympics also have been pulled into modern politics, with PR being as big of a part of the games as the events themselves. Though most Olympiads still speak to the game’s original higher purpose, there have been many times in the last 117 years that a political or social statement has been made, using the Olympics as a staging ground.

The first major boycott was Ireland at the 1936 Berlin games, because the IOC required them to limit their entrants only to the “Irish Free State.” The 1956 games saw three separate boycotts, due to the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, the Suez Crisis, and China’s refusal to participate because of the committee allowing Taiwan to participate under the banner of “Republic of China.” The largest boycotts came in 1980 and 1984. The 1980 games, held in Moscow, were boycotted by 65 nations, due to the Soviets invading Afghanistan. Four years later, 15 nations held a counter-boycott of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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The games have also known violence and war’s impact on the Olympiad. Though in ancient times, societies put aside their fighting to compete, the modern Olympics have often been postponed or cancelled due to war. The 1916, 1940, and 1944 games were all cancelled due to the World Wars. The 1972 Munich Olympics were marred by terrorists who abducted and killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The 1996 Atlanta games saw a bombing by a domestic terrorist that killed 2, and injured 111.

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, offers another PR opportunity for the world, but there is already negative spin associated with the games. Russia’s recent anti-gay propaganda law, which threatens fines and jail time for anyone “promoting a gay lifestyle” in front of children, which has simply meant “in public” since it went into effect, has caused many to call for boycotts of the games. The IOC and the Russian government have said the law will be in effect for athletes and spectators at the games, which could mean a major international incident. Though only time will tell, it is clear that PR for the games is already turning sour, and making international public relations that much more difficult.

 

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Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
GuideStar Profile for Ronn Torossian Foundation
Ronn Torossian’s Articles on Entrepreneur
Ronn Torossian’s Blog Posts on Times of Israel
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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.