A Wilderness of Spite

Once every four years, the modern world focuses its attention upon the Olympic Games. This festival of physical ability, symbolizing the manifestation of what is believed to be a universal value system embodied in the concept of Olympism, reminds people' of all nations, paradoxically, of the equality of man. Realistically, the Olympic arena proves to be as much a testing ground for the stated ideals of man as for his athletic prowess. Thus, when the freedom of the spirit of participation is stifled by political maneuverings, any truly universal identification with the dignity of man must suffer. A Wilderness of Spite concerns human dignity, particularly as it is mirrored in the context of the quadrennial Olympiads.

In 1968, John Cheffers found himself in the unique position of being the National Track and Field Coach of the sale defenseless nation excluded from participation in the Mexico Olympics. Rhodesia, for reasons which were never made clear, but which become apparent in A Wilderness of Spite, was barred entry to the 19th Olympiad. One of the smallest nations in the world, Rhodesia found herself becoming, in the twelve-months prior to the Games, a pawn in an international game of political chess. Allegations of racial discrimination and secessionist politics served self-righteous national governments in their efforts to try Rhodesia in the international Olympic court.

Athletes, in general, can be said to be indifferent to politics. This was especially true of the Rhodesian athletes, some of whom could neither read nor write; yet their lack of interest in politics might be seen as the antithesis of the fervor they felt for their homelands to which they could bring national honors. Indeed, national pride may run deeper in athletes from smaller nations. Certainly, the Olympic Games provide a unique opportunity for an "unknown" country to be given international recognition by the outstanding efforts of one of its sons. Ethiopia gained prominence through the name of Akila Abebe.

Like Ethiopia, Rhodesia is a young, developing country on the African continent. In the unfolding of this dramatic story, the author paints a picture of everyday life, of the customs, folkways, and beliefs, and sets them in the grandeur of the Rhodesian landscape. The interpersonal relationships of the coach and athlete are woven into this setting with a skill that uses sport as a mirror to reflect the developmental process of an emerging nation. The culminating drama of exclusion from the Games is, in turn, a symbolic reflection of the type of setback which all developing countries periodically encounter.

At the current point in time, there are very few texts which provide the sociologist of sport with compacted material in one volume. In this respect, A Wilderness of Spite makes a fine addition to the literature of sport sociology. The usefulness of this book will be recognized by those concerned with problems of racism in sport, of politics in sport, of the sociology of coaching, and of sport in international perspective, among others. Not least of all, A Wilderness of Spite introduces sociology of the Olympics.

BENJAMIN LOWE, Ph.D.

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pa.