阅读理解

Somepeoplebelievethatinternationalsportscreategoodwillbetweenthenationsandthatifcountriesplaygamestogethertheywilllearntolivetogether.Otherssaythattheoppositeistrue:thatinternationalcompetitionsencouragefalsenationalprideandleadtomisunderstandingandhatred.ThereisprobablysometruthinbothargumentsbutinrecentyearstheOlympicGameshavedonelittletosupporttheviewthatsportsencourageinternationalbrotherhood.NotonlywastherethetragicincidentinvolvingthemurderofathletesbuttheGameswerealsoruinedbylesserincidentscausedmainlybyminornationalcompetitions.

Onecountryreceiveditssecond-placemedalswithvisibleindignation（愤慨）afterahockeyfinal.Therehadbeennoisyscenesattheendofthehockeymatchtheloser’sobjectiontothefinaldecision.Theyweresurethatoneoftheirgoalsshouldnothavebeendisallowedandthattheiropponents’victorywasunfair.Theirmanagerwasveryangryandhesaid“Thiswasn’thockey.HockeyandtheInternationalHockeyFederationarefinished.”ThepresidentoftheFederationsaidlaterthatsuchbehaviorcouldresultinthesuspension（停赛）oftheteamforatleastthreeyears.

TheAmericanbasketballteamannouncedthattheywouldnotgiveupthefirstplacetoRussiaafteradisputableendtotheircompetition.Thegamehadendedindisturbance.ItwasthoughtatfirstthattheUnitedStateshadwonbyasinglepointbutitwasannouncedthattherewerethreesecondsstilltoplay.ARussianplayerpoppedtheballintothebasket.ItwasthefirsttimetheUSAhadeverlostanOlympicbasketballmatch.Anappealjurydiscussedthematterforfourandahalfhoursbeforeannouncingthattheresultwouldstand.TheAmericanplayersthenvotednottoreceivethesilvermedals.

Incidentsofthiskindwillcontinueaslongassportsareplayedcompetitivelyratherthanfortheloveofthegame.Thesuggestionthatathletesshouldcompeteasindividualsorinnon-nationalteamsmightbetoomuchtohopefor.ButinthepresentorganizationoftheOlympicsther