Why Winter Olympics Attract Controversial Hosts

Playing rules-based games at the end of the rules-based order. 

With the heated rivalry between the US and Canada, athletes speaking out against ICE, and the rupture of old world order in the background, the Olympics are especially political this time around.

Where do politics fit into the winter games and how did hockey become a symbol of geopolitical conflict? 

Rahim Mohamed of the National Post gets “Canada Down” with Noor Azrieh.  

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kattie Laur (Associate producer and Fact Checking), Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Masteringr), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)

Guest: Rahim Mohamed

Further reading: 

• Trump’s geopolitical tensions spill into the Winter Olympics - Politico
• ‘Boots on the Ice’: Hockey and politics are about to collide at the Milan Olympics - The Globe and Mail
• U.S. Olympians speaking up about politics at home face online backlash — including from Trump | CBC Sports
• Welcome to new cold war as world descends on Italy amid global political chaos | Winter Olympics 2026 | The Guardian
• Amid rising political tensions, will there be controversy at the Olympics? - National | Globalnews.ca
• Olympic fans are loving the petty commercial battle between Team Canada and Team USA: 'They are so focused on us' - Yahoo News Canada
• Tate McRae responds to backlash over U.S. Olympics ad: 'Y'all know I'm Canada down' | CBC News  
• Paul Brandt removed from Alberta teachers’ convention speaking list - CTV News 
• Public Servant Surprised by Voicemail from Doug Ford Suggesting They ‘Get Another Job’ - PressProgress 

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