Politics at the Olympics??? Beauty contests???

These three examples of this topic are just from the last day's postings from my small group of "friends" on Facebook:


http://www.wickedlocal.com/reading/news/x2037890031/Lebanese-American-swimmer-denied-chance-to-go-to-Olympics?zc_p=1#axzz22I62RwDW

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/israeli-olympic-team-says-lebanese-judo-fighters-refuse-193000562--spt.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279672,00.html