International, Religion

Fall from Grace: Olympian Suspended for Making Sign of the Cross

International Judo Federation (IJF) has suspended a Serbian judo champion for five months from any international competitions for making the sign of the cross after his match in the Paris Olympic games this year. It is another bizarre controversy from the games, including France barring French Muslim athletes from wearing hijabs in competition.

Nemanja Majdov, 28, has been told that he was found guilty of “having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play.”

In a statement on Instagram, Majdov  added:

“in the defense letter of the disciplinary proceedings, I did not want to apologize… and of course, I did not, nor will I ever, although I did not even know what the punishment could be. The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career, and he is number 1 for me, and I am proud of that. And that will not change under any circumstances. Glory to Him, and thanks for everything. Nothing new for me personally, just a new page in my career and a new life experience. I’m sorry that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen to such things. God gave me a great career, 7 European and three world medals. When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and thus succeeding in my life and the life of my family, who sacrificed everything for my career. He gave us a lot more and even borrowed too much so that I would bow my head in front of them when it came either-or.”

The athlete was previously warned not to make the sign of the cross. The IJF said that this is simply an effort to ensure its members “feel respected and accepted.”

I am not sure how that tracks. Athletes expressing their faith does not condone other faiths or belittle competitors. It shows that their accomplishments are not their own. They may want to embrace their friends, their country, or their faith.

The irony is crushing after the Olympics began with what many viewed as irreligious or disrespectful imagery for many religious people.

I fail to see how denying such gestures advances the game or its values. Part of these games is to respect our different values and cultures. While that justifiably means that the games do not officially endorse or demonstrate religious values, individual athletes should be able to acknowledge their faith in such small gestures. If we want to embrace the diversity of our world, the solution is not to bar expression of diverse values.

It appears that faith may move mountains, but not the Olympics.

202 thoughts on “Fall from Grace: Olympian Suspended for Making Sign of the Cross”

  1. EVERY SINGLE PERSON has “A Religion”. By definition A SET OF BELIEFS and a DIETY. In some people’s cases – admittedly or not – THEY are their own deity. In the case of Govts or Olympic Committees they’re happy to take away yours. So much do they respect you. NOT!

  2. It is not the same thing as banning the hijab. Hijabs have been used in terrorist attacks in France.

  3. One question for all the liberal trolls who endorse this sort of nonsense.

    Why does inclusivity not include Christians?

      1. It does. While many take offense at a religion that reveres dishonesty, violence, immorality, legally it has the same proptections as christianity or islam in the US.

        1. Hmmm it means people cannot be persecuted or more distinctly prosecuted for their religion. Jesus Christ was. Can’t make that mistake again. In that sense the Olympics is incorrect.

          Majdov is a Serbian Christian. Read up on the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

      2. You apparently missed the opening of the Olympics, with their satanic display of perversion.

        So again, liberal troll hiding behind your anonymous comfort-blanket, … WHY DOESN’T INCLUSIVITY INCLUDE CHRISTIANS?

        Why are CHRISTIANS openly discriminated against, like they were here?

        Why are PAGAN SEXUAL SMUT performances OK, with you liberal woke worms, …. but genuflecting the sign of the cross is not?

    2. * hmmm because western culture has is Christian dominant. If the purpose is to change western civilization the religion must be deleted.

      Just a guess and a big clue.

  4. A solid christian man worthy of “christian” votes…mark robinson.

    North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, who is currently running for governor, was the subject of a bombshell report Thursday that revealed the Trump ally had allegedly written on a pornography website’s message board about wanting to own slaves, peeping in women’s locker rooms, and enjoying transgender porn.

    I wonder how many pussies he has grabbed?

    1. The first rule of social liberal club, is that you don’t talk about social liberal club: friends with “benefits”, sequestering the “burden” of evidence in Planned Parenthood of the unknown child, etc.

    2. Sadly for your side, the left has lied to win elections often enough that they can no longer be believed in these pre-election smears.

  5. * The warring Gods.

    Religious beliefs and practices are kept in the heart and not worn on the sleeves of people. The Olympics have many beliefs participating and many of them are in hostile conflict. Asking the religious to leave the sleeves at the door is to avoid religious conflicts. It’s understandable. Participate or not if you can or cannot.

    This is difficult after France had the anti Christian opening. Leave your atheism or your humanism beliefs at the door, as well, and put some clothes on while you’re at it. Your money-makers aren’t your best attribute anyway.

    My opinion
    M

    1. You mention leaving sleeves at the door. Ruth Bader Ginsberg had a Mezueah on her door at S.C. Nobody suspended her or complained.

        1. * To whom are you speaking? The Olympics isn’t the United States and until the Olympics adopt the Bill of Rights their rules may differ.

          1. Correct – the IOC is about SPORTS – Not religion, not politics – it has no Business involving itself in the speech or conduct of its members outside of that specifically related to Sport.

            For generations we have had olympic athletes expressing their beleifs, or politics as part of their participation – and the world did perfectly fine.

            I doubt you have any beleifs – those who actually have meaningful beleifs KNOW that you can not “leave them at the door”.

            REgardless the IOC is NOT a government any IOC ”
            bill of rights” or regulations or rules should be about SPORTS – not politics, not religion.

            1. * You’re too young to recall the Jewish athletes murdered during the Olympics? Look it up.

              Carry religion in your heart, mind and soul. Maybe carry it in yellow stars attached to your coat.

              What would the committee do if an athlete had a crucifix tattooed on his forearms? Disallow him? Perhaps an imam could lead the moslem contingent onto the field or an christian orthodox priest with immense blessing the field before play?

              As long, long time watcher of Olympic events no religious observances have been seen before the current age of “Satan” , Satan being nothing more than a big criminal.

              Participate or not during the age of rage. Don’t watch it.

        2. * in God we trust has an American history. It’s a blessing that money is used wisely and with care for good. It’s a blessing for weights and measures of goods and services that they are correct. 1lb is not 15 ounces for measure. It’s a blessing for right interest paid and people are not used. It’s a blessing upon the money that it was earned by good work for it is by the sweat of your brow you’ll earn your bread and wisely saved and invested like yeast in a bread causing it to multiply.

          That’s the point. It’s the USA and not the Olympics but it is hoped the American athletes will be just and good bringing honor.

      2. * Mezuzha.

        In the United States there is freedom of religion. Christians and Jewish people must tolerate other religions as the law of the land. The article is about the Olympics and not the USA.

        Perhaps Professor Turley thinks the world should adopt the Bill of Rights and the Olympics certainly should?

        1. My comment was, had the match/tournament been held on U.S. soil, it would have fallen under the jurisdiction of the Constitution, and the suspended participant could have sued, and possibly gotten the suspension reversed.

        2. ATS – while the world has not adopted the US bill of rights in much of the world your are free to practice and profess your religion and have been for a long long time. The rest fo the world learned – as the US did from the mess that was hundreds of years of destructive religious wars in europe that respect for differing religious views is a positive good.

          It has ALWAYS been the LEFT that is hostile towards religions – that is because humans are inherently religious creatures and Leftism is a religion that does poorly in the presence of pretty much any other religion.

          Regardless you are demonstrating exactly how dangerous those of you on the left are – When you get control of ANYTHING – you leverage that control far outside the domain of what you have taken control over.

          If you can not shutdown peoples liberty inside of govenrment – you will use the IOC to do so.

          From the UN Charter of rights.

          Article 18
          Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

          Article 19
          Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

      3. Do you know what a mezuzah is? Did she put a mezuzah on your door. Are there Bibles in the SC?

    2. * Did professor Turley actually write the article here? There is doubt. It’s just not up to snuff.

      Enjoy

    3. What religions are in “Hostile conflict” ?

      Regardless, the argument that people should leave their beleifs at the door is the kind of absurd nonsense that someone who has no beleifs would argue.

      1. * Well, you’re wrong.

        Yugoslavia was a place of one of the world’s bloodiest wars dividing it into Serbia and Croatia. There was an apparition at Medjegoria it is reported and catholics pilgrimage there even today.

        Perhaps Medjov is affected. Unkn.

        Check spelling. Thanks

        1. * further—> Yugoslavia divided into 6 nations. Is Modjev a Christian Serb. He would be thanking God for his survival.

          John Say, check for the genocide in the former Yugoslavia. It has a history.

          Perhaps such religious efforts are banned because even athletes would start with– from the river to the sea palestine will be free [of jews].

          No doubt.

          1. * Munich massacre, 1972 Olympics, 11 Israelis murdered by Palestinian group Black September.

            Take a rain check, John Say.

  6. Hunter Biden’s sentencing on federal firearms charges delayed until December
    WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden will be sentenced on felony firearms charges in December after the judge agreed Thursday to a delay requested by the defense.

    In June, President Joe Biden ‘s son was convicted in Delaware federal court of three felonies for purchasing a gun in 2018 when, prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by claiming he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

    He was initially scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, but the judge agreed to delay the hearing until Dec. 4 after Hunter Biden’s lawyers said they needed more time to adequately prepare.

    The gun charges are punishable by up to 25 years in prison, though he will likely face far less time behind bars or possibly avoid imprisonment entirely.

    He also faces sentencing in California on Dec. 16 on federal tax charges he pleaded guilty to earlier this month. Those charges carry up to 17 years behind bars. He also faces up to $1.35 million in fines.

    By: ASSOCIATED PRESS ~ September 19, 2024
    https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-case-sentencing-delaware-firearm-election-joe-biden-son-17c845eb36751c8a96a19c36b1081566

    1. He won’t get any jail time at all. It’s a first-time offense. The gun was barely a week in his possession.

      He will either get a fine and time served or President Biden will commute the sentence.

      2. He is going to get pardoned – so it does not matter much.

        But the crime was LYING to secure a gun. To the extent that the short time of posession matters it is a BAD fact not a good one.
        He was so reckeless that the gun was taken from him by a family member and disposed of in a dumpster where only luck prevented it from being used in a crime.

        1. “He is going to get pardoned – so it does not matter much. ”

          The delay is likely to absolutely guarantee that he will not serve any time before the pardon is effective, as unlikely as that might be under any circumstances. If that is the case, I wonder it reflects only HB’s general aversion to prison, or if he has major undivulged incriminating evidence against influential figures that might get him whacked there.

  7. Greetings MAGA losers and suckers,

    Fun facts:

    Dow closed today at record high.

    DJT stock closed today at 52 week low.

    1. Maybe Trump can get the Kenyan goat herder to leave Nutflix and come work for him, that might boost sales. He might even find a spot for Big Mikes fashion designs and soft drinks!

      1. So you admit that the Obamas are much better at making a buck than the miserably failed “businessman” that now relies on suckers like you to send him money and buy his crap.

          1. The better question is which fortune was earned in free market capitalism and which is given off the backs of the citizens by a bunch of crony Socialist billionaires? A Baskin and Robbins icecream boy zooms to a millionaire and fledgling Senator the handed Americas most important position. A fraud from day one and the head of the snake.

    2. You do know that Stock not only are affected by inflation – but they MUST reflect inflation.

      Adjust stock markets for inflation and they are doing poorly – but NOT as poorly as Cash.

      If you bought stock on Jan 21, 2020, and you sold it today, the good news is the cash you would get would buy just about the same amount it did when you bought it.

      The stock market has been a good hedge against inflation for the past 4 years.
      It has NOT however been an actual good investment.

      You would be far better off, if inflation had been Zero and the DJIA went up 5%.

      1. What exactly does this idiotic, irrelevant, nonsensical ill-informed rant have to do with the fact that the Dow is at an all time high while DJT is at a 52 week low of $13.55, which is only 5 cents above its all time low of $13.50.

        1. Since most of his stock is owned by him, I would say that is a savvy, smart move on his part

        2. The market was rocking for three years with Trump and would have been better had the Marxist cabal stopped their sedition and subversion BS. It wasn’t until the Marxists released their COVID plan did we have a problem. Open your eyes dumazz.

    1. Christians must imitate Christ’s sufferings, not set their hearts on pleasures. He who is weak will be strengthened when told: “Yes, expect the temptations of this world, but the Lord will deliver you from them all if your heart has not abandoned him. For it was to strengthen your heart that he came to suffer and die, came to be spit upon and crowned with thorns, came to be accused of shameful things, yes, came to be fastened to the wood of the cross. All these things he did for you, and you did nothing. He did them not for himself, but for you.

      From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
      (Sermo 46,10-11: CCL 41, 536-538)
      http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/week24fridayor.htm

      1. * Set your hearts on pleasure? It’s a pleasure to be without thieves. It’s a pleasure to be without lies. It’s a pleasure to be without murderers. It’s a pleasure to be without the envious. It’s a pleasure to be without every kind of perversion imaginable. It’s a pleasure to rest after a weeks hard work. It’s a pleasure not to have false gods in my land. It’s a pleasure not to have onerous worship. It’s a pleasure not to see images of false gods. It’s a pleasure not to call upon God when I can do the work myself nor use his name in comments on a blog.

        Set your heart on these pleasures and what is true and lovely and good report.

        There’s enough suffering so I won’t call suffering holy. I’ll call it suffering.

      2. * Christ’s work included dying by what was the murder of an innocent man . Whipping and flayed flesh, spikes into hands and feet, a sword thrust into his side up into his heart was a painful murder. His friend betrayed him for envy and money and an accusation he wasted myrrh because a woman loved him and gleaning a field for food on the sabbath and healing the ill. It was the single most unjust sentence and death ever will be. His bones were not broken.

        He did not condemn the world but spared it utter destruction which he could have done. Utter destruction is always present.

  9. The singular American failure is the judicial branch, with emphasis on the Supreme Court. 

    The Fed, in an act of flagrant corruption, played politics with its powers by lowering the interest rates to assist the campaign of Kamala Harris.

    The Federal Reserve Act must have been struck down in 1913; there is no legal basis for the Federal Reserve Act in the Constitution. 

    Congress has no power to regulate the banking industry or interest rates, which must be set according to free market demand.

    1. “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws!”

      Attributed to –Mayer Amschel Rothschild, (1744 – 1812)

    1. “If somebody breaks into my house, they’re gettin’ shot.”

      “My staff will deal with that later.”

      – Vice President Ditz

    2. “We will conduct surprise raids of the homes of gun owners for safe storage checks and mandatory buybacks of firearms.”

      – Vice President Ditz

  12. Jonathan: I had a good laugh reading your column about the Serbian judo champ who has been suspended by the IJF for making a sign of the cross at the Paris Olympics. Really? But I suppose that’s your way of avoiding having to discuss the really important developments this past week. For example:

    A week ago DJT held a press conference at his golf club in RPV, California. One data point from that conference did not get much press attention. A reporter mentioned that Trump Media Corp. stock was down over 70% since it began trading in March and then she asked whether he would sell his stock after the end of the “lock up” provision at the end of this month. DJT responded by saying he doesn’t need the money won’t sell his stock. In a later post DJT said this: “It is my intention to own this stock for a long period of time, in my opinion it is THE REAL VOICE OF AMERICA,…” After those statements Trump Media rose 17.26% to $18.25 on 9/13 but has fallen back to about $14.10 today.

    The Q is whether DJT can be believed when he says he is not going to sell his stock? Like a lot of DJT’s statements they have to be taken with a grain of salt. The whole purpose of TMC was to suck in a lot of MAGA supporters who thought they could make money if DJT got back into office. What if DJT loses? Most market watchers think the stock price will plummet out of sight. That’s because TMC has no viable financials. The company continues to report millions in losses every month. The betting on Wall Street is that DJT will hold on to his stock until after the election. If he loses he will then dump it–leaving MAGA retail investors holding the empty bag.

    The reason is that, despite his claims, DJT is desperate for money. If he loses his appeals in NY he will have to pay EJ Carrol about $100 million. And he will owe AG Letitia James about $500 million plus running interest. Add to that are all the criminal prosecutions. It is estimated DJT is paying up to $30 million per month for his legal defense in those cases. And if DJT loses his appeals in the 34 count criminal conviction over the “hush money” payments to Stormy Daniels, most legal experts believe Justice Merchan will sentence DJT to some prison time–maybe up to 2 or 3 years. Hard to run a business from prison!

    But getting back to when/if DJT sells his TMC stock. If he does sell there will be bad legal consequences. As a public traded company if you make false or deceptive statements about your stock you can be legally liable under the securities laws. In addition you can be sued civilly. And you can bet there are a lot of big law firms that, should DJT decide to dump his stock, would immediately file massive class-action lawsuits against him. Not something DJT needs in addition to all his other problems! That’s why DJT desperately wants to win in November. That’s the only reason he is running. To stay out of prison!

    Now tell us again how the tale of the Serbian judo champ’s “fall from grace” is more important than that of DJT!

        1. Yes they are, anybody that would vote for a disgraced twice impeached convicted felon is deranged.

          1. As would anyone who would vote for an alky who giggles at the thought of gunning someone down. Not usually something a rational person would make light of.

    2. Denny
      Did you happen to catch the Okra Wimprey interview? Telling responses heh? How about the Teamster support, whew?! Hey, what’s up with Tim Walz handing of classified documents while in the ANG, Congress and FBI looking into a whistleblower? Wow, who knew? Hey, what’s up with Walz wife, she got the crazy eye going on, must be the burnt tire smoke. Have Hanoi Jane gimme a call, see ya!

    4. Dennis
      Wow, you seem consumed by DJT financials. I would tell you not to worry because when he’s elected and the new AG reviews the illegalities and Constitutional rights issues surrounding every case you mentioned, they will evaporate and those employing lawfare will be punished. If not he can employ the Biden/Harris plan…. Print some money to pay for it.
      Go to aisle 9 and think on your sins!

    5. But I suppose that’s your way of avoiding having to discuss the really important developments this past week. For example:

      And not a single one of Dennis McIntyre’s examples includes mention of ANOTHER attempted murder of Trump. This time by an undeniable Soviet Democrat supporter of Harris that hates Trump just as much as Dennis McIntyre hates Trump. But… “meh… nothing to see here Jonathan… BBBBUUUUTTTT…. MUH TRUMP!!!!!”

      Dennis McIntyre is ENRAGED that the second attempt to murder Trump by one of his fellow murderous Soviet Democrats failed. Dennis DEMANDS that Trump be murdered

      1. –“undeniable Soviet Democrat supporter”
        Is that the anonymous-disparaging ‘Old A. Dog’
        posting as an ‘Anonymous’ again?

    6. Dennis – while your idiocy has been debunked over and over.

      Lets presume that miraculously you prove correct.

      None of these are coming due anytime soon. Trump just said he is not selling his Truth stock NOW.

      If he said that and then sold 1/3 of it tomorow he would face a shareholder lawsuit.
      If he sells 1/3 of it over the next 3 years he will NOT.

      As noted before – all of these cases have myriads of problems.
      The enmoron/james case violates the 7th amendment – and there is even NYS case law that explicitly says that judges like enmoron can try cases like james without a jury specifically because any judgements would be deminimus.

      That is not the only flaw in that case. After it is dismissed Trump likely has an excellent malicious prosecution and damages case.

      Both the James and Bragg cases run afoul or the legal definition of fraud. There is no fraud unless there is an actual victim who loses real property. None other than RBG said so – though this dates all the way back to Blacks.

      But the Bragg case will be dismissed because Merchan ignored Trump’s demands that WH witnesses and testimony about WH activities be precluded. Trump was consistent about that from the begining to the end – and now SCOTUS has said that Merchan was required to do as Trump asked. The case is DOA in the 2nd circuit – though it will eventually die in NYS courts – if the federal courts do not kill it first.

    7. You are obsessed with Trump’s legal fees.

      You do not seem to understand that they constitute THEFT – by the State of New York.

      Presuming you are correct – which I doubt, Trump is spending nearly as much on legal fees as the campaign.

      All you are doing is making it clear tot he courts why this lawfare MUST be stopped.

      Democrats – unable to win elections by winning voters have resorted to trying to bankrupt their political enemies through lawfare.

      Do you really think that at some point the courts are not going to step in and say – you can not engage in this kind of election interferance ?

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