Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands have Olympic teams; so do Hong Kong and Palestine. Now a group of DC voting-rights proponents is trying to get the same International Olympic Committee recognition and with it an Olympic team to call the Distri
DC “shadow representative” Mike Panetta realized US territories could have their own Olympic teams in 2004 when he saw Puerto Rico beat the United States in basketball. For the 2006 Torino winter games he helped field a DC curling team, which, although it didn’t compete in Italy, did land a sponsorship from Labatt Breweries.
For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Panetta and his medal wannabes are organizing a race-walking team.
The International Olympic Committee does not recognize the DC Olympic Committee (DCOC), nor has the DCOC officially petitioned to compete. But more than 10,000 people filled out the “Join the DCOC Team” form online at Dcolympicteam.org.
“We knew we were being silly,” says Panetta. “It was just a bunch of guys in their thirties who said, ‘Yeah, we’re an Olympic team, too.’ ”
This article appears in the June 2008 issue of Washingtonian. To see more articles in this issue, click here.
We Can’t Vote, But We Can Curl
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands have Olympic teams; so do Hong Kong and Palestine. Now a group of DC voting-rights proponents is trying to get the same International Olympic Committee recognition and with it an Olympic team to call the Distri
DC “shadow representative” Mike Panetta realized US territories could have their own Olympic teams in 2004 when he saw Puerto Rico beat the United States in basketball. For the 2006 Torino winter games he helped field a DC curling team, which, although it didn’t compete in Italy, did land a sponsorship from Labatt Breweries.
For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Panetta and his medal wannabes are organizing a race-walking team.
The International Olympic Committee does not recognize the DC Olympic Committee (DCOC), nor has the DCOC officially petitioned to compete. But more than 10,000 people filled out the “Join the DCOC Team” form online at Dcolympicteam.org.
“We knew we were being silly,” says Panetta. “It was just a bunch of guys in their thirties who said, ‘Yeah, we’re an Olympic team, too.’ ”
This article appears in the June 2008 issue of Washingtonian. To see more articles in this issue, click here.
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
See a Spotted Lanternfly? Here’s What to Do.
Meet DC’s 2025 Tech Titans
What Happens After We Die? These UVA Researchers Are Investigating It.
GOP Candidate Quits Virginia Race After Losing Federal Contracting Job, Trump Plans Crackdown on Left Following Kirk’s Death, and Theatre Week Starts Thursday
USDA Spent $16,400 on Banners to Honor Trump and Lincoln
Washingtonian Magazine
September Issue: Style Setters
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
Why Can You Swim in the Seine but Not the Potomac River?
This DC Woman Might Owe You Money
Why a Lost DC Novel Is Getting New Attention
These Confusing Bands Aren’t Actually From DC
More from News & Politics
How to Pick a Good Title-and-Settlement Company in the DC Area
Weird Press Conference Ends Trump’s Vacation From Offering Medical Advice, Kimmel Goes Back to Work Tonight, and DC Man Arrested for Shining Laser Pointer at Marine One
Why Can You Swim in the Seine but Not the Potomac River?
Nominations Are Now Open for 500 Most Influential People List
Trump and Musk Reunite, Administration Will Claim Link Between Tylenol and Autism, and Foo Fighters Play Surprise Show in DC
This DC Woman Might Owe You Money
A New Exhibition Near the White House Takes a High-Tech Approach to a Fundamental Question: What Is the American Dream?
Want to See What Could Be Ovechkin’s Last Game in DC? It’s Going to Cost You.