So… the Olympics. They're over, right? I had a hard time figuring out when they started (before the opening ceremony) or when they ended (for some reason, television execs decided the closing ceremonies shouldn't air live on television.)

I suppose the Olympics serve some purpose, and I enjoy them, like most people, until I don't, but I'm honestly not sure what they're all about.

The original Olympics, in ancient Greece, were a mixed celebration, honoring both athletics and the gods. The modern Olympics, at least according to the Olympic Charter I've spent considerable time slogging through, are governed by the following seven principles (they're taken directly from the charter, so please forgive the funny spelling):

1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.

3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world's athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.

4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

5. Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied.

6. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

7. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

All of which are sound pretty sensible and, frankly, pretty awesome. Who can't get behind, "…a way of life based on the joy of effort..., social responsibility and… ethical principles," and, "…the preservation of human dignity," right? That's heady stuff, the kind of stuff people should be excited about.

And the fact that those kinds of ideals and principles are somehow tied in with incredibly appealing feats of athletic magic that only the tiniest fraction of humanity can accomplish, flipping, flying, speeding, balanc­ing, focusing, spinning, pushing, jumping, you name it, well, golly, the Olympics seem tailor-made to encourage, well, the ideal, both of body and of spirit.

But, of course, they're not. Or, at least, the organisation behind the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, doesn't want anyone to focus on anything other than the athletes and their performances within the arena. Some of the athletes feel that way as well, which I think is even more of a shame.

The idea that the violence in Ukraine could not be acknowledged by Ukrainian athletes other than to leave the Olympics entirely is absurd. Those athletes who wished to wear black armbands in recognition of countrymen willing to die for a cause greater than themselves were quickly encouraged to think otherwise. The IOC stated such an act would go "against the Olympic charter."

The notion that a former Italian MP, transgender Vladimir Luxuria, could be detained, not once but twice, first for wearing a rainbow flag pin reading "Gay is OK" and then for wearing a flag "outfit" at one of the Olympic venues, is preposterous.

It's the OLYMPICS! There are flags EVERYWHERE!

Mark Adams, the IOC's official spokesman, was quoted as saying, "She explicitly had said that she would demonstrate in a venue and clearly venues are not the place where we would like to have political demonstration."

The concept that a performance art group could be horsewhipped, doused with pepper spray and beaten by Cossacks for trying to perform their latest catchy jingle, "Putin will teach you to love the motherland," is straight out of Kafka. But that's what happened to Russian punk band and provocateur-extraordinaire Pussy Riot.

Horse. Whipped. By Cossacks! Good ol' Mark Adams, speaking for the IOC and all its members, stepped up like a man and addressed the issue head on. "I would purely say that it's a shame if the Olympics is used as a political platform, and that's what we've always said. We saw yesterday the strong feelings on both sides that these sorts of things provoke, and that's why we ask the Olympics not be used as a platform for people to express views and we will continue to say that."

Seriously?

Well, yes. Because principle six of the Olympic charter, the one that states that any form of discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic movement, is apparently trumped by Rule 50, section 3, that states, and I quote, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

So, discrimination, hatred, fear-mongering and murder are all bad, but not as bad as "demonstration" or "propaganda."

If the IOC is going to firmly quash one of these movements, they are dropping the hammer on rainbow outfits, armbands and tone-deaf rock shows.

Thank goodness.

Yaaayy, Olympics…

Maybe we should wait a little longer for the next one.