As a former member of the Canadian swim team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, I know firsthand the electric thrill of hearing the cheers of Team Canada fans. There’s nothing quite like it. Putting on the maple leaf and stepping out in front of thousands of supporters fills you with pride to be Canadian. And hearing the roar of the crowd gives you an instant jolt of adrenaline that pushes you beyond your limits.
But this past weekend in Halifax, Canadian tennis stars defeated Israel at the Davis Cup but with no fans in the stadium to cheer them on. The last time athletes were forced to compete under such conditions was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, it was not a deadly virus that kept the stands eerily quiet. The decision was made by Tennis Canada due to “escalating safety concerns” posed by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy. Protesters have the right to express their views. But that right ends when it infringes on the freedoms of others. As a society, we cannot allow demonstrations to interfere with Canadians’ ability to go about their lives — including doing something as fundamentally Canadian as cheering on their team.
Sport is also something that should transcend politics, ideologies, and old forms of hatred.
I’ve seen firsthand what happens when international sport becomes politicized. I was there in Munich in 1972, when the Olympic Games were brutally interrupted by a horrifying act of terrorism. Eleven Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. It was a moment that shattered the innocence of sport.
Yes, international competition comes with rivalries. But at its heart, it’s about unity and bringing people together from all corners of the globe to share in the beauty, struggle, and joy of athletic achievement.
Sport matters deeply to Canadians. In one of the most multicultural countries on earth, cheering for Team Canada is a powerful symbol of belonging. It’s woven into the fabric of our identity.
Even for those who were not around at the time, we can still visualize Paul Henderson’s winning goal against the U.S.S.R. in the 1972 Summit Series. Many of us felt the rush of pride when Donovan Bailey won gold in Atlanta in 1996. We all stood and screamed when Sidney Crosby scored the “Golden Goal” in Vancouver in 2010. And we were glued to our phones and screens every time Summer McIntosh dove into the pool at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
These are not just moments that unite us. They are also moments that define who we are as Canadians.
That’s why what happened in Halifax was so deeply disturbing. It is also part of a troubling pattern: an escalation of political intimidation and threats of violence that are spreading across North America and beyond.
No city or region seems immune. In Ottawa last month, the Capital Pride Parade was halted after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the route, forcing more than 10,000 Canadians to leave in disappointment. Across Canada, the constituency offices of elected officials have been vandalized and, in some cases, closed due to similar intimidation tactics.
And just hours after Israel and Canada competed at the Davis Cup, three Halifax synagogues were vandalized with graffiti in what police are investigating as hate crimes.
These incidents not only tarnish our international reputation. They corrode the foundation of our democracy and our inclusive society.
In my hometown of Vancouver, the stands are filled with fans from every background. That’s the magic of sport in Canada. No matter where you come from, you can cheer for your home team. And when Canada is competing, we all cheer for our national team.
If we normalize what happened at the Davis Cup, it’s not just the well-being of our athletes that’s at stake. It’s the future of our Canadian way of life.
This is a moment for political leadership. We call on elected officials at every level of government to take a stand. We cannot let our country become a place where violent threats, harassment, and intimidation dictate when we get to gather and how we express our pride in being Canadian.
Our athletes deserve our voices. And Canadians deserve leaders who will ensure they will never again be locked out from cheering on Team Canada.
Karen James was a member of the Canadian swim team at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
National Post