Damien Hooper reprimanded for Olympic Aboriginal flag stunt
By Tim Martin, Australian Times, 31 July, 2012
Damien Hooper with his t-shirt of the Australian Aboriginal flag, contrary to the corporate and colonial Olympic industry’s interests.
AUSTRALIAN boxer Damien Hooper has been reprimanded by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) for wearing an Aboriginal flag t-shirt into the ring for his first Olympic boxing bout in London.
The Aboriginal Australian, and London 2012 gold medal hopeful, wanted to “represent his culture” but didn’t know wearing the shirt was against the IOC charter which prevents political statements at the Games.
“I’m Aboriginal, I’m representing my culture, not only my country but all my people as well,” Hooper said.
“That’s what I wanted to do and I’m happy I did it.
“I was just thinking about my family and that’s what really matters to me.”
Hooper defeated his American opponent Marcus Browne in a come-from-behind points decision and looked very impressive in his opening bout.
“Look what it just did – it just made my whole performance a lot better with that whole support behind me.”
However Australian Olympic chef de mission Nick Green spoke to Hooper after the incident to let him know that that kind of behaviour was unacceptable.
“We know Damien’s got a very proud indigenous heritage,” Green said.
“I’ve had a conversation with Damien, he’s extremely apologetic for his actions. He has confirmed with me it was a one off and he won’t do it again. He was very remorseful.”
Green said the matter would be taken no further.
“He’s apologised and looked me in the eye and said he won’t do it again.”
But the incident has divided opinion in Australia, with controversial Australian boxer Anthony Mundine backing Hooper’s actions and saying it was a proud gesture for the Aboriginal people.
“I take my hat off to him for that stance,” Mundine told The Sydney Morning Herald. “It takes a person with big balls to make a big stance like that. I’ve got his back, all day every day, because he’s in the right.
“We want to be proud of a flag that we fly and the current Australian flag just doesn’t sit well because of its dark history.”
He even said the AOC were wrong to make Hooper apologise.
“I think the Australian Olympic Committee should have a good look at themselves,” Mundine continued. “It’s just like Cathy Freeman did [in 2000] … she flew both when she won the gold. But for me I’d love to see the flag change and have our people recognised on that flag. As long as we are not recognised and united, I can’t stand for it. I never will.”
Posted on July 31, 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged 2012 London Olympics, Australian aboriginal, Damien Hooper. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
Warrior Publications 
it just another way of denying our history
We fly our flag with pride and respect for all nations.
We do this to remind the world that we are still here.
We are the sons of the first sun. We find our balance in the natural order of things and for thousands of years we have managed to shape our way of life to our environment, changing as it changes, thriving in the wild.
And so we fly our flag, not in protest, but as a reminder that we are still here. We aim to peacefully remind the world that there other ways of living. There other ways of knowing and many roads to the truth.
michael moll 2012
So the white Australian invader is reprimanding an indigenous Australian for representing his culture? Rubbish!
hiy hiy
Right, so as a Scotsman, what happens if, competing for Team GB, I wear a T-shirt (or better still, show a tatoo) of the Saltire (the flag of Scotland). There would be uproar in Scotland if Chris Hoy (gold medalist for cycling)was disciplined for this. It would simply be explained that although British, he is firstly a Scot. How could any right thinking person be offended at this?
May the spirit of his ancestors whom he has greatly acknowledged and honoured and his people of whom he is proud of be with him today every day ,always As a Mohawk man I honour Damian for his proud display of pride
Reblogged this on .
hey Australia,get over yourself,if it were not for the the First peoples your ancestors would have died in their prison cells.Do things the right way not the white way.First peoples flag first.You should be honouring Damian