Politics: what does political mean?

Self-tutoring about everyday words: the tutor mentions “political.”

Around 20 years ago, I heard a few boxing commentators talking about an amateur contest. One pointed out that it was very hard for an American to win a decision in that contest, because the judging was “political.”

Back then, I didn’t realize what that commentator was saying. I understand now that, at the time, there were many teams who hadn’t yet won that contest. The commentator’s point was that if one such team’s fighter went the distance against an American or European, that team’s fighter would be given the decision.

In that case, then, “political” meant that the contest was a stage for other goals. The judges didn’t mind fading the credibility of the contest in order to make surrounding people happy for reasons unrelated to the contest itself.

Judged sports always have room for the dimension of politics. I sense that the world is even more political today. However, with so many undercurrents, it may be even harder to know which way the decision would go.