They always sell the Olympics as a symbol of international unity. But there is more politics in Olympics than there is in real politics. The Olympics movement, if it can be called a movement, was rocked by Cold War between the West and East for a long time. From Montreal to Los Angeles, several games were boycotted by either bloc and created acrimony between the West led by US and East led by Soviet Union. That world doesn’t exist anymore. But due the so-called New Cold War between US and Russia, there has been a lot tension in the run up to Rio 2016 and now during the Games. The attempt to ban the entire Russian team because of doping allegations was seen by the Russians as an attempt to “demonise” their country. Though the Russians are here, participating in the games and winning medals as well, their little quarrel with the Americans has been going on openly -- and in a subtle manner too.