DAY 2 : THE SEOUL GAMES : OUT OF STEP : U.S. Delegation Is Criticized for Its Behavior During the Parade of Nations

SEOUL —  The U.S. delegation was called rude and insensitive for the behavior of many of its athletes Saturday at the Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony.

“As one of the leading countries in the Olympic Games, with a special role here in Korea, they should have thought, ‘Let’s not act like total klutzes,’ ” said Richard Pound, an International Olympic Committee vice president from Montreal.

“I don’t think that’s the image the United States wants to be spreading around the world.”

Other IOC members were observed shaking their heads in disapproval at the U.S. conduct.

But members of the official Olympic family were not the only ones offended.

One tourist in attendance, Elizabeth McCormack of Brooklyn, N.Y., told United Press International: “I was ashamed of the U.S. team. They were unruly and acted like spoiled brats, and I want to tell them so.”

Amid a ritualistic, traditional Korean ceremony, members of the 779-member U.S. delegation, not all of whom marched in the opening ceremony, almost immediately broke rank after entering the Olympic Stadium as the 43rd of 160 delegations in the parade of nations.

Some athletes left the track momentarily, moving closer to the stands to wave to family members and mug for television cameras. Others carried placards with messages home or to NBC, the U.S. network that is televising the Games. At least five athletes wore Mickey Mouse hats.

But those who criticized the U.S. athletes were more concerned about their lack of regard for other delegations, the two immediately behind them in particular. Such was the disorganization of the U.S. delegation that it virtually engulfed athletes and officials from Vanuatu and Bahrain.

It was the first opening ceremony for Vanuatu, which never before has participated in the Olympics.

“The American team is here for fun and games, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Laurence Chalip of the University of Maryland, who is one of several international social scientists commissioned by the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee to prepare reports on the Games.

“But for many countries, especially the smaller ones, the opening ceremony is the only time they are going to be seen on this stage. It’s a terribly important moment for them when they march into the stadium.

“It’s their chance to say, ‘Hey, we belong, we’re part of this.’ When you swamp them out of existence, you negate the possibility of them making that statement.”

Said one of his colleagues, Kang Shin Pyo from Hanyang University in Seoul: “They were very insulting to the next groups. The Americans do not care about others. They were just eager to show themselves on NBC.”

Members of the Vanuatu and Bahrain delegations were less offended than many observers. Vanuatu, formerly New Hebrides, is a group of islands in the Western Pacific. It has six athletes and two officials here. Bahrain, a group of islands in the Persian Gulf, has 17 athletes and 11 officials.

“They weren’t angry, but they felt kind of overwhelmed and a little dwarfed,” said Vic Godfrey, Bahrain’s U.S. track and field coach who did not march in the ceremony but spoke with the athletes when they returned.

“It didn’t hurt them so much as it hurt the American image.”

Jean Treanut, head of the Vanuatu delegation, said his athletes were so awed by the experience of marching into the 70,000-seat stadium that they did not realize they were lost among the U.S. team.

“I was a bit upset, but people from other countries who talked to me later were more annoyed,” he said.

“Americans are Americans. Next time, we will ask not to be behind them. We will ask to come beforehand.”

Robert Helmick, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee, marched ahead of the U.S. athletes and said that he was not aware of any misbehavior. He interpreted it as youthful exuberance.

“It was great American youthful enthusiasm, which shows the spirit of the athletes for these Games,” said Helmick, who also is one of two IOC members from the United States. “This is a celebration. It’s supposed to be fun.

“But let me be clear. If any of our athletes acted in a disrespectful fashion, we want to know about it. We would expect an official protest, and we would deal with it.”

The other IOC member from the United States, Anita DeFrantz of Los Angeles, said she believed that the athletes near the end of the delegation were the worst offenders.

“I was disappointed in the guys at the back of the line,” she said. “They didn’t realize that they were interfering with other athletes’ processions.

“We care about everyone in the (Olympic) movement having their moment in the sun. Unfortunately, the guys at the back of the line overstayed their welcome. I’m sure someone told them how to behave, but they were too busy trying to get on television.”

Asked several times whether the U.S. athletes were briefed on proper behavior for the ceremony, Helmick did not answer directly.

U.S. volleyball player Karch Kiraly said the athletes were disorganized, but he added that he meant that positively.

“We were out there to have a great time,” he said. “Everyone was trying to spot their parents and wives and girlfriends and brothers and sisters. It was spontaneous. We didn’t all have to march 10-abreast.

“If we were being big clumsy Americans in other people’s eyes, so be it. We can live with that. We have to laugh at ourselves.”

John Lucas, an Olympic historian from Penn State, said he faults the USOC for its failure to educate the athletes about proper international behavior.

He said he has offered on several occasions to speak on the subject at USOC meetings but has been told by officials that most members are interested only in sports.

“The U.S. Olympic Committee has given up on any kind of logical and rational dialogue regarding protocol, regarding the American image, regarding the Olympic philosophy,” he said.

“It’s not brainwashing. We’re talking about subjects that are essential to the American image and Olympic protocol. The USOC has abrogated its responsibility.”