the Romans *did have political color connections. The four major factions in the Games were the Reds, the Blues, the Greens and the Whites. Originally they were four independent and equal groups and, depending on who was the emporers favorite, political factions following them. Later on two of them (Green and White, I believe) became subsidiary to the other two

Indeed. For a detailed discussion of the teams, see

http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2E752441