Much has been made of the fact that the athletes attending and competing in this year's Olympiad in Beijing , China will feel aggrieved by the conditions that they'll no doubt not get the chance to see. But are fully aware of the fact that there've been protests along the way of the route that the Olympic flame has followed.
For the athletes themselves from around the world that've spent years in preparation for their chosen events. They'll be asked to make some cold hard choices over the next few months prior to the opening ceremony on the 8th August. Many will be under pressure not to attend and boycott the event in full or in some cases to just not attend the opening ceremony itself.
Either way whatever decision they make will not sit well with everyone on both sides of this argument. It's said that China through its human rights transgressions is complicit also in emboldening others and in particular the Sudanese regime. But for all of the protests that are taking place over these abuses with the regard to Tibet and and the citizens of China. Why is that it's taken the events of the upcoming Olympics to voice the concerns. Afterall these atrocities have been going on for years and the world in effect has remained silent.
In Myanmar (Burma) political activist Ang Su Chi has been kept a prisoner in her own home for over a decade and the world remains silent as that despotic regime is allowed to be part of the civilized world.
It's been said that we choose our battles wisely and the wars we make to appease others. Well whilst the IOC sits silent acting as if that alleged esteemed body has no right to get involved in this at all . The world will continue to argue the merits of the event and the host is able to do as it pleases without being held accountable for its actions. Funny not so long ago the US and Russia faced the same predicament and that led to the two countries boycotting successive Olympics. That was over a war that both were inherently involved in on so many levels . All for their own well being.
Hey Top, I don't believe China should have gotten the Olympics for the reasons stated above but its now a grand stage for everyone to voice their concerns. As olympic athletes though they have been training a long time for this one chance and they deserve that chance. Shame on the olymoic committee for putting the athletes in this position. Like the earlier games that America boycotted and when the USSR did the same, those athletes were cheated of the oppertunity of a lifetime.
degraff
If not China then where ? Some Middle Eastern country or better yet somewhere on the African continent. The only reason other than the political clout it gives 'em was the fact China is now a cash laden country that has more money than it knows what to do with it.
The IOC could've foreseen the problems but they chose to ignore it out of sheer greed and nothing else.
But at the same time the countries in the West are not without their continued conspi*cuous silence on some of these issues. There's no consistency to the US's foreign policy unless you allude to the fact that it's encapsulated to meet the needs of Israel and it's own self interests then at about sums it all up.
No one is calling for a boycott of the games as of yet but you can be sure that it'll be placed on someone's agenda.
Acually Top several groups are calling for boycotts which is fine. But my concern is for the athlete stuck in a political nightmare. Whats going on in China is wrong and they are making a lot of money off of it as well as the manufacturing market. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world are losing jobs because China is underbidding the work. There is a lot of greed out there from a lot of different sources. I just want to see the athletes that have worked their tails off get the chance to compete.
Hey Tophatal, good post. If the Olympics were to be held in the African continent, IMO the only nation there that could host the Olympics is South Africa. They have the cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kimberley, etc.) with large populations. But the infrastructure would have to be improved, such as new roads and freeways.
I'm glad that more awareness is being raised as far as human rights violations are concerned such as Darfur, Myanmar, Tibet, etc. But as you said, this should have been raised a decade ago. Too many leaders have been silent.
Two of my friends who were world class swimmers missed the making the 76 USA Olympic team by a combined 8/100ths of a second, both made the squad i 80 when that sanctimonious #### Carter boycotted the summer games. They didn't get what they spent a lifetime preparing for and that sucks. Leave politics to politicians, amateur athletes aren't their platform for every very real and imagined injustice in the world...great scribble as always Al you set and meet a high standard.
degraff
The one's that are calling for the boycott mainline countries such as the US , Russia , GB , France or Germany . Sarkhozy the French President is merely calling for the boycotting of the Opening Day Ceremony and not much else at this juncture.
And if China is so wrong who is it that enables them to do what they're doing ? The Congress has enabled much of this with many of these non-sensical trade agreements written in part by lobbyists for many of the large US corporations . So before you start to point fingers look from within to see where much the blame starts off in the beginning.
The same Congress and their lobbyist pals that've rewrittne the tax code so that it's become a blur that not even a layperson can comprehend.
tophatal ....
Last edited by tophatal on April 16th at 10:11 AM.
jon464
When it comes to political activism for me it started off when aparhtied was rife in South Africa and the whole just at ildy by and did nothing for too many years . I spent much of my high school years marching outside the South African embassy in London calling for the freeing of Nelson Mandela . I was even arrested on one political march and rally outside the embassy. A group of us just kept on returning for the next several months. All in all I did that for almost three years on and off . Upon his relase no one was as joyful as I .
As to the Olympics and it being held in China . IOC Chairman knew full well that there'd be voiciferous protests but the IOC wasn't the slightest bit concerned . As all that they could see were the $ signs and what it meant to the coffers of the International Olympic Committee .
And even now Rogge has yet to say anything of meaningful stature on the subject. Apparently not wanting to appear to take umbrage with their erstwhile hosts .
tophatal .......
Last edited by tophatal on April 16th at 10:33 AM.
erdhardiman
That was the t*it for tat policy and ideology of the time . And Carter was indeed wrong for boycotting the games . I don't mind the protests as long as it's conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner.
As to the politicians when it comes to sports and politics to me it's becoming abundantly clear that understand neither. It's just another photo op for 'em along the way . Hell I doubt if any of 'em know who's the head of the USOC anyway let alone the the IOC !
Guys check out my post written under the rampantfanatic guise. The piece is titled Are You Bored Yet ? Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece ? I'll look forward to reading your comments.
Born in the UK of Caribbean parentage and having lived in the US for the last 15 years. A keen martial artist (Black Belt 2nd degree in karate. I also practice savate , tae - kwondo ) College Grad BA's in Econ and Int' Fin. Served five years in the British military. I've gotten use to the American way of life and the language. The women on the other hand, that's something else ! Sports is my great passion along with music and the movies. However I feel that having resided here for all this time , I still somewhat miss the land of my birth. That being said I 'love this great country and all that it has afforded me' An avid Pats and Spurs' fan. Soccer Chelsea ,
tophatal..... ....
