2008 Beijing Olympics contraversy

[melo]

I am sure you have seen lots of stories about protestint the olympic torch as it was brought through Europe. They are going through the US soon too and expect large protests. The leaders of many Western European nations and the US are also discussing protesting the opening ceremonies and possibly the whole olympics. The argument being China has a terrible record of human rights abuses and is currently occupying Tibet. What are your thoughts?

[melo]

Okay I was trying to be fair in the thread explanation, but here is my opinion. I think it is all stupid. If I was an athlete I would not care what is happening. I trained my whole life for this, I want to compete, and I want my chance to go through the opening ceremonies with every other top athlete in the world. The leaders of the countries can boycott the olympics all they want- who cares.

As far as western countries pretending they are perfect and have the right to look down at China- that stinks of massive hypocrisy too. Like western countries have perfect human rights records? Occupying Tibet is far worse than say -occupying Iraq or Afghanistan??? I am not saying I am a big fan of the Chinese government but this all stinks. Politics should be left out of this entirely. Also- why the heck are they sending the torch through San Francisco????? Probably one of the most hostile areas towards China's government and they start the torch relay there. That stinks of politics again. :rolleyes:

[Kolobok]

I am sure you have seen lots of stories about protestint the olympic torch as it was brought through Europe. They are going through the US soon too and expect large protests. The leaders of many Western European nations and the US are also discussing protesting the opening ceremonies and possibly the whole olympics. The argument being China has a terrible record of human rights abuses and is currently occupying Tibet. What are your thoughts?
Olympic games are meant to be something that unites the nations, no politics should be involved in it. It's something that the whole world looks forward to celebrating once in 4 years time. Human rights in Chine sure aren't the best and then again Zimbabwe comes to mind, Mugabe is getting elected again (probably), the westert world hasn't done anything about it yet and I've seen no demonstrations from the activist for Human Rights and Amnesty International.

[Guardian]

Olympics should be boycotted, by everyone!

[Kolobok]

Guardian, you seem to be brainwashed by Guardian newspaper lately.:) If you don't mind me asking, would you have any objective reasons for such actions to be taken?

[MUHLIS]

What Tibetians did was not right, even their spiritual leader Dalai Lama condemned their violent actions. Attacking private businesses and innocent civillians who don't happen to be Tibetians is sick.
When Pier De Kuberten (spelling?) initiated the renwal of the Olympic Games in the last century it was agreed to revive the ancient Olympic tradition: stopping all the wars and hatred to hold Olympic games.
However, there were several cases when Olympic games were boycotted....
That is unfortunate!!! Only SPORTSMEN know the IMPORTANCE and SIGNIFICANCE of the Olympic Games for their athletic career!!! Let us not spoil this fine sportsmanship event with dirty and hypocritical politics!!!

[MUHLIS]

I am sure you have seen lots of stories about protestint the olympic torch as it was brought through Europe. They are going through the US soon too and expect large protests. The leaders of many Western European nations and the US are also discussing protesting the opening ceremonies and possibly the whole olympics. The argument being China has a terrible record of human rights abuses and is currently occupying Tibet. What are your thoughts?
EU and US also don't have awfully great human rights records. The only difference is, i think, who they consider "human". Olympic Games are about sportsmanship event that is held only once in four years for which athletes sweat for many years.
If the US and EU don't want to attend and deprive their athletes from the honor of participating in the world's most respected and recognized competition then it is their business.

[Vector]

Tibetians acted just outrageously barbaric, they deserved chinese rulers.

[PainKiller]

Chinese goverment stinks, as much as some others-I will not fingerpoint at them all. For some athletes it is the first/last/the only Olympic games they will ever attend, why to ruin it for them? I am not against anti-Goverment demonstrations, but I dont think that politics should be interfering with Sports.

[melo]

related to the Olympics but not the contraversy:

A girl who lived in my dorm freshman year of college will play basketball for Russia in the olympics. :D The US team was not interested and she had played one season in Russia so somehow she qualifies as Russian now. :lol: Almost every athlete in the summer olympics trains in the US. Does that mean they could all compete for the US? :rolleyes:

[melo]

It is also interesting that the US is considers anyone who protests the war in Iraq as un-American, but protesting the olympics is in good spirit. I believe under that logic anyone who protests China holding the Olympics hates the Olympics. :lol:

[SAMARKANDI!]

Eastern Turkistan should also use this situation. China systimatically oppresses that region and no one even says anything, it is bad to be muslim nowadays.

Olympics though should have been voted to take place in a different country in the first place. :)

[melo]

Eastern Turkistan should also use this situation. China systimatically oppresses that region and no one even says anything, it is bad to be muslim nowadays.

Olympics though should have been voted to take place in a different country in the first place. :)

oppresion is everywhere :rolleyes: where is this oppression free land that you plan on having the olympics? :lol:

[Frida]

Olympics though should have been voted to take place in a different country in the first place. :)

agree, but also think it is a power issue. we can just speculate that olympic commetee could not deny the application coming from one of the largest economies of today's world.

as for protesting and stuff -- all of us know that olympic games are not so much about the athletes anymore :) apart from countries' boosting themselves by counting the medals their citizens have earned, every single sports event attracts lots of people which equals to attracting lots of money. china is about to make bank by hosting olympic games. what would bother me is the use of that money -- money that you and i bring china by watching the games (and all the commerials). do i want it to be spent to keep china powerful, so that it keeps discriminating uyghur, tibet, dungan and other non-Han-chinese people residing in its territory? or perhaps, keep all those corporations, who use cheap chinese labor and do not care about medical, retirement and other simple benifits, happy?

I guess those who are protesting answered the above questions negatively. :) that is why they are protesting. if all these protests will make chinese state and all those corporations, who do not give two hoots to human rights, aware that that what they are doing is not always correct -- will be a great accomplishment in itself. IMO.

[melo]

agree, but also think it is a power issue. we can just speculate that olympic commetee could not deny the application coming from one of the largest economies of today's world.

as for protesting and stuff -- all of us know that olympic games are not so much about the athletes anymore :) apart from countries' boosting themselves by counting the medals their citizens have earned, every single sports event attracts lots of people which equals to attracting lots of money. china is about to make bank by hosting olympic games. what would bother me is the use of that money -- money that you and i bring china by watching the games (and all the commerials). do i want it to be spent to keep china powerful, so that it keeps discriminating uyghur, tibet, dungan and other non-Han-chinese people residing in its territory? or perhaps, keep all those corporations, who use cheap chinese labor and do not care about medical, retirement and other simple benifits, happy?

I guess those who are protesting answered the above questions negatively. :) that is why they are protesting. if all these protests will make chinese state and all those corporations, who do not give two hoots to human rights, aware that that what they are doing is not always correct -- will be a great accomplishment in itself. IMO.

So where is your happy and free land that should host the olympics? :D Just pick a country that picks on people with less of a voice. :?

[MUHLIS]

SIz aytayotgan Sharqiy Turkistonga siyosiy mustaqillik bergani bilan ham xech narsa o'zgarmaydi. Har tomonlama Xitoy bilan bog'lik, tarihdan shunday bo'lib kelgan. Bir to'da vahobiylar bechoralarning qo'ynini puch yong'oqqa to'ldiryapti holos.

[melo]

i can name several countries that don't do things that China does TODAY (not a century ago, or not like during the WWI or WWII. we are talking about today). we can make a list of countries and check and uncheck the ones that do not shoot the farmers, hakers, rebels, nationalists etc. And if at least these extra-brutal things are not done in the country, then maybe we can just go ahead and let them host the olympics. why should the country that cannot provide simple human rights for its citizens, be allowed to host the games and make so much money out of it? just because they are almost a world power, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want.

i am sure people around the world and even in US would protest, if US hosted olympics this year. Cause some of the things above apply for this country as well.

Let's put this list out there and criticize it. :D I almost guarantee nobody in the US or the media would mention anything if the US hosted the olympics. ;)

[Frida]

So where is your happy and free land that should host the olympics? :D Just pick a country that picks on people with less of a voice. :?

i can name several countries that don't do things that China does TODAY (not a century ago, or not like during the WWI or WWII. we are talking about today). we can make a list of countries and check and uncheck the ones that do not shoot the farmers, hakers, rebels, nationalists etc. And if at least these extra-brutal things are not done in the country, then maybe we can just go ahead and let them host the olympics. why should the country that cannot provide simple human rights for its citizens, be allowed to host the games and make so much money out of it? just because they are almost a world power, doesn't mean they can do whatever they want.

people do not have a choice, they are not given a right to vote in which country the olympic games are hosted. so they can only protest (or cheer) to show their attitude to the decisions that are made above. and we should be thankful, that they at least have a right to show what they think about it. maybe it will make various commetees to make better choices next time.

PS. i am sure people around the world and even in US would protest, if US hosted olympics this year. Cause some of the things above apply for this country as well. and it would a right thing to do.

[Frida]

the main point of above post was == lets not to be too picky now. and not start digging up tiny bity things. the idea is -- choose the country which at least doesn't kill/torture its own people just because their opinion do not coincide with state's "national policy" or do want to obey to state's "assimilatory policy". that was the point.

[melo]

the main point of above post was == lets not to be too picky now. and not start digging up tiny bity things. the idea is -- choose the country which at least doesn't kill/torture its own people just because their opinion do not coincide with state's "national policy" or do want to obey to state's "assimilatory policy". that was the point.

The problem is that it is all about who you ask. ;) It does not seem to bother all of these countries the rest of the time. :lol: Only when the olympics comes. I don't think any of this started in 2008. The Chinese have tried poisoning American kids toys and lots of food sent to the US. But the Olympics- now there is something we need to stand up for. :D

[Frida]

The problem is that it is all about who you ask. ;) It does not seem to bother all of these countries the rest of the time. :lol: Only when the olympics comes. I don't think any of this started in 2008. The Chinese have tried poisoning American kids toys and lots of food sent to the US. But the Olympics- now there is something we need to stand up for. :D

i guess that it the only time you can actually show your point. apparently, you (i mean US) cannot boycott chinese goods, in that case you go naked :), and "i do not know why, but i just need it"-type-of-crap-less. :)

anyhow, i am just saying that protesting is good. i am not sure if boycotting is good, cause it is about athletes and they spend all their time preparing for these games. for some of them this could be only olympics, so no need to ruin their carrier. i am not Hillary's fan, but she made a good point -- US politicians, especially president should not show any enthusiasm about these games. and not even show up for the opening ceremony. that would be in a way a political boycott, and let the athletes be...

[SAMARKANDI!]

oppresion is everywhere :rolleyes: where is this oppression free land that you plan on having the olympics? :lol:

Iraq, or Palastine, or Uzbekistan ..Afganistan, ...:D

p.s. You go by less oppressive, China is one of the most oppressive :)

[PainKiller]

I met bunch of protesters yesterday. Some were dissapointed, some seemed like they didn't care. One guy I know carried the torch. He said the protesters were so angry, that seemed like they did not hate the Chinese goverment, but those San Franciscans who were carrying the torch. He said he was scared someone would smack him.:lol::lol:

[melo]

i guess that it the only time you can actually show your point. apparently, you (i mean US) cannot boycott chinese goods, in that case you go naked :), and "i do not know why, but i just need it"-type-of-crap-less. :)

anyhow, i am just saying that protesting is good. i am not sure if boycotting is good, cause it is about athletes and they spend all their time preparing for these games. for some of them this could be only olympics, so no need to ruin their carrier. i am not Hillary's fan, but she made a good point -- US politicians, especially president should not show any enthusiasm about these games. and not even show up for the opening ceremony. that would be in a way a political boycott, and let the athletes be...

Who needs all the loser politicians anyways. This has nothing to do with them. They should never be there. :?

[noodles]

on topic:

http://www.inpic.ru/pic/708-eac6e820.jpg

[anatoliydaev]

When Godwin's law goes wrong...


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2403957312_247d108ea9.jpg?v=1207942013

[melo]

A girl I went to college with will play basketball for Russia even though she has nothing to do with Russia (she plays there in her offseason I guess). I guess it is some sort of mini contraversy here in the US because she is a traitor. :lol:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=8307360&ch=207399&src=sports