Awarding the Olympics to Beijing: A Mistake that Keeps on Giving

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'The Olympic Torch' [Guardian Unlimited, U.K.]

Nederlands Dagblad, The Netherlands

Awarding the Olympics to Beijing: A Mistake that Keeps on Giving

"When the IOC chose Beijing in 2001, although there were muted protests, most lights were green. … Hadn’t awarding the 1988 Olympics to Seoul resulted in the rapid democratization of South Korea? Such wishful thinking has now given way to the harsh reality. … Chinese leaders have decided that capitalism and dictatorship make an excellent pair."

EDITORIAL

Translated By Jan de Nijs

April 9, 2008

The Netherlands - Nederlands Dagblad - Original Article (Dutch)

German runner Siegfried Eifrig lights the Olympic flame at the end of the 1936 torch relay, Aug. 1, 1936.
U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES VIDEO: Hitler welcomes the Olympic Flame, Aug. 1, 1936, 00:01:45

In 1936, the world discovered how dictatorial regimes can make political mileage out of organizing the Olympic Games. Even today, the muscular blond men in the movie Olympia (1938), a propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl, present a perfect illustration of this point. Adolf Hitler exploited sports to further his racist ideology. Since then, the Olympic Movement has zealously fought to protect the Games from being politicized. This despite the fisticuffs in Mexico in 1968 , the terror in Munich in 1972 and the boycott of the Moscow Games in 1980.

[Editor's Note: The author refers to the "Massacre in Tlatelolco" which took place during the approach of the 1968 Mexico City Games. Students, frustrated over a variety of injustices attributed to the authorities, held major demonstrations on the afternoon and evening of October 2, 1968, ten days before the opening of the Games. Most sources estimate that between 200 and 300 students were shot to death by police and military forces . The 1972 Munich Games saw the kidnapping and murder of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists ].

The turning point came - or so it seemed - with the Los Angeles Olympiad of 1984. Because of the sale of television rights, those Games were such a huge success that ever-after, a boycott no longer seemed possible. And by focusing on large-scale commercialism, former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch managed to overshadow rampant corruption and nepotism, which was then conveniently forgotten.

[Editor's Note: Although the author's point is well-taken, because of the American-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games, the Soviet Union then led boycott of the 1984 Games, which caused 14 Eastern Bloc countries and Cuba and (but not Romania) to boycott the 1984 Olympics ].

With six months to go before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the situation continues unchanged. No country in the world is seriously considering a boycott of the Games. What has changed, however, are some of the surrounding issues.

When the IOC chose Beijing in the summer of 2001, although there were muted protests, most of the lights were green. The Cold War was over. More and more of the world was about to accept free trade. And it couldn’t be otherwise - or so people thought - since democracy would soon follow. Of course, China would use the Beijing Games to showcase its best behavior to the World. And hadn’t awarding the 1988 Olympics to Seoul resulted in the rapid democratization of South Korea? Optimism reigned and there seemed no obvious reason to deny the Olympiad to the world’s most populous country.

Such wishful thinking has now given way to the harsh reality. Over the past decade, Chinese leaders have decided that capitalism and dictatorship make an excellent pair. While growing prosperity means the people are satisfied, the occupation of Tibet, the threats against Taiwan, the persecution of Christians and the torture of dissidents can continue undiminished. Is it all surprising, then, that these groups are now drawing out attention to their situation?

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

Governments may contort themselves to avoid it, but at the grassroots level the protests are growing more vocal. This greatly angers China, which would prefer to see a blanket ban on all demonstrations against the torch which is now making its way to Beijing.

The IOC's pseudo religious rhetoric about the brotherhood of nations doesn't work anymore, because that now equates with siding with the Beijing regime.

There is a real chance that this Friday, the IOC will decide to stop the journey of the torch. But August 8th is still a long way off. If Rogge and his cronies don’t take a more critical stand, both China and the IOC will have to drink the beaker of legitimate dissent down to the very last drop.

[Editor's Note: While there was an annoyed exchange between Rogge and the Beijing Olympic committee about the 2008 Games being in "crisis," the torch relay goes continues].

SEE ALSO:

Nederlands Dagblad, The Netherlands

Awarding the Olympics
to Beijing: The Mistake
that Keeps on Giving ...

http://worldmeets.us/nederlandsdagblad000003.shtml

NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands

'Megalomania': It's
Time to Scale Down
Olympic Torch Relay

http://worldmeets.us/nrchandelsblad000088.shtml

Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, France

The Route of the
Olympic Torch: A
'Way of the Cross'

http://worldmeets.us/dna000019.shtml

Le Figaro, France

The Passage of
the Torch: In a
Word, a 'Fiasco'