It’s very popular to politicize the Olympics coming to Beijing one year from today, but I think many people are forgetting what the games are all about, which of course is the athletes. I am not standing up for China’s human rights record nor am I a fan of China’s current political regime but I think the games are bigger than my personal political bias.
I think its only fair China receive a healthy serving of criticism on its human rights record as it is also using the games to further its claims on Tibet and Taiwan. The Communist Party would be naïve not to expect some blow back from trying to politicize the games and it also needs to remember the true spirit of the Olympics.
The Chinese authorities have done themselves no favors by detaining protesters and journalists this week, and this sort of behavior should not be tolerated -- but let’s not start talking about a boycott just yet. I want to see world class athletes competing not protesters clashing with police. Congress person Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California is putting forward a motion for the U.S. to boycott the Olympics over the atrocities being committed in Darfur. Besides the hypocrisy of the motion I think Ms. Waters has forgotten what the Olympics are about. They are about running faster than the other person, and jumping farther, and personal challenge. They are about training and commitment. The games are about personal sacrifice and human beings pushing their bodies to extremes in the hope of athletic excellence. They are about fair play on the field, not the political arena. I didn't agree with the U.S. boycotting the games in Moscow and I didn't agree with the Soviet Union boycotting the '84 Olympics in L.A.
I will never defend China’s record of human rights violations and suppression of personal rights and freedoms. I don’t subscribe to the Communist Party’s philosophy or strong arm tactics and never will. But, I do believe in the brotherhood of sport. This is an event that can bring us together as planet, as a species, as human beings. While I do believe there is room for freedom of speech and political views during the games I think we should also not lose sight of the spirit of the games, and that spirit lies with the athletes.
