Another reason to boycott the 2008 Olympic Games

[drunken monkey]

It's a few weeks old but this article highlights just how much is wrong with China holding the Olympic games.

From the New York Times

[Damien]

Right, it's old. They did an interview of Chinese atheltes a very good while ago and they said all this. Still see no reason to boycott the games. Just let them be.

Unless people are going to be productive and have reason to boycott then what's the point? Just don't watch and there ya go. Other countries are other countries.

[MagicRat]

Just let the Olympics be. Boycotting them is counter - productive to the spirit of the games.

I am sure EVERY country on earth could find a reason to boycott EVERY Olympic games event if they wanted to, and then where would we be?

Th Olympics are a high profile step towards greater international cooperation which is important for all mankind.

Personally, I do not give a hoot about the nationality of the winners; and the way nations count their medals and gloat over victories is disgusting. Celebrate the individual winners, and not their nationality!!

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Just let the Olympics be. Boycotting them is counter - productive to the spirit of the games.

I am sure EVERY country on earth could find a reason to boycott EVERY Olympic games event if they wanted to, and then where would we be?

Th Olympics are a high profile step towards greater international cooperation which is important for all mankind.

Personally, I do not give a hoot about the nationality of the winners; and the way nations count their medals and gloat over victories is disgusting. Celebrate the individual winners, and not their nationality!!

This event should be about the athletes, sportsmanship, and the national pride of the participants (and their fans). The problems of any individual country are not a reason to boycott these games, an event designed for peaceful competition between nations.

[drunken monkey]

But don't you see an issue with China even getting the games in the first place?
That is the thing that I don't agree with.
Yes the games are still about the athletes and their performances but when it's against this sort of backdrop, don't you think something has to be done/said?

The long standing argument has always been that China hasn't even made steps to begin dealing with their problems so why were they awarded with the hosting of the games? It isn't just because China has issues that is the problem; it is that they were even considered that is part of the problem.

[Damien]

Awarded? W/e...why is Utah Awarded?

Germany had them around WWII. It happens. Once again, you can always find something wrong with any country and ask, "how come they got them!?"

Let'em be and root for your team/country

[drunken monkey]

so are you saying that it doesn't matter, that it shouldn't matter or that you simply don't care?

[Damien]

D, as usual. All of thee above. It doesn't matter because, well why should it? Who's opinion is yours to validate as the only and most important? It shouln't matter in the sense of perspective. Just root for who you want to win and let it be.

From a zealous person then yes, everyone is wrong, they are wrong, and gosh darn it they need to not host the Olympics while, according to some Americans, Bush is an idiot making America a worl police and actually terrorizes more than helps countries.

I don't care because what the heck is boycotting going to do besides punish me because I refuse to watch the events I like. Plus, seriously, what woul it do? Bringing me back the fact it doesn't matter. It's a whole circle of life kinda thing.

Yes China is crazy and they have issues but so do a lot of other places including America where we let guys have several wifes but can't allow a couple of homosexuals to get married. OPPRESSION!!!

[Gohan Ryu]

The 1980 boycott of the Moscow games did absolutely nothing towards getting the Soviets out of Afghanistan. All it did was shatter the dreams of several hundred Olympic atheletes who spent most of their childhood training for their events. Those kids trained 10 hours a day...they sacrificed friends, fun, and having a normal life because they had dreams of being an Olympian. They were the only ones who suffered because of that boycott. The Soviets had their games, and because of lack of participation from competetive countries, the Soviets took home more gold medals than they should have.

[drunken monkey]

and the point is still the same and still for both the past soviet games and the up and coming china games; they shouldn't be hosting it.

The Olympics are supposed to represent something. At its simplest it is about being the best a person can be in whatever they do. It is about the celebration of human endevours and achievements. Giving it to a country that doesn't deserve it should not happen according to Olympic ideals.

"Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal"

Does China really qualify?

[Damien]

Does America with all the cheating atheletes? Gosh this is so pointless. You're too blinded to realize that evil/sin/bad exists everywhere so who is suppose to be right here? Right now apparently the world is so screwed and bad off the Olympics shouldn't exist except in Bragelina 's backyard. I'm sure it's almost big enough.

[drunken monkey]

And where did I deny that everywhere has bad?

I am talking purely about the hosting of the games, not whether of not it is country that does bad things.
Is China more fitting than any of the other bidders at the time?
Why not Canada or Japan or France?

If you are to call me blind, then I can only say the same about you who cannot see the difference between the things that China does and the things that other countries do. For a start, this discussion probably would not even have the chance to take place openly. Does a country that has questionable human rights,no free press, massively corrupt government etc etc fit the bill along the lines of
"Building a Peaceful and Better World".

The only reason I can see for them being awarded the games is because of the ever increasing economic power and as far as I can remember, that isn't part of the Olympic selection criteria.

[Damien]

See, you still don't get it though. Because we're a lesser of two evils so-to-speak that makes it alright for us to host it but not them? You say you don't deny everywhere is ba but taking this from a religious point of view and not human law, sin is sin. I know we as human beings have misdemeanors and felonies etc, but never the less a bad deed is a bad deed, especially basing on your criteria. Maybe China is just more public about their deeds.

The simply idea of this is that you say China is bad because of what they do. We may or may not equally be as bad but because it's not so public, we're allowed to host the games.

Your arguement has no solid base of truth or perspective other than simply trying to turn something around. I'm blind? How's that even make sense? I never said "Hail China" I just said your argument that China is bad and everywhere else is squeky clean like Heaven's streets is absurd an choosing a lesser of two evils once again makes no sense, which was your comeback now.

Make up your bad. Either we're all bad and the world doesn't deserve the Olympics therefore no choosing the lesser of two evils or China is Hell and everywhere reigns high above being supreme beings. Which is it?

Also, based on what the Olympics originally was, there is hardly a problem with China hosting them. You want to talk about statistics and the right down intot he dirt details of everything.

[drunken monkey]

And when did I say that my issue with China having the games was purely because of its good/bad actions compared to the rest of the world?

The original link was about how athletes are trained in China.
How does that fit in with:
"Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal"?
How does forcibly demolishing the homes of people who do not want to move fit in with:
"Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal"

My main issue is that I am talking about the hypocrisy involved with the giving of the games to China.
The "boycott" is as much an attack on the Olympic commitee as well as China. As I said before, this is about the suitablity of China as a host in light of its actions before the selection, during the selection and now. That is why the link I chose to post was a sport related one because it is the most recent sport related one highlighting the poor choice of China as a host for the Olympics.

By your rationale, you have no issue with North Korea hosting the games?
Zimbabwe?
Sudan?

I say you are also blind because according to you, all bad is bad. One example you cite is that cheating athetes in the US is just cause for the US to not host the Olympics. That suggests you see the wrongs of individuals (drug taking athletes in particular) as being the same as a government/country who coerces and extorts its own people.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

By your rationale, you have no issue with North Korea hosting the games?

Wow, now that would be progressive. Imagine if N Korea had a sudden influx of millions of foreigners along with the attendant world wide media attention?

The Chinese will be permantly affected in a positive way by hosting the Olympics. One example is that the government has gone out of it's way to clean up pollution for the duration of the games and that alone will have a long term impact as the people ask if we can do it for the games, why can't we do it for us?