Controversial Issues for Olympics
Should the Beijing Olympics Be a Forum for Issues Other Than Sports?
Aug 7, 2008
The International Olympic Committee knew China would be a controversial site for the 2008 Olympic Games. China was passed over for the 2000 Olympic Games in part because of political controversy. However, China has made progress toward resolving controversial issues in recent years. As the home to one fifth of the world's population, the IOC decided it couldn't deny China the Olympic Games any longer.
China Olympic Protests
The Beijing Olympic Games were an opportunity for protesters with numerous agendas to focus international attention on China. The various issues may have had nothing to do with the Olympic Games themselves, but the world wide publicity was too good of an opportunity to pass up. So protesters lined the Olympic torch route around the world to embarrass China on television.
Controversial Issues for the Olympics
The Council on Foreign Relations, which describes itself as "a nonpartisan resource for information and analysis," says "for the Chinese government, the stakes are huge." The CFR notes that "demands for political liberalization, greater autonomy for Tibet, increased pressure on Sudan, better environmental protection, and an improved product-safety record now threaten to put a damper on the country's coming-out party. As the Olympic torch circled the globe with legions of protesters in tow, Beijing's Olympic dream quickly turned into a public-relations nightmare."
Were the Beijing Olympics Affected?
Despite the protests, the Beijing Olympic Games are proceeding right on schedule. All indications are that all athletes plan to compete, billions of people plan to watch and the Olympic games will encourage more investment in China. Was it really a public-relations nightmare for China when the Beijing Olympic Games were not affected?
China Public Relations Boost
China got a public relations boost following the 8.0 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. Aid poured in from all over the world as every day people raised money to rebuild the devastated area. Popular International sports star Yao Ming took an active role in raising money for relief efforts. The fact that China opened up to the world at all was a remarkable change. Previous disasters in China were handled internally and secretly.
Spirit of Olympic Games
The IOC Athletes' Commission released a statement on April 24, 2008 with their stand on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “The Olympic Games are an event that allow athletes from across the globe to show us a world as it can be when people come together peacefully to celebrate their commonality rather than focus on their differences."
Olympic Games Politics
The question raised by the controversy is whether the Olympic Games are a proper venue for political protest just because they are popular. The question itself is controversial. The athletes participating in the Beijing Olympics have been remarkably quiet. The IOC statement goes on to say "there can be no better way to encourage China’s change and celebrate the positive steps already taken, than to engage through sport."
