The Torch

The Olympic torch, supposedly a symbol of peace, is in the UK today... being carried through London.  I find the whole thing anachronistic, how on earth can a sporting event which is supposed to "to symbolise the ability of sport to bring together people from around the world." be awarded to a country that does not uphold those self same principles?  A country that not only occupies and oppresses Tibet, destroying it's culture, raping it's resources and removing it's peoples freedom but subjects it's own citizens to human rights abuse and  oppression?  Matt Whitticase, of the Free Tibet Campaign, said...

We would urge people to pull out on the basis that the torch relay is being used by the Chinese government for propaganda purposes,The Olympic torch is a symbol of peace, and given what has happened in the last few weeks they should be challenged.

The Olympics, like everything I suppose these days says nothing about "peace" and "humanity" and says everything about the almighty dollar... and to suggest that sport and politics should not mix is ludicrous - politics is about everything, everyday lives of everyday people and don't tell me the decision to give the games to China was not political in itself!  Sharon Davies (who notably won silver for the UK in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, despite then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's call for a boycott of the games over the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan) said there shouldn't be any boycotts as ...

The only people it hurts are athletes, who only have one chance every four years to compete at the Olympics.

aaaww didums, the poor athletes... I suppose a medal is more important to them than someone's freedom...  surely the same could have been said by the musicians etc. who boycotted South Africa... but they still had the principles not to go!  Perhaps she should read some of Tom Sine's books!?

Already the Chinese state have begun to silence the dissenting voices... Hu Jia, was only this week jailed for Three and a Half Years (and punished further by a years removal of his political rights (a human rights violation in its own right!) for "inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system" in other words passing on reports of Human rights abuses (religious freedoms and the rights of HIV/Aids sufferers particularly) and environmental destruction to Journalists.  Amnesty International issued a report last week which stated...

The Chinese authorities promised that hosting the Games would improve human rights. But what we have seen is a growing clampdown on activists, lawyers, journalists and protesters - a slow strangulation of dissent ahead of the Olympics.

I would urge Television companies, at least, not to broadcast the opening/closing ceremonies which are notorious as propaganda exercises at the best of times, one can only imagine what use the Chinese regime will make of the opportunity!

rant over ;-)

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Comments

[ron]

Mark, no rant my friend. I couldn't agree more. How China, with the atrocites it has committed against humanity, and the environment...was given the games...completely bloggles the mind.
Oh yah...and then lets add in the cost of the Bejing Olympics coming up later this year...

A Chinese Olympic logistics expert said Thursday that the 29th Olympic Games to be held in Beijing will cost approximately 41.7 billion yuan (about 5 billion US dollars) in logistics services.

The olympics, have grown to something so far beyond a vision of a world of peace, justice...to something of the worst imaginable.

[ron]

Oh Mark, here's somemore stats for you, on Vancouver's 2010 winter olympics...

Some dollar figures re: Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics, some two years hence:

$1.63-billion VANOC operating budget
$580-million Venue construction and renovation budget
$221-million Operating revenue (as of Oct. 31, 2007)
$200-million Operating expenses
$691-million Funds raised through domestic sponsorship by Oct. 31, 2007 (90.5 per cent of its $760-million target)
$6.3-million Funds raised through licensing agreements

Meanwhile, here in Vancouver Poverty, and Homelessness in the city is spiraling out of control.
I wonder how much we could impact the impoverished places of the world by spending that much money. Surely...that would bring the global village a little closer together.