Thanks -- I'll Take a Pass on the Olympic Buzz This Time 'Round
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Can't see the 'ShareThis' icon? Reload your page view by pressing Shift and clicking Refresh at the same time.In what can only be charitably described as its usual self-justifying claptrap, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is now trying a little of its own historical revisionism even before the summer Olympics begins in Beijing.
From saying that it really should limit the Olympic Torch relay because violence can mar the Olympic spirit (and comparing Chinese human rights protests to local protestors in Turin who didn't like a new train) to rambling about Chinese Internet censorship not really being the IOC’s problem, it’s clear that these Olympics will be like no others in recent times.
The IOC alone – no one else – decided in 2001 to hold the Olympics in the most totalitarian state on the planet. Given China's torture and suppression of human rights and dissent, everyone knew that the IOC's decision was an abomination.
And now, to top it off, the Chinese communist government can’t even deliver clean air or at least breathable stuff that isn’t brown and polluted.
Unlike the unbridled enthusiasm and excitement over Athens or Sydney the last couple of times, ever wonder why there's so little buzz from average people about these Beijing Olympics?
It’s because the rest of us have already done what the imperious, pompous asses that run the IOC didn’t have the courage to do the first time around. We’ve simply turned off Beijing. And for good reason.
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I agree!
I agree with every word you have said John. As a family, we will not be watching this round of Olympics.
The main reason; the athletes should not have been questioned about whether they should boycott the games. Rather, it should have been without question, the media that boycotted the games. This action would have sent two very strong messages. First, to the IOC for their very polictical and idiotic decision to go have the games in China. Secondly, it would have sent the sponsors packing knowing their product label would not be in every media shot. Regardless, the athletes could have still competed in the sport they trained so very hard for.
This decision would not likely have happened had the IOC had their wits about them and voted in Dick Pound instead of this idiot Jaques Rogue!
did i miss something?
whats going on in bejing??? is it something i should know or care about? i forget!!!
I don't understand
I don't understand why so many feel the need to bash the Chinese. China is our "host" for the Olympics. Which means we are their guests. What type of guest complains about the conditions before even arriving and demands changes before arriving. Sure China has done some horrible things in the past but it's not like Canada or the U.S. have spotless human rights records. China is now the most powerful country in the world. I think it is a fantastic place with wonderful, peaceful, patriotic and hardworking people. It is a place I plan on visiting several more times through out my life. I think we should respect their culture while we are there and follow their rules. Just because they are different than ours here, doesn't give us the right to dispute them. Would we change our laws for them if they demand change before the games in 2010. I think we all know the answer to that.
rebuttal
yes the people are wonderful, peaceful, patriotic and hardworking because if they are not they are shot and their familly sent the bill for the bullet.
Hill3, Who are you to make
Hill3,
Who are you to make such an unresponsible conclusion? Are you a journalist who has been in China for all the past 20 years? Or are you simply a Chinese who has been tortured by the notorious Chinese Communist Party? Chinese people are not as foolist as you are, they are smart enough to survive 5000 years of history to turn their life around at every corner. I have been to China so many times in the last decade, and I can tell you the people there are more wise, peaceful, hardworking than any other country. The reason is simple, they have hope and dream. The average chinese are also frustrated by the corrupting government, by press monoply at certain level, but they are also aware of the changing of the government. The Chinese government has been improving their image by listening to the world more often. Look at their efficient rescue at the devastating earthquake, I doubt any country can deliever such a quick relief to more than 100 million people.
The 5000 years of history is not simply the inventions of paper, firework and compass, but generated great philosophy of coping with reality. Being left out from this great Olympic, ignoring the rising power of China, will only leave Canada out of the power stage of next generation. Wake up, canadian politicians.
Huh?
you wrote: "Would we change our laws for them if they demand change before the games in 2010. I think we all know the answer to that."
Huh? we have changed many laws for our "guests". I think you don't know the answer to that. And I don't think people are bashing Chinese so much as bashing China and the communist regime.
the IOC politicized the games. It's time to rethink why Canada bothers to participate. It is becoming obvious the athletes are there for themselves and not to "Represent" Canada.
I would have respected them more if they had chosen not to go themselves, rather than our Gov't choose to boycott. Now I am starting to question why tax dollars are being used for that purpose. Athletic Welfare?
And I wonder how much $ worth of "perks" (read: bribes) the IOC received for their decision.
agreed
I think the poster above me should win an award for naivety. I don't even know where to start tearing your comments apart, so I'm going to just walk away. Just wanted to comment that another factor taking some buzz away from these games, in Canada anyway, is the fast approaching 2010 games that I think we are all starting to get excited about. Makes it a little harder to be excited for olympics on the other side of the world. I'll be checking the sportscentre highlights, and that's about it. Go Riders!
Always way over the top!
As ALWAYS, Gormley is right over the top. We all agree that China's human rights record is abysmal, but "..the most totalitarian state on the planet"? He must have been living under a rock for the last 5 years -- Myanmar, several African countries, several former Soviet states, several theocratic states. As for the atmospheric conditions for the games, the only reason our air is any better is because we have so few people in such a large area -- a luxury the Chinese do not have. The air pollution per person that we exude far exceeds that of China -- ever hear of smog alerts in Toronto? Get the unmelted butter out of your mouth John.
This is not an apology for the Chinese, but China is hardly a rogue state. China is poised to be a, if not "the", global player in the next generation, and if we ignore that, or attempt to marginalize them by playing "silly buggers" over the Olympics, we will do so at our peril.
Olympics
Shame on you John!
After watching a family member struggle and sacrifice to get to the Olympics for YEARS, I am personally insulted that you would so callously cast off the importance of the Olympics just because of the locale this year. This is a huge event that deserves more respect than you are willing to give most things good in our lives. Yes, I will be watching my nephew at the Olympics come Friday morning. Would you still "boycott" watching the games if one of the "family" at the station was participating?
Family?
yes, I would.
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