Beijing Olympic Ordeals

However, in this years jamboree of supposedly amateur sport, the controversy and accusations are more serious. Heavy pollution, which refuses to go away, human rights issues, a clamp down on security and now an admission that the media will not be able to access some websites.

Amnesty International did themselves no favors by coming out with a report claiming the Chinese Governments human rights have been worse than ever during the run up to the event itself. The retort has been that things are much better for everyone in China now they have more money. It’s a regular series of charges and counter charges.

China has had a challengeable human rights record for as long as I can remember so nothing has changed and maybe it never will. There is pollution. Yes, but the authorities say it will be fine in August. I know from experience that the dust and smog which affects Beijing doesn’t go away.

Equally, previous announcements that the media will be able to access any website and will have full access to the internet have proved to be totally untrue. The statement this week that indeed there would be restrictions on media internet use from the communications spokesman, suggest a deal was cut some time ago. Interestingly, whilst attempts to reach certain political sites from the media room were yesterday unsuccessful and took some time for “Page Not Available” to appear, the official China Government Olympic site sprung up immediately.

For anyone who is familiar with China, any of these facts are of no surprise. The country has been operated this way for years, and for IOC who gave the Olympics to Beijing, the only conclusion is that those who made the decision did so out of naivety or there were political and financial influences.

When the runners start running and the field athletes begin to make their own history, all the accusations, arguments and controversies will be forgotten, as they always are. The good aspect of the Olympics is that outside of the political arena, the Games are still mostly concerned with who can run the fastest, who can jump the highest and who can get over that finishing line first.