Torch Relay

I was reading the Wall Street Journal at HK airport on Wednesday, specifically a report about US athletes making pathetic comments about the games, human rights, boycotts, etc. The sad fact is that for various reasons (trade, diplomacy, hunger for sporting glory) we will kiss ass. Also, like the Chinese government, 'Western' governments are hypocrites when it comes to human rights (especially post 9/11 - just take a trip to Belmarsh nick if you can't fly to Cuba).

Yes, the Olympics are a great time to put pressure on authorities - think of 1968 in Mexico (the Tlatelolco Massacre of students demonstrating for political reform) or 1988 in Seoul (it's run-up saw the dictator President Chun ousted).

In the current climate, there is a combination of biased media on both sides, strong nationalism and no small degree of insecurity - as well as dollops of hypocrisy - the latter which the Chinese are especially smarting over (think Opium Wars, Nanjing, etc).

But I guess what I find very disappointing is the seeming lack of spirit amongst the athletes - if the Olympics are about:

"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

(Olympic Charter, Fundamental principles, paragraph 2)

Then how can they NOT be about human rights? Where is the spirit of '68 that drove John Carlos, Tommie Smith & Peter Norman?

Awarding the Olympics to China was OK. Boycotting will probably make things worse (wounding a nationalistic country's pride will only raise the temperature and persist in the collective memory), but China needs to be reminded of the 'promises' it made (what's a promise? When is it binding? Aah, interesting questions...)

I wonder how many people realise that the Torch Relay was introduced by the Nazi's at the Berlin Olympics in 1936?

Anyway, the show (proper) hasn't started yet. Still time for people to take a stand - on all sides (let's not presume who is right, just yet...we may find that everybody/nobody is 'right', given the history, memory, complexity, fluidity, etc)