The Olympic Games are supposed to support competition and cooperation. Now though, the Olympics are influenced by commercialism and politics, skewing the intended spirit of the games.
This is made evident by the International Olympic Committee’s choice of Beijing as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The decision was made Thursday; Beijing won in a landslide vote. Paris and Toronto were runners-up, but still fell short by a significant margin.
Justifying its choice, the IOC said the world’s most populous country, with 1.3 billion residents, should host the world’s most widely regarded sporting event.
Everyone involved with the Games remains optimistic, but it has not been an easy sell.
Supporters argue the Games will bring attention to China’s human rights violations and encourage change; it will open the door to the rest of the world.
The thing is, we shouldn’t be using the Olympics to attempt to change a country that doesn’t deserve the Games in the first place.
As it happened, Toronto and Paris failed to grab the position for their own reasons.
Holding the games in Paris would mean Europe would host three Olympics in a row after Athens, Greece, in 2004 and Turin, Italy, in 2006.
After Mayor Mel Lastman’s xenophobic comments about Africa, Toronto might as well have eliminated itself from consideration. Lastman remarked, “I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me.”
Left was Beijing, the capital of a country that suppresses freedom of speech, punishes religious minorities and executes those who steal gas (according to Amnesty International).
China crushes the freedom of more people than any other country in the world. Its regime has lasted for many years and it is ridiculous to think the Olympics will change that.
Of course, Beijing will clean itself up for the cameras during the summer of 2008. Pollution will be reduced and businesses will profit.
Overall, this will not benefit the people of China. They will not be dragged out of their poverty and oppression because of the Games.
An elite few will reap the monetary rewards, but the populace will go unchanged.
While ignoring China’s bid may not have come as a huge blow to the People’s Republic, choosing it implies its human rights violations should be ignored. China just has a bad track record, so to speak.
The Olympics have become a status symbol for hosting countries. The Games bring worldwide attention and great public relations. China could certainly use an image boost, but that’s not what the Olympics are for.
If the Olympics stand for something, the IOC should prove it and award the games to countries that can prove their merit.
Nevertheless, the decision has been made, and we can only hope for the best. In 2008, thousands of journalists will flood Beijing, and they will be looking for more than just sports stars.
Perhaps we can convert China without its realization, one McDonald’s at a time.
