The Olympics and Tibet
 

This is becoming a big news item in Australia and across the world. Yesterday, the torch lighting ceremony was disrupted by protestors on behalf of the people of Tibet causing embarrassment to the Chinese delgates who were speaking at the time.

If these protests continue through the length of the torch journey - the longest in the history of the Olympics - will it be enough to force the issue of Tibet within the Chinese government? Will it be enough to unite athletes against the Chinese governments policy regarding Tibet?

Who will boycot these games?

I don't have cable, so I will be boycotting them by default.

We get the Olympic telecast on free to air over here. 300 hours worth.

It's not really fair that only cable users can see the worlds greatest athletes in action...unless you're not interested I suppose.

Don't boycott the Olympics. For the Chinese, I think embarrassment should be enough. During the Olympics, every five minutes all conversation should be about Tibet, like clockwork.

It is possible that we get it free somehow, here, too. I refuse to try to get any television reception, however and persist in using "I don't have cable" as an excuse for being the most out of touch human on the planet.

Oh right, so it's not just the Olympics then Case? ;)

cat killers. freedom killers. culture killers. just killers.

boycott, I say!

We're a little worried here, as we are providing 200-400 local children to form the Chinese Olympic symbol when seen from above at the end of the Torch Run through the London boroughs hosting the games in 2012. Not that we believe that any demonstration would harm the children, just that parents might keep them away after watching the news.

It would be a shame - it's a big thing to have been involved in the Olympics, however tenuous the connection.

Personally I think the whole issue of human rights should have been thought through more carefully before the Olympic committee awarded the games to China - it's a little late to worry about it now. I do sincerely hope that with the eyes of the world trained on them, some pressure can be brought to bear on the Chinese Govt. However with such a huge and relatively insular country to administer I would suggest they don't really have to listen to anyone.

I think the selection of China was an optimistic choice, a way of recognizing China's moves toward being more open and free, and perhaps a way of prompting them to continue down that road.

But the committee didn't realize how deeply rooted the Chinese instinct is to impose control and secrecy when they perceive a threat. Rather than the Olympics being an impetus to discuss peace-making options with Tibet, they became an internal justification for squashing anything that subverted the face China wishes to show the world.

After this, China will be bitter and defensive towards the world community, and withdraw further into their own fucked-upedness.

I am boycotting the commercials. :D

I don't think the Olympics participation or non-participation should be used as a political tool.

I think Olympians should go back to nude competition. Then I'd watch.

Good God you are on to something. Think of the womens gymnastics competition.... Ok, I'm in.

:fumette:

Except the women are all 12. Not cool. Now if you bring back the girls from the 2000 olympics for your nude competition then you're on to something.