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Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 7th April 2008 |
If you are talking about the Olympic torch, Fledermaus, I think it's in danger of being doused out rather than flaming London smokers' ciggies.
Mia  |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 7th April 2008 |
Hi Mia. Yes, it's about the Olympic torch. I don't exactly see what's so funny about carrying a fire from Athens to Beijing, around the world and back to Beijing again (mainly by airplane), nor why those people want to protest against it. As far as I could judge from the photographs, the man arrested seemed neither Han, nor Tibetan. Moreover, what did he think to achieve? BBC calls it a "chaos", Xinhua "sabotage". I think it doesn't do anyone any good what happened in London.
The Olympics are about sports and nothing else. So I think politicians and protesters should not meddle with it and just leave it to the athletes. |
Written by Josie (2496 comments posted) 7th April 2008 |
| Well said Fledermaus. You brought the point home simply and briefly. Well done! |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 7th April 2008 |
Thanks Josie. It often surprises me how self-declared 'peaceful protesters' turn out to be aggressive rioters. Who do they think they're fooling? Such a pity for all those thousands of Londoners (and Parisians) that must have come to celebrate the event. Imagine being an innocent Londoner wanting to go and see it for yourself... This symbol of sportmanship being carried through London by famous athletes. And then there are those hooligans disrupting it  |
after a discussion I've heard...
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 8th April 2008 |
just today on the topic, I don't know what to think. I agree this is about the athletes and sports, let's not abuse it. And yet, the grief-stricken Tibetans (or their supporters who feel strongly about them) may see no other way of bringing international attention to their plight. If they protested peacefully like gentlemen, would they get the attention they are receiving now? Is it helping the Tibetans? I think I do understand their desperation... Like I say, I don't know what to think.
We will have to wait and see how this unfolds...
Mia  |
Hi again Mia
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 9th April 2008 |
Thanks Mia. I don't know enough about Tibet to have an opinion on what happened over there. Yet what I see on the news (BBC mainly) are pictures of people in London and Paris causing a lot of trouble. Those athletes have nothing to do with politics... I really do think people should treat the Olympics as a sports festival and nothing else. Besides,how do these protesters think people will react if photographs of them attacking those athletes (including a girl in a wheelchair) go all over the world?
One interesting thing about it though is to see how different media treat things. Xinhua provides a totally different image than the BBC and the BBC again is totally different from the Dutch media.
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Written by Phil (6387 comments posted) 10th April 2008 |
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the issues involving Tibet, Dafur [sp?], human rights, executions etc - the modern Olympics are not just about sport. The fortnight we get in June or whenever is just a brief window of competition in four years of political wrangling and diplomacy. Weren't the Olympics given to China on partly political grounds in the first place? The only reason Brown won't come right out (like the French chap I can't spell) and boycott the torch and opening ceremony is because he knows the UK's recent adventures in Iraq could come back to bite him on the backside when it's our turn in 2012.
No politics the Olympics? Far from it.
Phil |
Phil has a point
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 10th April 2008 |
To add my thoughts... For the hosting city/country, Olympics is far more than sports. It is about showcasing their city/nation to the world. It accompanies enormous amount of national pride, prestige and the reaping of economic benefits afterwards from the international exposure. (eg. increased tourism, trade etc) So the hosting country perhaps has to be prepared to have their wrongs pointed out to them beyond just the adequate sporting facilities, air quality and transport etc. Since human rights issue is more important than any of those things, perhaps those protesters' voices must be heard. (But as far as I can see, Tibetans don't seem to suffer greater human rights abuse in China than Phalon Gongs or the Christians... Not that I know too much about it...)
Mia - you are making me think too hard.... |
Written by coosh (822 comments posted) 11th April 2008 |
As regards your piece, it conjured up a nice image. You can't separate sport from politics (particularly the Olympics), whether it's the USSR, US, China, etc. Disrupting the passage of the Olympic torch is the perfect way to try and embarrass the Chinese and focus on the issue of their human rights - after all, the Chinese themselves are simply using the Games for self-publicity and political propaganda.
Pure sport in terms of the Olympics is questionable - it was supposed to be amateur, but the Russian athletes always trained full-time in the army (plus there were those gorgeous male cum female shot-putters), the US athletes trained full-time at University... drug-taking has so far no doubt only skimmed the surface of the problem - fair and honest competition went out the window some time ago. |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 11th April 2008 |
Thanks Coosh, Phil and Mia.
I must admit I am biased, as I am looking forward to great 2008 Olympics (wanted to buy one of those cute mascots, but they are quite expensive).
indeed for a host country it involves a lot of publicity, and they should not be surprised if journalists report on the less glamorous parts, yet somehow it seems strange to do all this political stuff over the heads of the athletes and the Olympic comittee.
It does provide an interesting view on how biased the media on both sides are though and how easily people can be influenced, for what news do these protesters have about Tibet that we did not get on the regular news channels?
The point made by Phil about Iraq is an interesting one too btw. Perhaps Mr. Rogge is already seeing a gloomy scenarion of anti-British protests in 2012? I surely hope not...
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torch in paris
Written by robokent (84 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
F,
Interesting comments on your piece here. I just saw it, and I thought I'd throw in my two cents. Here's a link to a story I posted on another site regarding the flame: http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/r_kent/2008/04/the-olympic-fla.html.
It's my unique perspective from here in Paris.
RK |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 15th April 2008 |
Hi RK.
Interesting account. I take it that you are one of the people who just went there out of curiosity and were surprised by the numbers of both protesters and police?
Personally I think the way in which the protesters behaved (for as far as I can judge from the BBC's coverage) is a disgrace. Who is benefiting from their actions? The UK and France lost face, relationships with the PRC probably deteriorate, and they ruined the chances of dialogue and mutual understanding... |
disgrace
Written by robokent (84 comments posted) 16th April 2008 |
F,
Yes, I had gone out to see the flame, having worked on it the last three OTRs.
I think "disgrace" is a bit harsh a word. I've been on the inside of this whole Olympic business, and while I got into it for the love of sport and the potential for healthy cultural exchange, I saw that the majority of the people who are the leaders of the IOC really are only in it for the money, and the sponsors who pay millions for the right to put their logo next to that of the Olympic rings expect profits at all costs. Giving the Games to China was a money move from the get-go, unfortunately.
It'd be nice to think the Games are all about healthy, competitive sport between nations, but it's just not that way. The protesters may have gone over the line in some instances in the UK and France (and in San Francisco), but the vast majority were peaceful and merely exercising their right to free speech.
All that being said, I hope the London Games will be a success for all involved.
Anyway, that's my take.
RK |
Written by beatricelouise (202 comments posted) 21st April 2008 |
I don't have a clue about the why's and how come's. All I know is that the Olympics will be taking place in Canada in 2010 and this past event has put a little fear into me.
Why can't there be peace in the sport world? So many work their hearts out to compete, and be part of this grand competition. Why is it not that way, RK? Why are the leaders of the IOC in it just for the money? If I believed this with all my heart, I wouldn't bother watching the sham. |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 22nd April 2008 |
Thanks Beatricelouise and thanks again RK.
RK - I don't think "disgrace" is too harsh a word. Many people will remember how Jin Jing was treated even when all gold metals and broken records are forgotten. And although I do think this was a cowardish act of a single man, it seems Sarkozy once again behaved like a bull in a china shop in his reactions. It'd be a shame if instead of bringing people together, they are actually driven apart because of all this.
What you say about the Olympics is probably right, so much became clear in Atlanta, but with Athens I was hoping things were going in the right direction again...
Beatrice - I think all countries hosting future Olympics should be worried. No doubt when Canada hosts them people will start shouting over seals and deforestation...  |
Written by mia_ms_kim (891 comments posted) 24th April 2008 |
You will be happy to know, Fledermaus, the Olympic torch did it round safely in oz, Canberra. Actually thousands of Chinese people poured into the oz capital from all states by the busloads (mostly students), outnumbering the Tibetian protesters 100 to 1, basically overwhelming them(and physically intimidating them in some instances.) There was a little scufffle here and there, but really nothing serious. I felt sorry for the Tibetian supporters. Frankly it showed me the power of sheer numbers.
Mia |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 24th April 2008 |
Hi Mia. You keep coming back to this piece eh 
I'm glad that in Australia it seemed to go more smoothly than in Europe, although it's of course a pity that your politicians had to threaten first and that the One-China protesters had to come to "defend" rather than to "celebrate" the flame. It should be a party, not a shouting contest.
I wonder if the 'Tibetan' protesters in Europe had realized what reaction they would unleash. Let's just hope everyone calms down before the Games really begin. |
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