China and the Olympics

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Can't abide the games nor the Chinese government. I predict China will split itself up within the next 50 years.

Yes, people should be able to protest no matter what.

Correct.

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

hmmmmm. Not like a lefty to bring up the war again. Move on mate, the majority of us have.

Lets enjoy sport for the sport, i will and i'll do it with a clear conscience. If you want to ruin it for yourself go ahead. It's probably because you didn't play well with other children.

Also global warming is a sham hippy.

Nor a righty to ignore the majority, eh?

Just saw the opening ceremony it was spectacular, those Chinese know how to throw a party

What a shame that the games don't relate to the fastest child who could run across the playground. That's the sort of thing I remember as being important.

Now it's all about medal tables, drugs, media, politics.....


But I was a child back then.....


Now I've grown up (a bit ).......


I realise that it has never been any different from what it is today.

Originally Posted by rayq81

Just saw the opening ceremony it was spectacular, those Chinese know how to throw a party

At who's expense?

they should not be in China full stop.

Hey, you can all have a go at me and say what you want, everyone is entitled to an opinion and i'm glad we can all give it(ok that was political)

World politics are a very fragile and complicated subject and you guys abstaining from watching the olympics will make no difference whatsoever. I am not naive (although i may sound it) It is just fact.

'He who is without sin, cast the first stone.'

Amen.

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

'He who is without sin, cast the first stone.'

You should have heeded your own words a few posts back.

Originally Posted by zulu ferret

Set that against modern intellectuals, who couldn't lift a pea, and athletes with pure muscle, some on enhancers?

Well, I'm not sure that's ture. Sir Steve Regrave is quite an intellectual

Originally Posted by Rosso145

At who's expense?

So when its Britains turn at whos expense will that be ?

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

Hey, you can all have a go at me and say what you want, everyone is entitled to an opinion and i'm glad we can all give it(ok that was political)

World politics are a very fragile and complicated subject and you guys abstaining from watching the olympics will make no difference whatsoever. I am not naive (although i may sound it) It is just fact.

'He who is without sin, cast the first stone.'

I think people are savvy enough to know that simply not watching it won't make a difference...that's why they take it upon themselves to protest.

With quite a number of althletes already voicing their concerns over the way China treats its people, it is political and always will be. There is no doubt about it. At the end of the day though, the Olympics is a sporting contest and sport is the main focus regardless of whats happening outside the arena.

Chinese leaders knocked down a lot of homes to build stadiums and prepare for the games. Were any of the these people given compensation? No. Where they looked after? No. They were told to leave and that was that. These things do not happen everywhere which is why when reporters arrive they are shadowed at every step with the public told to keep quiet and not answer questions. Why is this? Apparently the reporters have full freedom to interview and move around but that is just not the case.

China are changing but not fast enough for most peoples liking. I personally would love to visit China. Their country is spectacular with incredible history, but they need to move forward and embrace the modern world. Its a shame that they find it so difficult to do.

The games are political, how can they not be with everything we have seen leading up to the games?, and references will be made throughout the tournament, but sport is still the main focus, so any protests that manage to go ahead will be quickly forgotton. China needs to make good on its promises that made it possible for it to host the games in the first place. They need to do it now while the world is watching.

Originally Posted by Alfaspeed

so any protests that manage to go ahead will be quickly forgotton. China needs to make good on its promises that made it possible for it to host the games in the first place. They need to do it now while the world is watching.

I agree with everything you say, but not all protests are forgotten. Some Olympic protests have been the most powerful and memorable in the 20th century.

1968 Olympics Black Power salute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well ok maybe not all of them. Munich was fairly significant for a start.

Can anybody tell me the last time the olympic flag was brought into the opening ceremony by jack-booted, goose-stepping soldiers?

The real villans here is the gravy train that masquerades as the Olympic commitee for even considering it in the first place.

Originally Posted by Der Teufel

Can anybody tell me the last time the olympic flag was brought into the opening ceremony by jack-booted, goose-stepping soldiers?

The real villans here is the gravy train that masquerades as the Olympic commitee for even considering it in the first place.

Good point. I must admit I'm quite looking forward to the Morris Dancing in the London opening ceremony.