China and the Olympics

I was listening to Radio 2 today, and there was a discussion about those British people who protested against human rights abuses in Tibet when they were in China. Someone said it was wrong for Westerners to criticise the Chineese whilst the visitors were there to watch the Olympic games. Do you think visitors to China should be able to protest against human rights abuse if they want to?

I think the Chineese are clearly using the games as propaganda, in which case if Westerners want to kick up a stink then good for them

Frankly I don't know why the games were awarded to China in the first place.

With the whole world focussing their attention on China at the moment, i think now is the perfect time to make them realise that the way they treat their citizens is unacceptable. I know sport and politics shouldn't be mixed but this is a prime time. Probably wont do much good though tbh.

I think the protesters have to make their point whilst the eyes of the world are upon them.

As you say the games are used for propaganda in any event

I wish everyone would just relax and enjoy the world class sport on show. The games have nothing to do with politics and are not propoganda. I'm not saying human rights abuse should be supported but the athletes should. These guys have trained for years for the games and that should not be overshadowed by narrow minded people using them as a PR stunt.

World politics are a little more complicated than that.

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.

Will I be watching the Chinese "pollution' games...not likely. A total waste of time.
Still the Aussie Prime Minister, apply names K.Rudd is over there sucking up to the Chinese and anyone else he can get his lips and tongue around and in and finding new ways to pollute from the Chinese experts . Like Blair of the UK, KRudd of Australia is a showman.....meanwhile at home "Rome' burns.....as the invading 'Immigrants' reach plague proportions and the rivers dry up and 'Saddam' Wong presides over the collapse of a world heratige listed wetlands

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

The games have nothing to do with politics and are not propoganda.

Nothing to do with politics & propaganda???? They are a gold mine! for the Chinese government, human rights warriors, Muslim fundamentalists etc. They have been used for political protest(American civil rights movement) and propaganda(Hitler) for a while now. Wake up

Originally Posted by PeterWolf

Nothing to do with politics & propaganda???? They are a gold mine! for the Chinese government, human rights warriors, Muslim fundamentalists etc. They have been used for political protest(American civil rights movement) and propaganda(Hitler) for a while now. Wake up

You wake up, i'm talking about sport not politics. I'm sure you know nothing about either as i can tell.

Easy fellas, easy.

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

You wake up, i'm talking about sport not politics. I'm sure you know nothing about either as i can tell.

I am talking about the Olympic games as the name of this thread is China and the Olympics. And please don't be so sure

I feel very olympic today

Welcome to the "Toxic Games'
Totalitarian regime being hoisted by their own Toxic petard (aka Fart)

Rain, smog haze threaten to ruin Beijing Opening Ceremony | FoxSports - Fox Sports
Rain, smog haze threaten to ruin Beijing Opening Ceremony
A THICK haze and rain are threatening tonight's Olympic Games opening ceremony, as it emerges China was warned two years ago to cut the smog.
The haze has reduced visibility around the Olympic Village in the north of Beijing to just several hundreds metres and the weather forecast on the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee's official website shows a grey cloud with rain falling from it for today.

Participating athletes must sign an agreement - obtained by The Australian - which waives the liability of the Australian Olympic Committee for injury or loss of life.

Organisers have repeatedly said rain is their biggest worry ahead of tonight's spectactular featuring more than 10,000 performers and a massive fireworks display.

There's been ongoing controversy over Beijing's air quality but the International Olympic Committee insists pollution poses no threat to the world's top athletes.

Scientists warned China two years ago that it could not guarantee a smog-free Olympics despite its efforts to cut pollution.

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.

Originally Posted by Jcochrane81

hmmmmm. Not like a lefty to bring up the war again.

you are definitely lacking <edited> matter

cheers

Ok, enough now.

Any more and there'll be infractions flying around.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

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

... just like the UK you mean??? where we can't protest anymore due to anti terrorism laws ...

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.

I'm sorry but you are clearly deluded. To suggest the Olympics isn't a political event is just naive. The modern Olympics, and perhaps even the ancient Olympics, have always been a forum to express political views and make protests.

This INCLUDES the athletes, as they are in the prime position to make the protest (the podium) it is often them who do so. Athletes have political opinions too.

No other event gives a person the chance to express a view to the entire world, and that is why it is, and will remain, a political event.

Perhaps we are responsible for the human rights abuses & pollution - after all, who is buying all the stuff they produce and who wants cheap imported foreign goods?

Originally Posted by Keithy

Perhaps we are responsible for the human rights abuses & pollution - after all, who is buying all the stuff they produce and who wants cheap imported foreign goods?

Yep nothing worse than a hypocrite - oh wait yes there is a western hypocrite

Lets not forget this country is trying to remove due process, access to legal aid...want to fast track certain convictions - and have you locked up for 42 days without charge

When it comes to finger wagging perhaps people should look much closer to home - it seems ok to kill thousands of innocent people to allow the US to get its hands on a foreign nations oil or its Heroin production


Chris

I think what everyone is suggesting (albeit in a very round about way), is that yes the olympics is used for propaganda etc.....but it shouldnt be, it should purely about sport and nothing more! Therefore the sport aspect itself is not about propaganda but the institution that is the olympics can and has been used as a very public platform for said propaganda!

If thats not what various people meant then i obviously read incorrectly into what has been said......but the above are my thoughts on the whole thing..