Reasons for Hosting the Beijing Olympics - Essay Example

Hosting the Beijing Olympics: Right, Wrong, or Indifferent Pierre de Coubertin, founder of modern Olympic Games, is quoted as saying, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well” (as cited in Olympic Quotes, n.d.). de Courbertin’s words embody the spirit that underlies the Olympic games. At its core, the Olympics are a way to bring athletes together from around the world to share ideas and culture in the spirit of friendly competition. Today the Olympics have often taken on greater dimensions as people consider the social, cultural, and political context of the games. Since their inception, the modern games have been infused with politics, boycotts, and threats of non-participation. Some people see the games as a way of promoting and legitimizing the host city. Athletes may face an ethical dilemma by participating in a country where there are severe human rights violations. Still, the Olympic idealists hold the standard of de Coubertin and insist that politics and social issues remain clear of the games. These competing opinions on the value and purpose of the games have almost never been as pronounced as they are when we discuss the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The decision to hold the Olympics in China has been met with a series of protests that object to their history of oppression and violations of basic civil rights. While there are legitimate objections to the selection process, the ideals of sport, international cooperation, and cultural interaction makes Beijing an appropriate choice for the 2008 Olympics. The importance of the Olympics and the selection of the host city should not be underestimated. It offers economic advantage to the city in the way of tourism as well as an opportunity to exhibit the city’s and the host country’s best face. The enormous worldwide interest in the games can be seen by the escalating broadcast revenues and the attendant increase in viewership in recent years (see Appendix A). This also opens up the door to give a country an opportunity to present a façade while they ignore the reality that lies just beyond the borders of the games. Will the world see the sweatshops and hardships that lay beyond the broadcasts, or will they only be shown the glossy face of the “New China” (See Appendix B)? Determining where fact meets propaganda is one of the challenges faced by the IOC, the media, and the viewing public. The biggest objection to Beijing hosting the Olympics is their dismal record on human rights. There has been evidence for decades that China is a totalitarian government that has little, if any respect for individual freedom. This was seen in the protests at Tianamen Square where the Chinese government killed at least 11 students as they were crushed by tanks for participating in a in a pro-democracy demonstration (Witnessing Tiananmen, 2004). This protest, and the subsequent violence in 1989, brought the world’s attention to the potential for brutality to the eyes of the world. This should have given the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a warning that the world may have concerns over their choice of Beijing as a host city. The concerns over their suppression of democracy are also emboldened by examining some of China’s public policies. One of the most controversial policies that China has enacted is the One Child Policy that was implemented to control the spiraling population growth. The Chinese have traditionally desired a male child to carry on the family name and the family heritage. This policy has resulted in the termination of untold numbers of female children. Gendercide, an international human rights watch group reports that, “…the number of "missing" women showed a sharp upward trend in the 1980s, linked by almost all scholars to the "one-child policy" introduced by the Chinese government in 1979 to control spiraling population growth” (Jones, 2002). Nearly all the rest of the world has universally condemned this policy. The acute shortage of women in China has sparked an indirect consequence to the issue of human rights. Jonathan Manthrope, writing for the Vancouver Sun, contends that China actively engages in female slave trade and says, “The thirst for women is so acute that the slave trader gangs are even reaching outside China to find merchandise. There are regular reports of women being abducted in such places as northern Vietnam to feed the demand in China” (as cited in Jones, 2002). This issue was before the IOC when the selection process was open for debate. However, it was not deemed significant enough to dissuade the committee from choosing Beijing over several other qualified cities that did not have this history of human rights abuse. Even more disturbing than the history of human rights violations are recent reports of China executing political prisoners and dissidents in an effort to harvest their biological organs for a state run business that deals in organ transplant. The Falun Gong religious sect has been the primary target of this victimization. According to Joan Delaney (2006) of the Epoch Times, “…former [Canadian] Liberal cabinet member David Kilgour and human rights lawyer David Matas found Falun Gong practitioners organs were being systematically removed and sold in a lucrative state-run organ trade in China”. This serious problem has resulted in a call for Canada to boycott the Olympics. These allegations are not coming from radical left wing factions, but from mainstream social and political parties. Delaney (2006) further reports that, “Rabbi Reuven Bulka urged the Canadian government to force the Chinese regime to cease this horrible practice". This practice began in 1999 when the Chinese government instituted a crackdown on the Falun Gong and its followers. The IOC had ample time to investigate these allegations and take them into account when making the selection of the host city. This history of past and present violations of international conventions on human rights could have been considered when the IOC made its choice. To understand the gravity of these violations and how they may effect the world’s perception of China it is helpful to compare the present situation to that of the choice of Berlin in 1936. These Olympics were held in Nazi Germany under the guidance of Adolph Hitler. There was much public outrage at the time and calls to move or boycott the games. The literature since then has been inconclusive as to the amount of social and political good will that the 1936 games generated for Germany and more importantly the Nazi Party. When considering whether the abuses that China has engaged in it is important to weigh the abuses against the potential to legitimize them through the eyes of the Olympic games. The 1936 Berlin Olympic games were scheduled in 1931 before Hitler came into power. They were perceived as compensation to Germany for the 1916 games that were to be held there but were cancelled due to World War I. After Hitler was elected, the Olympic committee had ample time to change the venue. Well before the games it was widely known that, “Under Goebbels direction, the Nazis intended to use the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin as a showcase for the "new Germany." The Nazis also hoped to profit from the [. . . ] much needed foreign currency into the country” (The Berlin Games, 2002). Signs that had hung in hotels, restaurants, and other public places that said “Jews not Welcome” were removed during the games and storm troopers were ordered to curtail their persecution of the Jews and other minorities. The Nazi’s used the Olympic games as a propaganda tool even though non-Aryan athletes were banned from the German team (The Berlin Games, 2002). The German’s staged the largest and most lavish sporting event held in modern history to that date. The website History Watch sums up the implications in its article The Berlin Games, (2002): Overall, the Berlin Olympics were a big success for the Nazis. Hundreds of international journalists acknowledged that Germany had put on the most lavish and biggest Olympics ever. Many thousands of tourists also left Germany with happy memories of the courtesy extended to them by the Nazis and the German people, as well as the fantastic facilities and precise efficiency of the whole event. The Nazis had succeeded in getting what they most wanted from hosting the Olympics - respectability. In many people’s minds this was evidence of the legitimacy of Hitler, Germany, and the Nazi party. It was used to justify racism, hatred, and genocide as people disregarded the truth and were swayed by the public images. The problem is that China can hold an extravagant sporting event while they hide the litany of abuse that lies behind the scene and in the shadows. While there are many reasons to criticize the selection of Beijing as the host city for the Olympics, this criticism may be balanced when taken in context with modern social awareness and the intent of the games. Opening up the country to be seen by millions of people around the world can help bring about a better understanding and greater cooperation with China. Accuracy of reporting on the distractions that take place outside the games will be important. China has been pro-active in addressing this issue. According to Human Rights Watch, “In December 2006 the Chinese government unveiled new temporary regulations designed to give accredited foreign journalists expanded freedoms in the run-up to and during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing” (Beijing 2008: Chinas Olympian, 2007). Typically there have been great restrictions on foreign journalists and in the material that they were allowed to cover. This increase of freedom of expression may be helpful in getting balanced coverage from the international event. However, Human Rights Watch also warns that, “Most accredited foreign journalists, however, say the new regulations in force since January 2007 are being persistently flouted” (Beijing 2008: Chinas Olympian, 2007). The world should be cognizant that China’s rhetoric and public face may be a repetition of Hitler’s strategy in 1936. Another major concern that surrounds the issue of the selection of China as the site of the 2008 Olympics is the original ideal as set forth by the charter of the IOC. Much of the controversy surrounding the decision is based in political rhetoric that stems from the ideologies of capitalism and communism. When the free world calls for greater freedoms and democracy, they are often addressing the economic system and the lack of a free market. It is believed that human rights violations only exist because of a lack of economic and political freedom. The International Olympic Charter is based on 5 basic and fundamental principles. One is that, “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles” (Liu, 2005, p. 215. The Olympics may have the positive effect of bringing the Olympic ideal to the people of China. A second principle is to, “…place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity” (Liu, 2005, p. 215). A case can be made that the selection was designed to bring China up to the level of the rest of the industrialized world, without the fear that it would pull the world down to its level of human abuse. In addition to the hope that the awarding of the games will have a positive effect on China, there is also the ethical considerations that obligates the IOC in its awarding of the games. While historically they have exerted pressure to bring nominees more into the mainstream and have barred the racist South African’s from participating, their charter obligates them to disregard politics as an issue. Are human rights abuses, racism, and genocide politically based or are they a social aberration that should be addressed? The IOC charter states that, “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on ground of race, religion, politics, gender, or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement” (Liu, 2007, p.218). This ideal should extend to the selection of the host country as well as to the athletes. If the committee allows social norms, cultural values, or politics to enter the selection process it will inevitably result in a bias that is wielded by the most powerful countries. Some nations will have an objection to any country that is selected. Canada, the United States, and Great Britain could all be at risk if the IOC used politics and people’s objections as a criteria for being selected as the host city. If faced with the decision of whether or not I would attend the games, I would welcome the opportunity to visit China. It has been a closed society and is finally opening its doors to outsiders. I would look forward to exploring their culture, while remaining aware of the fact that I would be limited in my travels and investigations. The spectacle should prove to be one of the most impressive sporting events ever staged, as China is intent on putting its best foot forward and leaving the world with a positive impression. The opportunity to see the 2008 Olympics in Beijing would be an historical opportunity that I could not pass up. The decision to go would be tempered by my critical eye of what was being hidden just around the corner and in the shadows. In conclusion, the Olympic games are of such paramount importance that the selection of the host city is an historic event. It has the power to generate extreme amounts of revenue for the host country and countries around the world through advertising and broadcast revenue. It also has the opportunity to be a stage to present a propagandized version of the host country as was seen in 1936 in Berlin. While foreign journalists have officially been given greater freedom to cover the games, it is incumbent upon the nations of the world and the media industry to assure these freedoms become a reality. The public needs to be fully aware that they are viewing an entertainment venue and not a documentary. Bringing China closer to the rest of the world through their greater participation in the Olympic Games can have a positive effect on China. Ideas, thoughts, and cultures will be shared with the Chinese people on a scale that would not be possible with any other vehicle. It is in the spirit of the games and the long-term philosophy of the IOC’s charter to reduce the influence of politics in the games. The choice of Beijing exemplifies these ideals. I would gladly attend the games in China and would welcome the cultural experience. While there is much to criticize about China’s record of oppression and human rights violations, the spirit of the games and the hopes that they can attain the Olympic ideal outweigh the fears of a world deceived. Appendix A Source: (Slater, 1998, p. 54) Appendix B The Two Faces of China A worker produces mascots for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at a toy factory in northern China. Source (Weisskopf, 2007) Fengtai Softball Field Source: The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, 2007) References Beijing 2008 (2007). Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/venues/fts/ Beijing 2008: Chinas Olympian human rights challenges (2007, October 29). Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://china.hrw.org/issues/media_freedom de Coubertin, P. (n.d.). Olympic Quotes. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://quotations.about.com/od/sportsquotes/a/olympics2.htm Delaney, J. (2006, August 25). Olympic boycott needed to stop organ crimes, says Rabbi. The Epoch Times. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-8-25/45303.html Jones, A. (2002). Case study: Female Infantcide. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.gendercide.org/case_infanticide.html Liu, J. H. (2007). Lighting the torch of human rights: The Olympic Games as a vehicle for human rights reform. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, 5(2), 213-235. Slater, J. (1998). Changing partners: The relationship between the mass media and the Olympic Games. Fourth International Symposium for Olympic Research, 49-68. The Berlin Games (2002). Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/triumph/tr-olympics.htm Weisskopf, M. (2007, June 14). Targeting the Olympic "Sweatshops". Time. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1632985,00.html Witnessing Tiananmen: Clearing the square (2004, June 4). Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3775907.stm Read More