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Skeptical eyes on summer Olympics
As a continually growing force in the global economy and host of the summer Olympics, China continues to receive an increasing amount of criticism from an international audience as well as its own citizens. Since China has decided to host the Olympics, there have been many questions raised about China’s ability to host them: the pollution control in the hosting city of Beijing, as well as their relations with Tibet and Tibetan activists. According to a Times Online article written by Ashling O’Connor, “Haile Gebrselassie pulls out of Beijing Marathon because of pollution,” Gebrselassie, the marathon world record holder, said that he most likely will not participate in the 2008 Olympics because of the health issues related to the city of Beijing and the pollution.
Additionally, Tibetan activists are increasingly demanding a boycott of the summer Olympics in hopes of sending a message to China’s governing officials and to obtain international awareness of the current political unrest in Tibet. According to the article written in the New York Times on March 25 by Anthee Carassava, “Pro-Tibet Activists Disrupt Olympic Flame Ceremony,” “a Tibetan woman doused herself in red paint and lay in the road before a torch runner…”
Internationally, China has gained a lot of attention, including that of President Bush as well as the Dalai Lama. According to a March 26 CNN article update, “Bush phones China’s president about Tibet protesters,” Bush was worried about China’s methods of controlling Tibet activists and called Chinese President Hu Jintao to discuss the matter.
Right now the growing question is: With so many troubling predictions about the Beijing Olympics, will it be able to continue successfully and will China be able to calm the continually growing negative publicity of its disregard to deal effectively with a worsening Tibet and its exiles?
The world’s fastest marathon runner says he may not run, the president of the United States is worried about Chinese officials’ relations with protesters, the Dalai Lama is being criticized by Chinese officials for trying to harm the Olympics and Tibetan activists are continuing demonstrations for peace in Tibet. Whether you like sports or simply enjoy monitoring international relations and current events, the 2008 Olympics will be something to see.
China’s continually growing global prominence as a quickly developing nation and quest for resources has placed it in international spotlight. According to Carassava’s article, “The games, expected to attract 500,000 tourists and 4 billion television viewers, are being framed by many China observers as the country’s arrival on the world stage.” With all wary eyes on China, I hope they don’t drop the torch.
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