From Olympia to Impasse
The tension between China and (mostly) Western public opinion on the eve of the Beijing Olympics is the result of incompetence, hypocrisy, and legitimate but potentially counterproductive indignation. As soon as the international community “bestowed” the Olympics on China, the West demonstrated how little consideration it actually gives to human rights and democracy.
PARIS – “Do not mix sports and politics!” That defiant cry from China’s rulers to the threat of a boycott of this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games does not stand the test of reality. Sport and politics have always been closely linked.