JKD

I want the olympics in tibet, because of the martial arts. I don't think not having it, and having it will make any difference to the Tibet problem.

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The Way Of The Intercepting Fist

The Way

Discoman,

While I find China's approach to Tibet and to political, civil and human rights more generally to be appalling on many levels, I am not fully convinced that this means that China should not be hosting the Games. Given my general political views this may be surprising, however I have a few reasons for this:

1. China has 1.3 billion people, representing approximately 1/6th of the world's population. At some level, the shear size of the country's population justifies its having the Games. To deny them the games for political reasons is a disservice to the general population.

2. For some time now there has been pressure to hold the Olympic Games in a developing country. This is the first time this is actually being done and while a number of other developing countries (Brazil, Kazakhstan, South Africa) have competed to host the games, China is one of a very select few which have the capabalities to host an event of this magnitude. I believe that letting a developing country host the games is incredibly important; it draws global attention (and, more importantly, the attention of the populations of developed countries) to the plight of the developing world. Think of how many individuals in rich countries who are barely aware of the conditions experienced by most of the world's people; many of these individuals will be exposed as a result of these Games.

3. In hosting the Games, China is having a huge spotlight pointed at them and is further opening itself to huge criticism (which is already occurring). This is a good thing, it draws attention to China's negative human, political and civil rights records, it draws attention to Tibet, it draws attention to Taiwan. It's making people stand up and take notice globally and is making China aware that they can't ignore global opinion. In this way, hosting the Games may be a force for good in China.

4. China is becoming increasingly important as a global force, both politically and economically. Fifty years from now the country will be a superpower; in some respects its only fitting that such an important country gets a chance to host the Games.

5. This is exposing the Chinese population to global opinion, not just the Chinese government. It may help to make the Chinese more aware of other political systems, problems with their own government, etc. It is also a beneficial means of cultural exchange.

These are just some thoughts on the issue which show that a case can be made in favor of China's hosting the games.

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~ "I am nothing of a builder, but here I dreamt I was an architect...," Colin Meloy of The Decemberists