Olympics a celebration of human spirit, not host nation

By: Editorial | Opelika Auburn News
Published: April 09, 2008

China’s record on human rights abuses are far from medal-worthy.

There is suppression of religious freedom. Those practicing public worship without government approval have been arrested, exiled, or worse.

There are restrictions on public organizing. Gatherings or demonstrations are generally not smiled upon by those in power.

The list goes on and on, including women’s rights and trafficking and torture of prisoners. Those who rule in the “People’s Republic” want complete power with little opposition from the masses. Sounds like a police state. Sounds like North Korea.

And later this year, the world will celebrate the Summer Olympic Games in China’s capital. The summer games should not be a celebration of China or its policies over the years. The summer games should remain as the same celebration it was intended in the first place – a celebration of the human spirit and friendly competition between the world’s greatest athletes.

That said, 15 U.S. House members and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have spoken out against President Bush attending the games in Beijing. They feel the U.S. president’s boycott would “send a message” to China that we reject their history of human rights and will not support this nation during the Olympic Games.

But let’s be honest, should Bush attend the Olympics, this does not necessarily mean he is supporting China, accepting its policies or kissing its derriere. The president should attend the Games because he is supporting American athletes and nothing else. We can’t help but feel for the athletes who have worked so hard to arrive on this stage, regardless of the venue.

Let’s also remember there are many other important issues, namely the economy, we should concern ourselves with rather than an outgoing president’s choice to attend or not attend the Olympics.
Regardless of what Bush does, he is in a precarious situation. If he goes, folks will claim he is ignoring human rights violations. If Bush boycotts, folks will say he isn’t supporting our athletes.

Politics should be left out of pole-vaulting, the 4x100 backstroke and gymnastics floor exercises. The president boycotting the Olympics would not change anything. China may take it as a slap in the face, but it would not altar its position on freedom. If anyone should have boycotted China, it should have been the International Organizing Committee in the first place.

The Games should be about how far athletes can push themselves and a celebration of athletic achievement. Human rights issues should be dealt with on a world stage, not through making a statement by not attending a track meet. The issue of Bush boycotting or not already stains our athletes’ hard work. They deserve better.