One of the hottest stories in the news recently (especially on Grounds, apparently) is the controversy surrounding the Olympics this August in Beijing. As many of you may already be aware, the root of the issue stems from protests and suggestions of boycotts of the summer games because of questions about human rights violations in China, the Tibetan independence conflict and, to some extent, China's involvement in the Darfur violence.
I don't know enough about these issues to have an intelligent opinion on them (and even if I did, I probably wouldn't express it since there's a good chance that it would result in 800 letters to the editor), but I will offer this: It's a shame that the greatest athletic competition in the world has been reduced to a springboard for further arguing about Tibetan independence and other issues surrounding China instead of being cherished as the grand sporting event it should be regarded as.
Please read this clearly: I am not trying to say that China is innocent or guilty of human rights violations or, that if it is indeed guilty, that these are not serious offenses that should be overlooked. What I am saying is that these issues, questions and accusations did not surface all of a sudden. On the contrary, they have been going on for years, and proponents of either side are simply taking advantage of the international spotlight of the Olympics to try to make their case more visible.
I realize how important these causes are to protesters, but that doesn't excuse the fact that the actual sporting events are being subverted as a means to push a cause that has nothing to do with the athletic competition.
Sure, maybe the International Olympic Committee should have had more foresight regarding the controversy that would arise after the decision, but that is beside the point. The issue at hand is not whether it was correct to award the summer games to Beijing. The fact of the matter is that China is the host, for better or worse, and now the world should focus on the sports and support the athletes rather than exploit the Olympics because of the stage it provides.
It's unfair to the athletes who represent their countries in the Olympics and prepare for years in anticipation of each event. To suggest that participants should have to boycott the biggest event of their lives is unwarranted, as protesters are using the status of the Olympics unjustly as a convenient way to confront their issues. Tibetan supporters possibly sabotaging aspects of the Games is also troubling news, since it's not the guest athletes and coaches who are at the root of the problem, but they will be the ones affected by such efforts.
The Olympics are a celebration of athletic competition more than anything. While protesters are excited about the Olympics for the opportunity to voice their opinions, I'm excited for the real reason they exist: sports. The summer games are entertaining because they feature players representing their countries and playing for pride. Nations set aside their differences in the spirit of unity through athletic competition, and citizens of each country play a role in the pageantry as well, taking great pride in the accomplishments of their home countries.
Despite the controversy surrounding where the summer games will be held, the Olympics should be viewed as a sporting event, and the world should make more of an effort to anticipate the competition, not take advantage of the spotlight to spoil the upcoming event.
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