| Political or Apolitical: The 2008 Beijing Olympics |
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| Written by CS Staff | |
| Thursday, 27 March 2008 | |
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Page 1 of 4 China has alleged that international human rights groups are politicizing the Olympics by pressing China to cease human rights abuses. The International Olympics Committee reiterates the Games is all about sports,not politics. A review of the regulations and practices that China has adopted in preparation for the Olympics, however, shows that China istreating the event as the most important political milestone since it came into power in 1949. This February, famous Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew as an artistic advisor to the Beijing Olympics due to China’s position on Darfur. China’s official Olympics organization has denounced the move as politically motivated. The Dalai Lama issued a statement on March 10, 2008, criticizing China for the arrests of Tibetan monks in violation of human rights along with the lack of freedom of speech and religion in Tibet. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is claiming that the Dalai Lama is attempting to politicize the Beijing Olympic Games. Beijing's Olympic organizing committee has repeatedly stated that any behavior that politicizes the Olympics violates the tenets of the Olympics. Observing the regulations and practices that China has adopted in preparation for the Olympics, however, it is apparent that China is treating the event as the most important political milestone since 1949, the year the Chinese Communist Party came into power. China views the Beijing Olympics as a major vehicle to showcase and affirm its legitimacy and progress. In light of increasing social unrest and human rights movements, policies and regulations have been issued and implemented to stifle any public expressions of dissent. The Olympic Blacklist China has drawn a line based on political opinion and religious affiliation to exclude anyone that China regards as “hostile,” formerly termed “class enemies.” In April 2007 the Ministry of Public Security issued a general, nationwide order, requiring tight screening of all person both in China and overseas that intend to participate in the Olympic Games. These include members of the Olympic Committee, athletes, media personnel, and sponsors. With this, they also provide a list of 43 types of people in 11 categories to be barred from attending the Olympic Games, such as “hostile” elements, Falun Gong, religious groups, activists for ethnic independence, media, and non-governmental organizations that are deemed harmful to the Beijing Olympics. Specifically included in the blacklist are “dangerous elements, key petitioners and other people who have serious grievances against the Party.” [1] |