Boycott the China Olympics ???

[Robby Barlow]

...this question has been asked many times lately.
Personally, I don't like the idea of mixing politics and sport. It's not like nobody knew China or it's politics, or the situation in Tibet, when China was named as hosting country for the 2008 Olympics. Heck, this has been going on for over 50 years now, remember the 1997 movie with Brad Pitt - Seven years in Tibet. Suddenly, now that the public eye is on China, Tibet has become a major issue, sugar - nobody gave a fart less than 2 years ago - and they probably won't anymore either after the games end .
Now how about the athletes ? They spend years training and competing in order to qualify to participate, and now suddenly someone may tell them that they shouldn't/can't participate in the games, cause someone suddenly remembered that the Chinese government ain't perfect! **** any dumb ass has known this for years, and I don't think too many countries should be stepping forward to criticize either.
The opening ceremony on the other hand, which mainly serves to glorify the efforts of the host country, is another story. In this case yes I'm in favor of boycotting this glorious show, but on the other hand 'The games must go on'!

Looking forward to hear some opinions from around the world on this subject.

[Johnrb]

I agree completely. This could hardly have been unknown to the IOC when it awarded the games to China but then Juan Antonio Samaranch had a record of cozying up to dictators.

"He had been the chef de mission of the Spanish team at a number of Olympic events, before he was appointed as the Government Secretary for Sports by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1967, also becoming the president of the Spanish National Olympic Committee and a member of the IOC. Samaranch was a prominent figure in the last years of Franco's regime"
Juan Antonio Samaranch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On a slightly positive note, thank God Toronto didn't get the games.

[camaraderie]

Robby...I agree with you that there is nothing to be gained by a boycott and a lot of athletes who have been working for many years for their day in the sun will be harmed. I remember Moscow...and it was tragic for the athletes.
If one knows anything about the Chinese...it is that they will not react favorably to public "bullying" and perceived insults to their national pride. Much better to exert pressure behind the scenes and to continue to publicize and embarass them through the media where they hoped to score big.

The real culprit in this in the IOC who awarded the games in 2001 to a country where human rights abuses prevailed.
If nothing changes by games time...the IOC should ban China from participation in the games themselves...as they did with South Africa' apartheid regime. Wouldn't that be something...holding the games in China with NO Chinese athletes! But I wouldn't count on it!!

[Rockter]

I look forward to Zimbabwe being banned.
I mean, surely that is as bad as aparthied, isn't it?

[Giulietta]

I am in absolute hate as we speak...al those that know me for real know what I think about Olympic boycots...don't even get me started....

but please, for respect of the athletes that give their best to represent their countries..DON'T BOYCOT..please....

Trust me..I know what it feels like to spend a whole youth with a goal, to have a bulshit artist poilitician say we're not going because the games are in Moscow..and hey hey hey...the commies are bad...sorry kid...go home, come back later...yeah..I was too old to come back later LOSERS!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I AM PISSED OFF NOW>>>

[artbyjody]

Boycotting the Olympics in my opinion doesn't even come close to making a political statement. The Olympics were devised to bring together athletes of all countries - void of political consideration. The use of athletes and the games as political pawns - it merely embarrasses the country that boycotts, and wipes out any morale their athletes have. If a athlete wants to boycott - that is a personal decision - and there will most likely be others to fill their place, but I do not think governments should use their power as such.


The Olympic games are about individual will, strength, ability, and most of all passion for the games. I have yet to see a country rise to be a super-power because their Olympic Team won a majority of medals...

I find the boycotting notion pathetic myself...

[Robby Barlow]

As I've said before the situation in China is not new, to most of us anyway, and although I feel pro Tibet, the issue is now being pushed on the public, and more or less out of proportion, cause China is in everybodies mind. But to try and boycott the games at this stage would in IMHO be more than stupid. But I kinda like Cam's idea of banning the Chinese from participating.

[poopdeckpappy]

I agree............No Boycott

And I like Bushs attitude, he's going and he's going to watch the games and as he says, what better oppertunity could there be to discuss the issue.

I think all the lil activist should pool their monies, buy some carbon credits and all fly to Tibet.......

[poopdeckpappy]

Ya know what's funny, what's funny is that these two Dem presidential candidates who insist on leading us towards a Socalist goverment are screaming for us to boycott the games held in a country they want so bad to emulate

[Giulietta]

Actually I am here with TDW..and he made a very good point..if the BS artist BS politicians want to boycot China...SIMPLY STOP BUYING FROM THEM,.....

Don't have the inocent athlets pay for the politician BS crap BS Bull BS crap lies BS