The Olympic Torch Fiasco
The torch was being carried by a wheelchair athlete when it was halted and extinguished for a second time due to demonstrators shouting, according to AP. Backup flames, also lit from the birthplace of the ancient games in Olympia, Greece, are with the relay at all times to relight the torch.
Earlier protesters close to the River Seine forced authorities to put the torch out and take to a bus so they could continue the relay.
Agencies report that the relay has now resumed but that there have confrontations between the authorities and demonstrators. Police have taken numerous protesters away, AP said, also using tear gas to remove demonstrators who lay in the road and tried to block the relay route.
The torch had to be taken from a wheelchair athlete to protect it? The police are using tear gas???
Whatever it was the IOC thought they were doing 7 years ago when they awarded the 2008 Summer Games to Beijing, it’s clearly backfiring.
I’m curious about what you think of all this. Are the protesters harming or helping? Is this the right venue for objections to Chinese governmental abuses?
I’ve written more about the disastrous Olympic Torch relay at my own blog, here.
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9 Responses to “The Olympic Torch Fiasco”
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I think these protests are out of place and ill-conceived. The athletes competing in the games and the people chosen to carry the torch during the relay are not involved in politics and have no decision-making abilities when it comes to international diplomacy. The purpose of the Olympic Games is to celebrate athletic prowess and foster a sense of friendly competition between individual athletes, teams, and nations. Using an event that is meant to highlight something that is good in this world to air grievances seems mean-spirited, especially the way these protestors are doing it.
As far as protests go, I think this is actually quite effective. The Olympics are being used by China to legitimize their government on the world stage, so it's only natural that there is a backlash. If the Olympics were being held in the US, I would welcome Iraq war protests of this nature.
Better this than riots.
The question is how else is the message going to get out that there is great popular opposition to China and support for Tibet? Even though it is disruptive, this form of protest is comparatively peaceful. I don't think there is any other way to effectively, and peacefully actually physically show China that while world governments are willing to look the other way, or maybe even chide China by their leaders not attending, a large segment of the world population will not stand idly by.
I am sympathetic with the protesters against China's actions in Tibet, Darfur, etc. But they cross an important line when they use force against innocent participants in the torch procession. Gandhi had it right about peaceful demonstrations – the moral majority is not attracted to replacing one belligerent gang with another.
“The purpose of the Olympic Games is to celebrate athletic prowess and foster a sense of friendly competition between individual athletes, teams, and nations.”
I agree which is why I don't think the games should be boycotted.
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“Using an event that is meant to highlight something that is good in this world to air grievances seems mean-spirited, especially the way these protestors are doing it.”
That's partially true- the Olympics also put a spotlight on China and they are able to show the world what a fabulous country they are…. except they're not all that fabulous- there are HUGE concerns- environmental, human rights abuse, Darfur (which is human rights combined with economic bullying and environmental issues), etc. So if the Chinese want to show the world that they are a great country, let the world also see that China has an absolutely horrible record in other areas as well. If China wants to present a sterling image to the world, then they can- as soon as they clean up their huge problems. China can't get a free pass.
I agree with Paul Silver… to an extent. I don't think there should be force by the torch protesters and I don't think the flame should be extinguished. But the Olympic games are as much a political event as an athletic event and I don't consider the participants in the procession to be innocent. If the participants really think the torch relay isn't political then that just shows that they are naive. But regardless of whether they are naive or not… I still do not believe in violence against them or the torch.
On a personal note…. when the torch comes to SF I'm going to be one of those protesters. There are various groups organizing protests to advance their causes, which I think is neat. But I'm going to be at the Darfur one (since there are many issues around Darfur). Hopefully I won't be caught up in any violence.
But the bottom line is that China has horrible, horrible human rights abuses and other issues. The Chinese government can't control and censor the world media (like they do in their own country) and claim that those problems don't exist.
Go Team USA!
Go Team USA!