Thursday, August 21, 2008

THE POLITICS OF SPORT

People generally accept that if there is something that they can get that favours them and this includes giving up their principles and morals they generally don't have a problem with it. Whilst this applies to some people it does not necessarily apply to everyone.

This said and done it is amazing to see the Olympics sport body having given the 2008 Olympics to China. Everyone knows they have one of the world's worst track records when it comes to human rights, and that's just the beginning. Yesterday two old people in their 70's were sent to a "labour re-education camp" because they continuously were seeking police permission to stage a demonstration. 

I find it all ironic that while you can understand that Rogge and his team would give the Olympics to China due to the fact that the Chinese would get things done- they overlooked a few things which in my mind takes away their credibility and at the end of the day make them hypocrites for past actions. In a media statement Rogge stated that the sporting body is only representative of sport and that it does not represent politics well.......

In the 1970's the Olympic body imposed sanctions on South Africa, taking away any chance of our sportsmen and women ever getting a medal- regardless of the "spirit" of sportsmanship which took a back seat. Compared to China, South Africa was nothing in the arena of murder and misery. Back then there was no need for the Olympic body to need or want anything from South Africa, we were unmarketable! 
Have they posed sporting sanctions on Robert Mugabe for an oppressive regime- No! Why not? Technically the government has sanctions placed on it......!

To also have George Bush and the Japanese PM say in a newspaper article that sport and politics should not mix is utter and total hypocrisy. Given that politics knows no friends and ignorance is the drug of fools you would think people would remember or make the right decisions.

But hey, the Olympics are a success, Tibet is all but forgotten once again and money and political influence will walk all over the individual trying to make a difference in the name of common decency. Well done Mr. Rogge, maybe you should give the 2012 Olympics to Myanmar I am sure they could use slave labour to build a stadium.

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