Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The most surprising thing about the protests in Tibet is not that they are taking place. It is, instead, how much the Chinese authorities are giving the impression that they had been caught off-guard. This is particularly surprising given the priority they accorded to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Beijing has been given a majestic makeover. Its National
Stadium 8212; affectionately called the Bird8217;s Nest 8212; is an architectural marvel. Its new airport terminal shows the modernising aspirations that are driving record energy and commodity consumption by China. Expectations that China will top the medals tally by closing day on
But the party has certainly been affected. First, film-maker Steven Spielberg resigned as an advisor to the Games, citing China8217;s reluctance to pull its weight on Darfur. Then Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopian holder of the world record in the marathon, said that he would skip the Games for fear of damage to his health from Beijing8217;s air pollution. Now, Tibetan protests are churning up a slim movement for a boycott. China is not new to hosting grand get-togethers, whether it be APEC or Summer Davos, and it has done a competent job. And just this week EU sports ministers cautioned against a boycott of the Games. So, how did it spiral out of control?Perhaps it has to do with the central event of the Olympics: sport. Sport meets, governments have found, are the most difficult to stage-manage. They gather their own plot-lines and, given how broadcasts amplify their participatory nature, they become venues to reframe political issues. India and Pakistan have found this to both their dismay and delight. When antagonism prevails, cricket remains an ugly contest. When, as in 2004 and thereafter, cordiality thrives, the spectators add momentum to bilateral talks. During apartheid, South Africa found itself most exposed on the field of play 8212; in fact, more than 20 African countries boycotted the 1976 Olympics to protest the participation of New Zealand, which had rugby ties with South Africa. Sport has never been without politics 8212; just consider the US and tit-for-tat Soviet boycotts of the Games in 1980 and 1984. But those were still government initiatives. Now, that power to embarrass could be diffusing to individuals and popular causes.
