Final Thoughts on the Beijing Games

I can't believe that the 2008 Summer Games are over.

It seems just like yesterday I was watching the Opening Ceremonies, thinking to myself that China wasn't going to challenge the U.S. in the medal count.

I was wrong.

Not only was I wrong, but the Chinese kicked the American's ass, if we're only looking at the number of Olympic champions each country produced. And that's what I'm going to be talking about mostly on this blog post.

I don't think that this was a shot-in-the-arm type thing from the Chinese. They won't be a one-hit wonder. The one thing that made the Olympics really popular after World War II was the fact that there were two superpowers, the U.S. and Soviet Union, and that the Olympics was like a mini-Cold War, played out in sport. Nothing too consequential. Just good, (sometimes) clean athletic competition.

Thank you China for making the Olympics relevant again. For the next few Olympics at least, this battle between the U.S. and China will take center stage, especially with the U.S. Olympic Committee saying that they're going to re-prioritize for the medal count.

On the purely athletic and sport-related issues, that's what's most important coming out of the 29th Olympiad. It's not Michael Phelps, or Usain Bolt, or that Team USA is once again king in basketball.

China has staked it's claim and now the Summer Games no longer belong to the U.S. If Team USA wants to take back the gold medal count, it's going to have to work harder and find innovative ways to train athletes in order to compete with China.

The days of American dominance may be over.

But of course, you cannot talk about Beijing without talking about the political aspects.

If there was any criticism of NBC's coverage of the Olympics here in the states, I would say that it played them to the Chinese's advantage. There were protests. There were hostages. But none of them were broadcast or reported by NBC during its coverage.

And then they had the audacity to say that these Olympics went off without a hitch.

But to those who say that the Olympics should have never been given to Beijing, I say they should have.

Why? Because the Olympics could have been, should have been the catalyst that's makes that totalitarian regime change it's ways. But I feel that it wasn't. What Beijing may have been (history will show us the light in a decade's time), is a missed opportunity.

Instead of forgetting about all the political shadows that shrouded the Beijing Games, the Olympics should have been used as a tool to make China change. It has a little bit, with nation after nation calling the Chinese out. But there should have been a discourse. There should have been pressures. But there were none of that.

So, these Olympics Games close almost unfinished. The story of these Olympics will depend heavily on whether or not China changes it's ways after these Games.

The Chinese spent an estimated $40 billion on the Games. Hopefully, it can spend that much on its people in the years after the Olympic Flame is long extinguished.

So That's Why They Care So Much

I can't believe I missed this Newsweek story the last week. For goodness' sakes it was the cover story last week.

Ever wonder why China has been so protective of its national identity? Ever wonder why hosting events like the Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games were such a big deal? Well, according to this Newsweek story (which I totally missed by the way) says that it's tied into their collective consciousness. In other words, China, as a whole, as an inferiority complex.

So, then, it's okay for China to have an awful human rights record? So, then, it's okay for China to crack down on any form of speech against its government? So, then, it's okay for China to block certain websites from reporters there to cover the Games?

I think not. Sure, China and the Chinese population may have a nationalistic bond that will be stronger than any other form of nationalism that we may ever see. Sure, the Chinese have felt slighted for over 100 years. But that doesn't mean we can let the Chinese government do all the horrible things that its doing.

But I do understand why the Chinese people and the Chinese government are so protective of themselves. They want their time in the sun. It's like when Bismarck and Wilhelm II wanted the Germans' to be respected in Europe. The same with the Japanese during World War II, but at a more global stage. The same here. But instead of war or aggression, the Chinese are doing it through the collective power of sport.

If you want examples in the world of sport, then look no further than its most popular game, football (soccer). Poland's considers Germany its most fiercest rival. The European Giant doesn't consider the Poles their rival. However, whenever the two sides play, it is a fierce competition, primarily because the Poles are looking for respect.

In North America, Mexico and the United States are natural rivals because of three reasons: 1) They have been the two countries to dominate CONCACAF since its inception, 2) the two nations touch each other, 3) Mexico has an inferiority complex with the Americans. But of course, who doesn't? Who wouldn't want to beat the United States in anything. But of course, when the Americans beat El Tri, who are the ones who is throwing a hissy fit?

So, after decades of humiliation, then China was to show that they deserve the respect of the global community. Fine, but we cannot forget their atrocities. We cannot forget their strikes against human rights.

For the Olympics to not be a forum for China's place in the world would be a waste. And just because China is trying to gain respectability in the world's eyes doesn't mean we can ignore that.

Spy Gate: Beijing Edition

So much to talk about today. Dissenters are being arrested in China as the Olympics steadily approach. Chinese officials first reneged on a promise to keep an open internet for the Games. Then they balked on that, keeping restrictions on website like Amnesty International. Then they balked on that plan, lifting restrictions on several sites, but still no full freedoms for media at the Olympics on the internet.

And then there's spying. Sure, the authoritarian government in China will spy on guests. Yeah, it's an invasion of basic human rights. But it's China and they're probably going to get away with it.

What I think is a little bit scarier, especially for these Olympic Games, is the integrity of the sports and competitions being held in Beijing. China hosted the Women's World Cup last year, sort of a preparation for the Chinese government for their big day.

And on the eve of the Olympic football tournament, it turns out that the Chinese were spying on its opponents, or at least one. Denmark may have lost 3-2 to the Chinese last year, but the bigger loser is FIFA, who did absolutely nothing, as they said that their investigation in the spying incident in Denmark's prep room as "non-sport related."

Bullshit. So, we can't punish the Chinese for violating human rights (maybe the U.N. will want to sanction them or something, but like Chinese officials care).

But in the world of sport, where national athletic federations are held accountable by world governing bodies like FIFA and FINA and the IOC, then I sure as hell hope when cheating happens, they come swift with a penalty.

That didn't happen at last year's World Cup. FIFA let it slide and in my opinion, the integrity of the Games may be in jeopardy.

This may not effect the individual sports as much at this year's Games, but it sure as hell effects the team sports. There is so much strategy and planning that goes into competitions involving two teams. Spying on a team can give it quite the advantage over an opponent.

Yes, teams still need to execute and perform, but when they know when and how to execute and perform based on information gathered through espionage, it ruins the game.

Let's hope that the IOC has put in place systems to prevent this type of cheating. Because if it hasn't, then Denmark won't be the only one who is robbed. The fans will be robbed of what true athletic competition should be all about.

The Eyes of the World Will be Upon Them

Ever since Beijing won the right to host this year's Summer Games, controversy and protest have shrouded the Olympic banner, flame and any symbol surrounding the Games.

This year's Torch relay saw thousands protest in the West. There have been protests around the world about China's policies concerning human rights and Tibet. And it seemed that Chinese officials were not going to let any sort of protests happen. And even though there will be designated areas in Beijing for protesters to gather, it probably won't be seen, won't be significant and won't be of note when the opening ceremonies take place on August 8.

But it's a step, right? It's a step towards breaking down the authoritarian government imposed in China. It's a step towards allowing freedom of thought. It's a step and even though protesters won't like all the regulations and red tape they have to go through to protest at the Games, they (theoretically) get to protest at the Games.

Now I'm not trying to defend China here. What they're doing is like what the South did after the Civil War. Sure the slaves were freed, but they really weren't.

And anyway, athletes aren't allowed to protest or show any sign of a political agenda, as mandated by the IOC. That is where the most effective forms of civil protests would be able to take place. Like Tommie Smith and John Carlos' Black Power Salute in the 1968 Games, the only way to make a statement is for the athletes to do so, because the cameras and attention and the eyes of the world will be on them and not necessarily on a group of protesters in some park in Beijing.

The Germans are taking a huge step (article found via Rings). Just imagine the power of a athletes walking into Beijing National Stadium with those tshirts the Germans are handing out, or with Save Darfur banners and the like. That would send a message more powerful than any single protest outside the stadium.

The IOC needs to review its policies.

As I wrote in April, the Olympics can be a tool for global discussion, which is what this world needs right now.