Quote:
Originally Posted by shinerbock
I think it is stupid to complain about something after the fact. It isn't like human rights abuses in China are a recent phenomenon. The proper time to raise this issue was after China made their bid. Don't get me wrong, China is a horrible country regarding human rights, but we already knew that.
I'm soured to the Olympics anyway, as I was pretty disappointed in the international community slamming the Atlanta games. As someone who attended both Atlanta and Sydney (and don't get me wrong, I love Sydney), Atlanta was ridiculously better prepared. Many of the facilities in Sydney were incomplete, and it was obvious that many others were hastily constructed. I realize that the bombing is likely to blame for some of this, but it is hard for me to look at Sydney and the disaster that was Greece being celebrated and yet concede that Atlanta wasn't a success.
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Except for the opening ceremonies in Atlanta which I found exceptionally wretched and not having attended any Olympic games in person, I'm with you.
I do have to say that the Tibet protesters took the opportunity presented to remind everyone what China is like. I think a lot of people had been hoping that things were getting better as China opened more to industry and trade, but nope.
ETA: although the more I think about it, the fact that the reaction to Tibet this year didn't rival Tiananmen Square in 1989 might owe a lot to the media focus as the Olympics approach. So, in that sense, China hosting the Olympics may be doing some short term good.