The Chris Townsend Show

Political Cornerby Stephen Thompson, posted on Thu, Mar. 6, 2008

Well, since is it a leap year it must be the Summer Olympics. I love the summer Olympics. Citizens around the world representing their countries competing in the most competitive sports events on the world stage. I love the opening Ceremonies and how the host countries put their country on display. It is a great time to be a sports Fan. However, this year the Olympics are in Beijing on 8.8.08 and there is much controversy.

Many leaders and political figures are pissed that the Chinese are of course not a country that follows human rights for its citizens, Occupies Tibet, and drill for Oil in Sudan. You might say to yourself? Who cares? We should all care, 200,000 people have been killed in this genocide and this has created 2.5 million refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan. China has no free press has pressured Yahoo and Google to report citizens viewing or commenting on China's repressive régime and then killed these violators. China does not enforce child labor laws for products we all buy and they have limited rules for lead-base items in our kid's toys.

China says they can't do anything about Sudan. However, Sudan is the only country in Africa where China can drill and deliver oil to China very cheaply. China has no intent on stopping Genocide in Darfur or helping people in their own communist country. China has some of the poorest folks in the world, but they are cleaning up Beijing to make it pretty for everyone visiting and displacing 1.2 million citizens in Beijing for new hotels and parking lots.

You ask.. "Why is this important to me the sports Enthusiast?" Because this is one of very few times in history where sport transends to impact real life. Athletes are being asked not to make any political statements during these games. However, we all remember San Jose State Great, Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the 1968 games. Both raised their fist with a black glove to symbolize the black struggle for equality in the greatest nation on the Earth in 1968 and they were punished. This year we have the team Darfur, a group of former and future Olympic Athletes protesting China's lack of action in Darfur. One of the members is Joey Cheeks a 2006 Olympian who donated his 25,000 award to help stop the genocide in Darfur.

Now, I would not worry about your famous star athletes making a decision not so show up for the Olympic Games this year. I mean, to much money is on the line right now for the big stars to back out. Still, there will be a show down in Beijing this summer with civil protest or Athletes backing out of the games. I just don't think will see a Smith or Carlos performance at these games, but I think their will be some true political fireworks in Beijing this summer.

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