Is China in Trouble For Hosting 2008 Olympic Games?
Over 3.8 billion people are anticipated to view the upcoming Olympics. The games in Beijing will comprise 302 events in 28 sports. There are many political, social and economic issues surrounding China right now. China’s involvement with Darfur and China’s investments of oil in Sudan are subject matters of concern.
I found an article on yahoo titled the “flame of controversy” dealing with people’s concerns about the future Olympics in China. http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=dw-olygamble040708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
There are many key issues and debates regarding globalization. According to the Handbook of Sports and Media by Arthur A. Raney, he states, “The concept of globalization is subject to intense political, ideological and social scientific debate.” It can be concluded that globalization refers to the growing network of political, economic, cultural and social interdependencies. It involves increasing global interconnectedness. Globalization can also be seen to involve multidirectional movements of people, customs and ideas.
Beijing is under constant Olympic pressure. There is no avoiding riots and protests. These acts will surely affect the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games, like other forms and functions of today's globalization, involve exchange of ideas, investments, culture and customs.
Do you think there are going to be major problems in China before, during or after the Olympics? Do you think that the Olympics will serve to enhance China’s relationship with other nations and the public’s world view? Will it produce any meaningful lasting positive or negative affects?
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I do believe there are going to be continuing problems surrounding the Olympics. Considering there is the current situation of the protests and controversies following the path of the traveling Olympic torch. There has been extinguishing of the flame, threats of taking action, and country leaders refusing to attend the opening ceremonies. With problems and debates already underway long before the Olympics have even gotten here, I do believe that problems will continue to arise and unfortunately become worse over time leading up and continuing into the Olympics.
In terms of globalization it can be described involving, “a flexible network of multidirectional movements of people, practices, customs, and ideas” Furthermore, “people’s living conditions, beliefs, knowledge, and actions are intertwined with globalization. The emergence of a global economy, a transnational cosmopolitan culture and a range of international social movements…characterize these interconnected world processes." (436) With this being said, it can be related to the Olympics serving as China’s “globalization” with other countries in terms of enhancement of relationship. I believe that the Olympics could totally benefit and work in the favor of China, or on the contrary, totally counteract and create the opposite: fighting, problems, controversy. I believe that China needs to take into consideration the issue of globalization and use sports and the Olympics in their favor to create a foundation of good terms with other countries. By following what builds globalization and what forms strong country relations, I believe China can improve their public’s view of them and enhance their image through positive public relations tactics. By incorporating proactive strategies such as entitling or enhancement, China can claim responsibility for the potential actions that may occur at the Olympics and promote a strong image for themselves. They can also use reactive strategies such as impression management techniques to try to improve the negative image that the world currently has on China due to their position on certain issues.
The Olympics will produce meaning affects on China no matter what course of action they take. If they do the right thing, and work with the other nations in terms of positive globalization then yes, positive affects will be made. On the other hand, if China rebels against other countries opinions on matters that impact globalization such as politics, ideology, and social sciences then yes, negative affects will be made. I believe that this whole controversy is totally in the hands of China and what they plan to do with it. I believe that all countries have proclaimed their views by the actions already taken, and the actions threatened to be taken. I believe only time with tell what will happen with China and the Olympics.
The Olympics are supposed to be a forum for the World to unite in the name of sport. Unfortunately, politics cannot easily be forgotten. The negative response to the Olympic torch that we have already seen most likely foreshadows that similar events will occur as the Olympics get closer.
In the Handbook of Sports and Media, Joseph Maguire uses the Olympics as an example of "globalization at work." But, Maguire also examines five "global flows" that are a part of 21st century leisure and sports development. In regards to what Maguire terms as the ideological flow, "At the level of ideas, global sports festivals such as the Olympics have come to serve as vehicles for the expression of ideologies that are transnational in character and, at times, lie outside the scope of state. Yet, the state continues to play a powerful role in the governance of global sport" (437).
The power of the state is particularly relevant to the Beijing Olympics, as is the prevalence of political issues. Many of the countries that participate in the games have very different political ideologies than China and the issues are not transnational in nature. If China realizes that problems could arise and is willing to do what it takes to put politics on the back burner, than the focus could still be on sport, as was originally intended. Even slight concessions, like making accommodations for the athletes to feel comfortable, could go a long way to help the World's perception of China. But, people may not be able to overlook the political issues, and it's very possible that the controversy will continue.
The fact that people are comparing the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 1936 Berlin Olympics shows just how controversial the upcoming summer games are. I absolutely agree that it was not a smart decision at all to have Beijing host the summer games. It is honestly like they are being rewarded for their corrupt ways of dealing with humanitarian and environmental issues. Even in preparation for the games and in trying to decrease their level of air pollution to attract spectators, the government has closed down or relocated a large number of factories. While this may seem great, the ill effect has been the loss of jobs for thousands of workers. In addition, Beijing apparently has an unhealthy population of stray pets. I read that in order to remove these pets to please reporters and visitors for the Olympics, the government has set up “death camp” type killings of hundreds and thousands of cats and dogs to clean up the streets. My point is that it’s a very double-sided situation for China in terms of fixing many of their known problems. While they are hoping to please other countries by cleaning up pollution, they are causing even more issues by intensifying human and animal rights issues.
The Handbook of Sports & Media states that globalization is a “growing network of interdependencies -political, economic, cultural, and social-that bind humans beings together, for better and for worse” (436). While there are of course many more cons than pros, I think it is interesting to look at the potential ways in which having the Olympics in Beijing will “bind human beings together for the better” and positively affect China. In doing some research on the matter, I found that tourism is expected to skyrocket for China following the Olympics. While there will of course be an economic downfall once the Olympics have moved out of China following the summer games, it is predicted that their economy will still remain sturdy in terms of industrial demand on the international stage. It was also interesting to read that the issue of China’s human rights was a main argument for both opponents and advocators of having the Olympics in Beijing. In terms of the advocators’ argument, it is hopeful that the widespread attention on China and their history will actually cause China to improve the issue. In terms of increasing their relations with other countries, I think that the Olympics will be a great help in terms of increasing their ability to be an athletic contender, and therefore create stronger international relations in terms of sporting events. I think that the first-class stadiums they will be building will help make them a contender, and having further interaction with all of the athletes and sports will help them gain a better understanding of other countries.
Finally, in looking at the lasting positive affects of the Beijing Olympics, we need to look back at the fact that they are trying to clean up their pollution and become more environmentally friendly. This will hopefully have an impact on trying to reverse global warming. It is a stretch, but the fact that China will be shutting down their major factories and pollutant industries for several weeks could be incredibly beneficial for their environment as well as even the United States’. I read in the Los Angeles Times that as much as 25% of Los Angeles’ air pollution comes from China. If that decreases during the Olympics it will send a very powerful message to other countries that their environmental decisions greatly affect the rest of the world. I know I am going out on a limb here to find the benefits of the Beijing Olympics, but it is important to recognize the positive affects of such an event since the negative impacts have already been made quite clear.
If there is any trouble in China, you can bet your bottom dollar that it won’t be coming from the Chinese people. The Communist government diligently watches their masses for any sign of dissention, and they put a quick, forceful stop to it before it becomes a problem. That’s the way things are, and I’m glad that I don’t live there. The Chinese people don’t have a First Amendment freedom of speech to protect them from the relentless censorship of their opinions. Any trouble at the Olympic undoubtedly will come from small groups of spectators and will be suppresses off-camera by the authorities.
How China handles any protests will determine the world’s view of their nation. There is no doubt that the Chinese government will quell any unrest quietly and quickly. If the situation gets out of hand and the press exposes any undue government approved force, China could find itself losing some of the economic and political gains it has worked so hard to achieve.
The handbook emphasizes the relationship between the Olympics, global politics and economics. The Olympic games will continue to flourish no matter what happens outside the playing arenas, but political and economic consequences of unrest could be felt for some time. Lasting negative affects would probably be minimal, but in a global economy, short-term negative affects that last five or ten years could prove to be devastating for the government. If all goes well with the games, no problems, no disruptions, no protests, and everyone goes home happy, China would reap the benefits for years to come. Many nations that previously had misgivings about China might be willing to invest in a politically stable China.
I do think there are going to be major problems in China before, during and after the Olympics. The protests have already started and the games haven’t even begun yet. The fact that there already discussing censorship, and what rights are going to be taken away through the athlete’s speech. The media covering the games will also be different in other countries than China. I believe that the main goal of having the games in china is to bring attention to the problems our world faces, and to come together to fix them. On the other hand I feel that people are going just to prove their country better than the other. The outcome of the Olympics will not serve to enhance China’s relationship with other nations nor the public’s world view. The only way the public is going to accept China is how they handle the situations during the games; for example, the protestors. Also with the strict rules placed on the media, how is China going to handle a situation they did not expect; for example a negative event that leaks through the media
The country should not be allowed to host the games because of their inhumane circumstances. Even though Beijing is not completely responsible for the current disturbances, they are not doing much to fix and or help the problems. Also, the way in which they are preparing Beijing for the games and tourism, is also upsetting many key groups. Animal Rights Activists, along with protestors fight from the disproval of this location. The news the other day showed a man in a wheelchair being attacked because he was carrying a torch. I think that it was not only a poor decision for media coverage, but for safety as well. It takes away from the excitement of the athletes and the game. It brings our country to focus on the negative during a positive situation once again. I think that this is going to produce meaningful lasting affects. Unfortunately, I believe that it is going to be mostly negative attention. I hope that China will be able to come out on top showing peace, and security within other countries, but judging by the current circumstances, I don’t see that happening.
The decision to accept China's bid as the Olympic host is absurd. The decision is clearly more about money through sponsorships than worries about the very real global problems that surround China. According to Joseph Maguire in the "Handbook of Sports and Media", "It can be concluded that globalization refers to the growing network of interdependencies - political, economic, cultural, and social - that bind human beings together, for better and for worse." (436) Unfortunately, the situation between China and the rest of the world is for the worse at this point. The Olympic Committee knows about the issues with Tibet and Darfur yet they still go through with the Olympic bid in China. It's difficult to completely put down the Olympics because often times there are great stories that emerge even though many Olympics have been surrounded by controversy. Not only are there already huge problems there, but they will continue throughout as those who are protesting realize that this is the biggest stage in the world and offers the greatest chance to spread their message. If China's relations with other countries improves as a result of the Olympics it will only be a facade as the other country may be treated nicely by China but everyone knows the issuses that surround the country regardless of accomodating they are. Hopefully as a result of all the protesting more steps will be taken in helping right the issues in China but I have a feeling it will just get worse.
Unfortunately, the world has been experiencing extreme controversy recently due to the fact that the Olympics are being held in China this year. The most recent event to my knowledge is what took place in San Francisco. Protests occurred in San Francisco because human rights groups are against the Beijing Olympics. After briefly hearing about the San Francisco protest I decided to learn more about the tragic event. I read an article that explained why human rights groups were protesting against the 2008 Olympics. The article explained how human rights groups were upset about China's poor human rights records and felt as though the country did not deserve to hold an event that is meant to bring all countries together.
After reading articles that I had found online along with the article Sharon posted, I am in disbelief about the events that are occurring. The Olympics are supposed to be a celebration of the best athletes in the world. An event where men and women of all nationalities can go to compete for their dream of winning an Olympic medal. I wonder if the Olympic games this summer are worth all the controversy? As I previously stated, the Olympics are supposed to bring everyone together, not violently tear everyone apart due to the political, social and economical issues that surround China. Personally, if people are risking their lives and dangerously protesting I am not sure the games are worth it this year. Not to mention, it has been said that certain countries are hesitant to send their athletes to China with the fear of something happening to them.
In chapter 26 of the Handbook, Joseph Maguire states, "...it can be concluded that globalization refers to the growing network of interdependencies -political, economic, cultural, and social- that bind human beings together, for better and for worse." This quote perfectly explains this year's Olympics. With globalization not everything is perfect. Human beings in the world can be networked together for better and for WORSE. So far, many believe that the political, economic, cultural, and social aspects surrounding China and the world are forcing the 2008 Olympic games to be thought of as networking people together for the worse. The Olympics have brought nothing but success and great memories to countries all over the world and we can only hope that this year turns out to be for the better and not for the worse.
In regards to Shannon's questions, I do believe there are going to be problems in China, certainly before the games take place. I also feel as though many people are going to be worrying about unfortunate events that may occur during the games. That is not to say that something bad is going to happen but I can definitely see people worrying. As far as after the Olympics, I feel as though only time will tell. Who knows, maybe the Olympics will give China a chance to enhance their relationships with other countries. Lastly, the Olympics always pose lasting impressions on the places they are held. With all the controversy I am sure many people will never forget the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The worldwide protests will produce negative affects in the minds of others but maybe positive affects will be produced for those who attend the games or even tune in to the games on television. It will be very interesting to see what happens this summer and I sure hope everyone stays safe.
Without a doubt there will be constant issues throughout the olympics this upcoming year. It is important to note that protests and riots have already begun. But how frequent are protests and riots during the times when the Olympics is ongoing? The answer is not the common, I mean sure, every year you have the idiots who attempt to put out the torch. The fact of the matter is people are not seeking the flame to be put out, people want to abandon the games all together. All due to China's contraversial decisions in politics.
The book says "globalixation is subject to political, ideological, and social...review," meaning that the country that hosts the Olympics will have to deal with public scrutiny, not just from their own country, but from the entire world. The fact of the matter is, while China is extremely contraversial with all the governmental decisions it has made it still has a market that business, companies, and manufacturing drool about. This brings income not to China, but all the countries who attend and are able to sell good and services during the events.
So yes, China may be effected by globixation but in the end the key factor is money. Ofcourse there will be contraversy, as there is in almost every Olympic holding, whether it be large or small. But with the public and media so concerned with the Beijing events, its hard not to see complaints, rallies, and riots not occur. In fact, most of the Media would be shocked if it didnt.
China is not in trouble for hosting the 2008 Olympic games. Yes, it has gotten some negative publicity and there have been massive protests against the games being held in China, but I believe this would have happened in many other places as well as China.
As we read in the handbook, the Olympics are "globalization at work" at that is really what the Olympics are, for a short period of time trying to put any differences in the world aside and everyone getting along while enacting in sporting games.
I think if the United States were to host the Olympic games this year, they would also be the center of protests and negative publicity for their involvement in the war in the middle east. I think in this day in age, whenever you will have an event as big as the Olympics, no matter where the games are there are going to be people who want to protest the games for some reason and who dont want the games to be played. I think you cant let this change the games and they should go on as planned, as they will, and China should not be in trouble or worried at all for being awarded the 2008 Olympic games.
I believe the political and social issues surrounding this years summer games will undoubtedly continue. Given the amount of opposition that has risen even just in the torch's worldwide trip, does not forcast a bright summer games. Rachel makes a good point, bringing up the comparison to these games with the '36 Berlin games. It blows my mind that given the current controversies in Tibet and China's involvement in the Sudan that the Olympic Committee would give the bid to Beijing. Money is clearly the root of that decision given the fact that China has a vast commercial market. The Handbook talks about the relationship between the Olympics, economics and politics and how they are all affected together. If the games go on without a hitch, without some sort of large protest, the effects on China will be great. The economy will flourish and humanitarian issues will fall back out of the limelight. It may open up the China's doors to foreign investors who find a market in the Chinese people, helping to bring stability. If it is boycotted or protested however, and the ugly Chinese government has to intervene, the exact opposite will happen. There will be no foreign investment and most nations would pull back, not wanting to keep their athletes and diplomats at risk of a volatile communist government.
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