Amanda Peterson
When hordes of protesters lined the streets of London when the Olympic torch passed through the city, officials tried to downplay the demonstrations.
Craig Reedie, a member of the British International Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press the protests were only “isolated flashpoints” and much less serious than the television news coverage led people to believe.
Then came Paris, where the protests became violent and the flame had to be extinguished for safety reasons a few times. They expected the protesters, but many more showed up than anticipated, according to the AP.
Before the torchbearers had even left European soil, a security situation cropped up in San Francisco when protesters strung a giant banner across the Golden Gate Bridge.
On Monday, IOC President Jacques Rogge said the executive board would discuss Friday whether to end the international leg of the torch relay because of the demonstrations. He said he was “deeply saddened” by the protests and was concerned about the relay in San Francisco.
“We recognize the right for people to protest and express their views, but it should be nonviolent. We are very sad for all the athletes and the people who expected so much from the run and have been spoiled of their joy,” Rogge said.
When the torch did arrive in San Francisco, the course had to be adjusted because of the unexpectedly large crowds that had gathered. Because so many people had gathered at the waterfront for the closing ceremony before the torch departed, organizers canceled the ceremony.
Instead, the torch left without any fanfare at the San Francisco International Airport. It was put directly on the plane without being seen.
What I want to know about the international torch relay is why the IOC officials and other organizers have been so confused about the size of the crowds who have gathered to protest the Olympics.
I do not support the Tibetan protesters, but whether they are right or wrong is not the issue. This international event is a chance for those who support the freedom of Tibet to easily gain attention for their cause. And the Chinese will have the same attention for their own ideas.
Rogge has said he does not want to mix politics and sports with the Olympics. If he truly believes that the Olympics have nothing to do with politics, then I think he might have misunderstood his job description.
The Olympics have always been about politics. It is another chance for countries to compete just as they compete economically and politically. And for the host country, it is almost unlimited publicity for whatever information they want to feed to the world about their nation.
When Berlin hosted the 1936 Olympics while Germany was caught in Adolf Hitler’s vice-like grip of Nazism, the games turned into a Nazi propaganda machine for the nation. With the exception of Jesse Owens throwing off Hitler’s Aryan domination, the Germans used the event to promote their own political ideals on the eve of World War II.
Though I think there are very few things that could be more extreme than the 1936 Olympics, I do think China will use the Olympics as an opportunity to put its best foot forward on the political stage and only show what it wants from within the mostly closed nation. Whether I or anyone else agrees, it is their event and their chance to show off.
Chinese officials have been spinning the event, and they obviously will continue to do so. If they are going to use the Olympics to their advantage because of the media spotlight, why shouldn’t the groups who are protesting against China have a chance to have their voice heard too?
Amanda Peterson is community news editor. Her column runs on Fridays.
