- Feb 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: sandorski
China is in an impossible situation here. Tibetans and others know that China's only choices are to give in to Demands or face International Embarrassment. Of course how bad that embarrassment will be is in China's hands, but I suspect they'll be willing to go quite far to not give into Demands.
The French idea sounds like a good one as it is doubtful anyone will come up with a better idea.
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It should be up to the individual Athletes, not any government or sports governing body.
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It should be up to the individual Athletes, not any government or sports governing body.
Air quality will be a hard issue to avoid. World record holder in the marathon is not going to run anything longer than maybe a 10k because "I have no intention of committing suicide in Beijing,".Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I hope there will be various independent groups doing air quality testing, and first sign of hazardous air quality a alert be made so countries can pull their athletes from the sporting events or at least have them delayed until it is safe.
I can see China trying to suppress/keep out any such groups, but i can see that ending very badly (worst case is they succeed and a athlete dies from smog).
from linkHis decision comes a day after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would consider postponing events at the Games such as the marathon if they felt conditions were unsafe.
However, the IOC's commission conceded there will be some risk to competitors in endurance events "that include minimum one hour continuous physical efforts at high level - urban road cycling, mountain bike, marathon, marathon swimming, triathlon and road walk."
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
They should use the Tibet flag instead of the French flag in the ceremony.
While it's true that they will go to such lengths, in reality that's no better than expecting to cure lung cancer by just quitting smoking.Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
China will make the air breathable. They will completely shut down the entire city for the duration of the games if they have to.
Unlikely. Fringe journalists may cover real stories, but we both know that the main stories about China will follow a quaint little family and how they have a humble but comfortable life somewhere on the outskirts of beijing. Maybe another one that travelled a couple of days there through pristine countryside. We won't see any of the populous behind bars for political dissension or the $4/day workers who make their living melt electronics and breathing in their fumes. We won't see vast areas uninhabited by agriculture because the ground water and air is so poisoned plants cannot even live there and they won't show kids swimming in the yellow river, a name the river has matured into because of limlitless industrial waste.But then again, in the grand scheme of things, something like the Olympic games might be a great opportunity for the media to get some attention to what's going on in the country, and raise some awareness.
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I hope there will be various independent groups doing air quality testing, and first sign of hazardous air quality a alert be made so countries can pull their athletes from the sporting events or at least have them delayed until it is safe.
I can see China trying to suppress/keep out any such groups, but i can see that ending very badly (worst case is they succeed and a athlete dies from smog).
Originally posted by: glutenberg
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I hope there will be various independent groups doing air quality testing, and first sign of hazardous air quality a alert be made so countries can pull their athletes from the sporting events or at least have them delayed until it is safe.
I can see China trying to suppress/keep out any such groups, but i can see that ending very badly (worst case is they succeed and a athlete dies from smog).
Die from smog? Are you joking?
Originally posted by: miketheidiot
Originally posted by: glutenberg
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I hope there will be various independent groups doing air quality testing, and first sign of hazardous air quality a alert be made so countries can pull their athletes from the sporting events or at least have them delayed until it is safe.
I can see China trying to suppress/keep out any such groups, but i can see that ending very badly (worst case is they succeed and a athlete dies from smog).
Die from smog? Are you joking?
the sad thing is that thats a legitimate concern.
Agreed, the real 'embarrassment' should be shared by the western world that continues to ignore China's totalitarian abuses.Originally posted by: Slick5150
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
It should be up to the individual Athletes, not any government or sports governing body.
Countries go, or they don't go. All the athletes are part of their country's "team". Much like the U.S. team didn't compete in the Soviet olympics, and vice versa.
I agree with France that there needs to be some kind of boycott involved here. And the IOC should be ashamed they ever had the olympics there.