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Boycotting Olympics
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| posted by migao 150 days ago |
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Spielberg started this year's boycotting rally but I'm wondering a bit why it's all about Darfur, wouldn't there be also strong reasons inside Dirtland itself for boycotting (lack of free elections, free press, etc.)? In 1987 Reagan threatened to boycott 1988 Seoul Olympics unless South Korea introduces democracy (and it did), Moscow olympics 1980 were boycotted by U.S. etc. (and the USSR started collapsing a few years later) - doesn't anybody have the guts to try to do something big ass like that this time?
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by Velvet 150 days ago |
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"The Olympic Games are the creation of the Ancient Greeks with records of the first competition dating back to 776 BC. The Games reigned supreme in Ancient Greece for 12 centuries until in 393 AD Emperor Theodosius founded them to be a pagan celebration and thus ended the competition.
It wasn't until the late 1800's that Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin began researching and rallying support for the rebirth of the Olympic Games. His hard work succeeded and in 1896 Athens was the host city of the first of the modern Olympic Games.
1896 Athens, Greece
Thirteen countries participated at the 1896 Athens Games with around 300 athletes taking part in the competition. There were 43 events contested which fell into the following categories;
athletics (track and field), cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
Competition was open to any man who wanted to participate. All medals were silver and they were only awarded to the winner of an event."
Why can't the Olympics just carry on WITHOUT political agendas, as I assume they used to do so in the beginning?
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
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| Junior Member |
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| posted by migao 150 days ago |
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I guess there's no going back, it's a fully commercial event with doped athletes. Why not turn it into something useful if you can.
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| posted by Load Toad 150 days ago |
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The collapse of the USSR had f' all to do with the Olympics being banned - I think your connection there is like saying 'I got up it was sunny - I obviously invented the breakfast'. I can't remember why the USSR boycotted the '84 Olympics so that must have had a really big impact.
The Olympics were granted to China with everyone knowing exactly where China stands on its political issues. To start whining now seems weird to me & though I don't have any interest in the Olympics myself I can't see why it has to be politicised. But it will be since the '36 games in Berlin it always has.
And with regard to trying something big against China - political and social change going to take time if it's going to be done without chaos.
You used to speak the truth.
But now you're clever.
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| posted by puyi 150 days ago |
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The Olympics is about opportunity.....
to compete
to make money in advertising
and to take the opportunity to press for any political leverage that the games present
darren rudd is a sinophile
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| posted by Lola 150 days ago |
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The Olympics were originally only for men, and men competed naked.
That's so freaking gay, but I think it would give us all a much-needed laugh.
Dancing madly sideways
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| posted by Pierrro 150 days ago |
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Fully agree, you should Boycott the olympic.
By the way, once you have taken this courageous decision, please send me your tickets for the 100M/ 400M Dash finals and Woman Gymnastic as I have been searching high and low for tickets for the games...
I promiss that when I am there I will voice my discontent by not standing during the Chinese anthem.
And let's face it... The Olympics are a factor of social progress... There are now giving fine for people who are spitting in Beijing (not yet in Shanghai thought).
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| posted by tvbtiger 150 days ago |
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quote:
Moscow olympics 1980 were boycotted by U.S. etc. (and the USSR started collapsing a few years later)
USSR didn't collapse becaus of Olympics boycott 
As for China - if anyone would care about what Olympics originally represent, Peking woulnd't get it in the first place. But since it got - it means no one cares and it's a little to late to suddenly "discover" something might be wrong with it in political/democracy aspect 
Anni
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| posted by Killer Tomato 150 days ago |
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abso f**king lutely !! well Said LT quote:
Originally posted by Load Toad
The collapse of the USSR had f' all to do with the Olympics being banned - I think your connection there is like saying 'I got up it was sunny - I obviously invented the breakfast'. I can't remember why the USSR boycotted the '84 Olympics so that must have had a really big impact.
The Olympics were granted to China with everyone knowing exactly where China stands on its political issues. To start whining now seems weird to me & though I don't have any interest in the Olympics myself I can't see why it has to be politicised. But it will be since the '36 games in Berlin it always has.
And with regard to trying something big against China - political and social change going to take time if it's going to be done without chaos.
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| posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant 150 days ago |
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USSR boycotted 1984 because USA boycotted 1980, which was ostensibly because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Which is strange because the US bigwigs were not displeased about this, viewing it as the Russians' Vietnam.
As for politics being on the agenda re: Beijing 2008, I think the chest pumping nationalism of the host nation will more than outweigh the odd half-assed ill-informed protest by those who know less than they think they do.
Watchu talkin' about Willis?
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| posted by Pierrro 150 days ago (edited 150 days ago) |
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All this does not change the fact that pple should boycott and send me their tickets.
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease...
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| posted by Gimpmask 150 days ago (edited 150 days ago) |
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I'll boycott the show jumping but not lwomen's shotput.
Women's Olympic shot put champion Irina Korzhanenko of Russia with hairy armpits
Gorgeous.
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Having testicles is like being chained to the village idiot.
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| posted by migao 149 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by tvbtiger
quote:
Moscow olympics 1980 were boycotted by U.S. etc. (and the USSR started collapsing a few years later)
USSR didn't collapse becaus of Olympics boycott
As for China - if anyone would care about what Olympics originally represent, Peking woulnd't get it in the first place. But since it got - it means no one cares and it's a little to late to suddenly "discover" something might be wrong with it in political/democracy aspect
I guess nothing much happens directly only because of olympics boycott, but it can turn the attention to something, or add fuel to the fire. I know the USSR collapse connection with olympics boycott is far fetched, I don't remember where I read about that... but at least those rounds of boycotts did not make the Soviet government more popular among the Russians. Of course Afghanistan misery itself, Chernobyl, collapsed economy etc. mattered more and helped Mr. Gorbachev to rise with his glasnost/perestroyka agendas that eventually brought USSR to collapse.
Nobody commented about Korea though. Did that boycott threat really help to speed up free elections in the country?
It's not the first time that the boycotts come "late", of course the games get more attention the closer they come. The games need so much investment that they need to be granted years in advance. But every single country (its olympic committee), athlete, spectator, sponsor or other supporter can decide by themselves any time whether they want to drop out or not.
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| posted by AKA 149 days ago |
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Spielberg is not actually boycotting the Olympics though
When a skinhead walks down the street, every chick's heart skip a beat
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| posted by Juno Watt 149 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant
the odd half-assed ill-informed protest by those who know less than they think they do.
A strange way to characterize people who are likely to be protesting against the imprisonment of reporters, the suppression of peaceful religious groups, the exploitation of workers, the occupation of Tibet, etc.
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| posted by Beer Boy 149 days ago |
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just remind me again, cause I kinda forgot, not having seen much about the Olyms the last few months, when is it taking place again???
I take under performing to new lows...
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| posted by AKA 149 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by Juno Watt
quote:
Originally posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant
the odd half-assed ill-informed protest by those who know less than they think they do.
A strange way to characterize people who are likely to be protesting against the imprisonment of reporters, the suppression of peaceful religious groups, the exploitation of workers, the occupation of Tibet, etc.
As strange as posting a picture of Il Duce as the greatest ever Italian 
When a skinhead walks down the street, every chick's heart skip a beat
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| posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant 149 days ago (edited 149 days ago) |
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quote:
Originally posted by Juno Watt
quote:
Originally posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant
the odd half-assed ill-informed protest by those who know less than they think they do.
A strange way to characterize people who are likely to be protesting against the imprisonment of reporters, the suppression of peaceful religious groups, the exploitation of workers, the occupation of Tibet, etc.
Nowt wrong with those causes, but I wonder how much athletes actually know about these issues. And connecting Darfur seems like an extra degree of separation. Most of our governments have unpleasant connections somehow with awful regimes.
Watchu talkin' about Willis?
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| posted by Juno Watt 149 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by The Cerne Abbas Giant
Nowt wrong with those causes, but I wonder how much athletes actually know about these issues. And connecting Darfur seems like an extra degree of separation. Most of our governments have unpleasant connections somehow with awful regimes.
I don't think it will be athletes the Chinese government needs to worry about. A lot of groups from outside will be aiming to protest in Beijing.
Mind you, whether they will be able to enter China is another matter. I note that it is suddenly difficult to obtain anything longer than a 3-month visa into China at the moment, and many long-term but 'unofficial' expats in Beijing are not having their work visas renewed...
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| posted by Paps of Jura 149 days ago |
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OOooo look at Juno our local resident font
Dib Dob nib knob
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