With the Olympics to take place in the historic city of Beijing this summer, an uproar of protests has erupted over China’s form of government and its treatment of not only its own citizens but especially the region of Tibet. Hence, some international governments, including our own, are showing signs of a possible boycott. Let us take a look back into history and keenly review what boycotting has really accomplished:
In 1980, we boycotted the Moscow Summer Games in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and what happened? The U.S.S.R. did not even flinch in its attack on Afghanistan, and on top of that most of their athletes came away with nice gold trinkets, since we were left to sit on our hands and huff back home. Nothing at all was accomplished, except for a few embittered and angry U.S. athletes — American competitors, some who would never again have the chance to compete in the greatest international sports gala in the history of our world.
As current talks of boycotting the upcoming summer games grew, resentful members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic swim team gave their input on what dissenting had done for them personally. They discussed the intensity of their training, which consisted of practicing six days a week, six hours a day, and not only preparing physically but mentally as well — imagine competing in the sport you dearly love on the Olympic level.
The effect is astronomical, and to have all the long hours of practice and preparation vanquished by a president who mistakenly attempted to put principle above reality (aka Jimbo Carter) is just devastating, not to mention heart-breaking.
Personally speaking, if I were Tibetan, I wouldn’t be for these Summer Olympics either, but the International Olympics Committee specifically chose China as the location of this year’s games to purposefully instigate moral change on the irrational and lethal-minded giant (i.e. they knew about China’s faults, and it’s not like we were never guilty either). The objective of the Olympics is friendly, international competition (emphasis on the last word), and not friendly, international politics.
Those of you who would yell “boycott,” let me ask you this: Have you ever participated in a sport? Probably. You may not know the level of training and preparation that top athletes around the world go through. Who are you to say “no” to them? Are these athletes going there and directly donating money to a “Finish off Tibet!” fund? No, they are going there to compete in a cordial, global environment which, in the end, brings the world together in the form of sport and exercise, not on their definition of government or civil rights.
Besides, perhaps the international camaraderie and sportsmanship of these Olympic Games will be so inspiring that China may be influenced just enough to think, “Hmm, playing nice indeed has its rewards.” That thought itself will be a step forward.