About Those Olympics
Well, hello there. As I still haven't finished coding my own blogging software, I've moved the club blog over here. We can have multiple authors, comments, and everything.
To get things started, I thought I'd be controversial. (What, me?)
So, what about those Olympic Games, eh? I should mention that I was pretty happy when London was awarded the 2012 Games, though I always thought that as London hosted the event in 1908 and 1948, it could reasonably have gone to Manchester (which has a velodrome, Olympic pool, etc thanks to the 2002 Commonwealth Games) or Sheffield. But I've started to go sour on the idea. Partly, it's London, which represents the worst of England and the UK to me (and I used to live there). It's not like London needs an ego-boost or more infrastructure or more income. If there are deprived areas in London (as there are), that's down to distribution, not to the resources available. I grew up in Edinburgh, which hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1970, as a result we had an Olympic swimming pool (and further exercise as it was 6 miles from my house, and my best friend and I used to spend our return bus fare on crisps and walk back) and a stadium which could accomodate pretty much every sports. Between the ages of 8 (I was born in 1962) and about 14, I tried archery, fencing, basketball, and I can't remember the others, because they were forced on me during the summer holidays. This was a good thing, and in my opinion other cities should have the same facilities. London has them. The Games themselves last a couple of weeks, children stay around a bit longer.
As for the putative boycott of 2008, it's entirely in bad faith in my opinion. I'm not defending China's invasion of Tibet - if anything, I think it's unjustified and brutal. But they've been there a long time. Wikipedia says Tibet proclaimed its independence from China in 1911, right before the fall of the Qing government. However, "at no time did any western power come out in favor of its independence or grant it diplomatic recognition.”3 The People's Republic of China (PRC), citing historical records and the Seventeen Point Agreement signed by the Tibetan government in 1951, claims Tibet as a part of China (with a small part, depending on definitions, controlled by India). Currently every country in the world recognizes China's sovereignty over Tibet. If there was a time to protest, it was when the Games were awarded The Olympic games were awarded to Beijing, People's Republic of China after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. Boycotting now can only hurt the athletes, without making (as far as I can see) the lives of Tibetans or Chinese dissidents any better.
Now, if I may construct a straw man here, I can see a counter argument along the lines of "You just want to watch the Olympics because you like all that running and jumping stuff." Well yes, but I feel that the momentum against the Games comes from people who don't and therefore wouldn't miss it, so it's just convenient way of signalling their humanity. Cynical, moi?
Given that China re-annexed (if that's a word) Tibet 50 years before it was awarded the 2008 Games, the "shock, horror" boycott looks a lot more opportunist than the one of the 1980 Moscow Olympics (ostensibly because of the invasion of Afghanistan) which in turn was ignored by the British Olympic Association whose members summarily kissed goodbye to ever competing for their country again, let alone being elected Members of Parliament, elevation to the House of Lords, and being head of the London 2012 bid. No, wait, something is wrong there...
While I think the political reasons for boycotting the Games are bad, I think the political reasons for supporting the Games are good. The Telegraph today: Afghan girl defies death threats over Olympics. I don't think that boycotting the Olympics will have any effect on the Tibetans (apart from boosting the Dalai Lama, but he hasn't lived there for ages), but it will have a detrimental effect on women struggling for the (basic, in my opinion) right to compete and train. Have at it, friends.
Dave Weeden
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Reader Comments (6)
Well done Dave, great to see the blogging software running.
We had a good chat about this in the pub and I broadly agree with you. The only reason I can see for a boycott - after the games have already been awarded whilst the Chinese are in occupation - is to make a very big statement in the event of seriously heavy handed Chinese tactics to deal with perceived civil disobedience (ala Tiananmen square). Given that almost every major Western government is courting the Chinese for economic reasons, that’s pretty unlikely anyway.
Ah, a sports boycott - that will sort things out ! And no nasty knock-on effects for the rest of us, other than hampering those geeky/sporty types who use to actually enjoy port at school. All kinds of risks and problems could also result if we were to consider economic, political or indeed any kind of potentially effective action. Long live tokenism – but pity the people of Tibet who deserve better…
Cardiff’s very own deserving Olympiad was in action in one of our races on Saturday morning (29.3.08) - James Thie who took part in the Cardiff Blackweir Time Trial. First home needless to say, stonking along the Taff in 15:28. Chris Discombe gave it some welly though and chased him home in 2nd. Indeed, all of the best club runners seemed to be there on Saturday…
This was the 7th CBTT and there were 53 finishers, the highest turn-out to date. Bless you Phil Cook who deserves much credit having established this fine race. No goody bags, medals etc, just running in its purest form, helped on by like minded types and friendly marshals equally keen to avoid the Saturday morning shopping experience. The next race is on Saturday needless to say – 9:00am, by Tesco Extra. Post race breakfast and cholesterol loading c/o the canteen in Tescos is mandatory though.
No such luxury after 5k at the Hogweed Hilly Half on Sunday though where Matt T, Maria Z and Graeme D did the business. A fine and very well organised race in excellent (unexpected ?) weather and stunning countryside (according to Graeme and the local Tourist Board). One for the race diary in 2009 ? “Not flat” though. One of those races that does what it says on the box ?
Note the seamless links from a thread on Bejing to more local matters !
And don’t forget the Cancer Care 5k on Sunday 6th April - 10.30, Bute Park..
"In space no one can hear you scream" (so said the Alien film trailer).
Is the same true of the Les Croups blog ?! Speak-up, share, post if you can. Some more drivel from me in an attempt to get this thing going, continuing Dave's Olympic boycott theme...
I returned from Sunday's fine Cancer Care 5k race to watch live coverage of the Olympic Torch Relay c/o BBC News 24. I’d just ‘run’ myself having just done battle over the breezy 5k course with the club's elite - Alan Mason, Marcus Coles and the Kenyan Steve Owen that is (not the sub-20 minute maniacs, let alone the sub-17m from another planet brigade..).
As someone who enjoys watching (as opposed to doing…) big city races the London Torch Relay exceeded expectations. Things got interesting around the 12m mark when it became clear that the phallynx of jogging policemen, officials and demonstrators were struggling to keep up with the relay runners. I empathised (Stage 8, 2007 Castles, all over again)
They 'bonked' soon after and hit the wall, not helped I guess by the inappropriate running gear. Luckily common sense prevailed and they used a bus for the remainder of the route.
Redgrave started well but dropped out after less than a mile looking a little overweight. One chap dressed as Peter Kenyon (this must have been for a VERY good cause !), perhaps a little too scary for younger viewers - before the water shed etc. Konnie Huq ran well though, especially during the post race interview where she did’nt mince words, unabashed in spite of having just been bashed by the mob.
She expressed her own views about human rights and Tibet with a clarity and directness that others more influential would do well to learn from. Not sure which club she runs for though..
A good warm-up for FLM next. Good luck everyone from the club who is doing – I’ll be glued to the multi-screened shot finishing line looking for red and green vests. Leave the fancy dress at home though !
Ahhhh lovely Konnie Huq. That's what we need, more in-depth political commentary from ex Blue Peter presenters, come John Noakes, what's your stance on the Beijing debacle?
As for Konnie, she can hold my torch anytime, well it's not really a torch, however there is an alarming burning sensation, I suppose I should get that looked at.....
Don't forget to ask for your Blue Peter badge Love Monkey !
Keeping the mid-life crisis fantasy theme going, according to The Independent Kate Lawler will be running FLM in her bra and pants "for charity". Mike - your pacemaker is sorted ?!
Back to Beijing and the Olympics (am trying hard to keep this on topic) I think its more about keeping sport out of politics than keeping politics out of sport.
Needless to say I also read this in "The Independent" and am now trying to pass off as my own...
Congrats to everone who's just completed London
The results now on-line and probably shortly on the LC web site
Some big stories and major heroics behind the stats no doubt..
- Wendy B sub 3:15 (3:14:25), Libby 3:15:18
- Richard Self running the most evenly paced pace (11 sec negative split)
- Mike D and Richard B completing whilst clearly in trouble (with respective injuries ) judging by TV shots
- Julian B running 71:39 for the 1st half
- Jeff continues his unique Welsh 'ever present' stint
Amazing !