Page 4 | To not want my family to watch the Olympics ?

KatieDD · 2008-08-08T16:11:12+00:00

I want to boycott viewing because I think it's disgusting they were ever given the games and DH has just put the opening ceremony on for the children to see.

Kewcumber · 10/08/2008 09:45

Harare would be a fab idea - people are lovely and the exorbitant cost may be final straw for the Mugabe govt.

HIJACK - dotty could you still make 29th Augsut?

unknownrebelbang · 10/08/2008 10:32

I don't like the fact that China have been allowed to host the Olympics, but agree that now it's here not watching it won't change anything.

We're watching bits, and we've also used the opportunity to discuss wider issues surrounding sports/politics, but something else occurred to me too - it's good for children to see some positive role models for a change, instead of the blardy slebs slapped across the meeja.

Niceychops · 10/08/2008 10:42

better off writing to the IOC. I did!

DaisyBuchanon · 10/08/2008 10:46

Human Rights issues aside (and agree that the whole Olympic spirit is about joining together for sport, and it shouldn't become a political football) - DS2 seems to have the ability to find the dullest spectator sports imaginable and watch them "because it's the Olympics".

I drew the line at Boxing this morning, but the endless rowing and cycling - it's doing my head in. And when I moaned, he went on about how we live in a democracy ("not like China") and so he could choose to watch what he wanted.

mrz · 10/08/2008 10:50

Not sure how buying a Chinese meal from someone who is most probably a British citizen is supporting China but there you go.
I may be wrong but the time for boycotting is long gone. The TV companies and sponsors have already paid out for the privilege of televising the games and having their names in prominent positions. So the Chinese authorities won't be worried in the slightest by poor viewing figures.

What not watching may do is prevent companies from bidding to cover London if they think it isn't going to be financially profitable???

unknownrebelbang · 10/08/2008 10:50

Nah, it's the shooting that does my head in.

I mean, why, fgs?

Slickbird · 10/08/2008 12:43

Thanks Ninedragons!

Twelvelegs · 10/08/2008 14:37

I am in China and watched the magnificent, if not very very Chinese, opening ceremony. The mood here is one of pride, a gateway to the rest of the world. Maybe the greater good will prevail and people in China will want to invite the rest of world in more, become more transparent and be seen as a more forgiving and cooperative country.
Perhaps the Olympics can really cut through politics and allow children of the world to see it all as one.
Human rights are dreadful in the USA but I don't recall the same fuss about their games.
Some times you have to invite people in in order to begin negotiation. Keeping China out will not resolve anything, talking just might.

RTKangaMummy · 10/08/2008 14:56

good point re usa

wot about how the poor people were treated after huricane in new orleans etc basically ignored cos of their colour and that they were poor

fifflegumps · 10/08/2008 19:58

Does everyone in China believe in the regime that they are being made to follow - no. Don't be biased towards all Chinese - give them a chance - they have been through many years of very scary tough governments. Saw on telly little Chinese boy enjoying being at the big games, smiles and enjoyment, just like our kids and everyone's kids. Don't judge whole countries by their government.

TheHedgeWitch · 10/08/2008 20:18

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ladymariner · 10/08/2008 20:52

and elizabeth cooke winning gold in the cycling race today was just fantastic, she was so brilliant. I was so pleased ds was watching that, he saw unbelievable effort, determination and team spirit, things that are important in life!!

And we did watch Plelps get his first gold at 3am this morning. I set my alarm, he was in bed with me, we watched the race, turned the tv back off and went back to sleep.

ladymariner · 10/08/2008 20:53

Pleps? who the hell is pleps Think my typing has gone awry - meant to put phelps!!!

OonaghBhuna · 10/08/2008 23:07

The cycling was amazing. Our friend didnt make it through to the semi final in the rowing but he has another chance on Tuesday, so fingers crossed.......

mrz · 11/08/2008 11:21

My daughter was chatting to a friend last night and called down "Can you remember X at school? Well he's competing at the Olympics!" So we switched on just as they showed him on the days news

yaz2 · 11/08/2008 11:33

yanbu. I am in China(2 years) and the chinese people are really nice and have worked amazingly hard and are very proud to be hosting the olympics. I agree with you on the issues with the chinese government policies but being here makes me realise that the games should not be a political pawn as it mean as much if not more to the average joe here than it does to the government.

wannaBe · 11/08/2008 11:40

so let me get this straight.

You don't agree with the lack of democracy in China/Tibet.

And you show this disagreement by telling your own family that they are not allowed to use their democratic right and are not allowed to watch it.

Don't you think you're being a bit of a hipocrit?

Dottydot · 11/08/2008 12:12

[Kew - I think so - where is it - will go and look for thread but do me a link if you see this! ]

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 11/08/2008 13:03

YABU to think that you can force your opinions upon your family - much better, as others has pointed out, that you explai your reasons for not wanting to watch and letting your children (and DH!) make up their own minds.

I agree about human rights history of China - but don't you think the Games have actually done a hell of a lot to open up those kind of issues to the wider world that might not have been aware of them before? Also this is not just about supporting our athletes but watching those Chinese athletes who only a few decades ago were forced to work in production teams in the countryside whilst Mao corrupted the people who ran the country - it's a major story of triumph over adversity for hunreds of athletes all over the world - don't you think your dc's have the right to see such incredible role models in action?

Kewcumber · 11/08/2008 20:36

Dotty - probably at JAkieNo's in Oxfordshire (seemed the most central place) will go find link for you.

expatinengland · 11/08/2008 20:44

Well done Elizabeth Cooke. Although DH and I hope the Americans win as many medals as we can..hey..be gentle..we're Americans..and hopefully lots of golds, but if the US loses, we hope it's to the UK. After the US, we cheer for UK. I even hope Paula wins the marathon, but worry about her injury.

How many of you don't even know who 'Paula' is, and what her injury is?

What fascinates us Americans is how many Brits actually put down their country and want to move abroad. I mean..there's actually a magazine entitled, Living Abroad. Nothing wrong with such a magazine, but why do so many of my friends spend a lot of time wanting to move elsewhere? For the most part Americans would never want to do that, so few do. We love our country and love being American despite so much that is wrong with our leadership at the present. (BTW, I can't stand Bush and never voted for him.) Why don't you all have more national pride? I'd love to see more support for your country's athletes, but it's rare.

I wonder what your athletes would think of some of these posts if they read this thread?

I can't stand China's record and was astounded when they were granted the Olympics, but they were granted them so I think we should support the athletes and join other groups and contribute to Amnesty Internation or Free Tibet groups. Those of you boycotting the games ...please come back and tell us what YOU have done to support your cause. If you're actively doing something, great. If not, keep your mouth shut because you are a hypocrite.

By the way somebody asked....Phelps is an American swimmer attempting to break an Olympic record by winning 8 Gold medals. Now that you know that I'm sure most of you will hope and pray that he loses just because you hate Americans or Bush.

Twelvelegs, if you think "human rights in the USA are dreadful" you need to get out more. Why not visit the Middle East in addition to China? BTW, the Amnesty Int'l website is not accessible to the Chinese people and many of them have no idea what is going on with Tibet because they have no access to this information.

ladymariner...thanks for your support for phelps...He's truly amazing to watch and i hope you saw the US team win over France. They had to win that for him to break Mark Spitz' record of 7 gold medals. Glad you enjoy sport too.

DH and I were thrilled when the UK secured the games in 2012, but we'll be back home then...might have to come back and visit though.

Also, to you all that hate America and Americans.....sure you were happy to learn about the US businessman that was stabbed to death in front of his wife and daughter (daughter married to the US volleyball coach) at Drum Tower..wife fighting for her life...you know Bush bad, American bad, Katrina WAS bad and horrible...that's Bush's fault because he hates poor people ..actually he doesn't care about anywhere in the US that votes Democrat if he can help it. New Orleans is a Democrat area.

Be careful throwing stones if you live in a glass house. It's terrible that you all have all those honor killings in the UK, and stabbings in the UK...just as it's terrible we have lots of gun crime (but it happens here too.) Why do we have to say such hateful things? BTW, most Americans love the UK...It's rare that I hear a negative comment, but when I tell them that a few Brits hate Americans because they hate Bush or whatever (fill in the blank here), they are surprised.

I want to be sure I say 'a few' because many do not hate the US, but on every thread you get something like 'the US has dreadful human rights.' Do you really think that is so? If so, please don't ever come to the US...That's right..you've never been and will never come...Twelvelegs? You would be a hypocrite if you said such things, but then loved to visit Florida, NY or San Fran..or wherever.

Americans also can't understand why Muslims want their own schools in the UK as we have a separation of church/state with schools(Bush would like to change this). That means if you want a religious school in the US, you have to pay to go to it as our public..your state...schools are free but can't be affiliated with any religion.

Both countries have their pros/cons, but I think we're the two best darn countries in the world! Love having the opportunity experience the richness of this place.