Would you support a campaign to boycott the Chinese Olympics?

[Callisto]

I half heard a discussion on R4 on Saturday morning about why we should/shouldn't boycott the games next year and a quick google found this from Reporters Sans Frontieres: www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174 (I had no idea such an organisation existed before this morning btw).

Personally I am in favour because of human rights and environmental issues in China and because of their actions in Burma and Darfur but my partner is anti any boycott because he says sport shouldn't be politicised.

What do you all think?

I really think China is the archetypal evil empire. Appalling human rights/environmental record.
I try not to buy made in china goods.
But it makes every darn thing in the world.

So hard to make an impact on that front.

LOL - I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if the London Olympics are boycoted by a good many countries from around the world!

So, would the people who say sport and politics should be kept separate say that we should have played against S Africa throughout the apartheid years?

Sport is used as a political tool within and between countries - for morale, status, boost in trade, globalised brands etc etc - how can sport and politics ever be kept separate?

I would be extremely surprised if any country boycotted the UK in the 2012 Olympics.

And whatever the reality, the notion that sport and politics should always be kept separate is a valued ideal. Lots of intelligent, thoughtful people felt that SA should have been allowed to continue to play throughout the Apartheid years, not because they backed the regime, but because they believed that sport was the one thing that could ultimately unite people of all races and creeds.

I believe this to be as true today as it was then .. but both points of view are equally valid.

Well, yes, the ideal is that sport should unite people...unless the laws kept them apart....personally I don't think I could have brought myself to play against (or in) a team to which most of the people from the opposing country were barred from by dint of race. And yes of course both points of view are valid, but can they both be right? (yes in different circumstances becaue things are always complex...)

Shall we have a bet on the potential for Russia, Iraq and / or Iran to boycott the London olympics? Not sure whether Afghanistan take part in the Olympics? Actually, I withdraw Russia from that list.

I was in Tianamen Square 5 years ago and there was a lone man protesting peacefully with leaflets when 2 huge police cars raced up to him arrested him and took him away. They made all the tourists who had witnessed it take the film out of their cameras. Total assholes . I dread to think what goes on behinds closed doors.

Can only see a boycott of Chinese products as being even slightly effective. Would be sad to see the Olympics affected.

I would love to boycott but I wouldn't cheat the competitors out of their career high. Did I miss the campaign to boycott as soon as Beijing was considered as a host city? Because if I were an athlete, I sure as hell wouldn't want to give China any kudos or receive any of their hospitality.

DH and I turned down a good deal of money from the Chinese government to do an IT project for them. They're scum.

yes definitely.
They don't need the economic boost as they are producing enough crap already and selling it to us & their safety record is appaling (spontaneous bridge collapse and other mining/building catastrophes). Hope none of those newly built stadiums will collapse....
I'm not even talking about human rights and their wretched foreign policy...

desiderata..the south african sports boycott was effective cause it kicked white regime and supporters where it hurt, and helped change system there

London olympics.. my main concern is that it will be a great big fat target really...
and all the green spaces and trees that have been lost / we will lose to make space for it....in any city that hosts it..

if they could be more honest and have a drug free events and drug aided events.. then it would at least be more 'olympian' in spirit..for the competitors that dont want to cheat..

its just a waste of money imho