China Falls Short on Vows for Olympics
By Jill Drew and Maureen Fan | The Washington Post
April 21, 2008
China has spent billions of dollars to fulfill its commitment to stage a grand Olympics. Athletes will compete in world-class stadiums. New highways and train lines crisscross Beijing. China built the world's largest airport terminal to welcome an expected 500,000 foreign visitors. Thousands of newly planted trees and dozens of colorful "One World, One Dream" billboards line the main roads of a spruced-up capital. The security system has impressed the FBI and Interpol.
But beneath the shimmer and behind the slogan, China is under criticism for suppressing Tibetan protests, sealing off large portions of the country to foreign reporters, harassing and jailing dissidents and not doing enough to curb air pollution. It has not lived up to a pledge in its Olympic action plan, released in 2002, to "be open in every aspect," and a constitutional amendment adopted in 2004 to recognize and protect human rights has not shielded government critics from arrest.
The two realities show that when China had to build something new to fulfill expectations, it has largely delivered. But in areas that touch China's core interests, Olympic pledges come second.
"To ensure a successful Olympic Games, the government did make some technical and strategic efforts to improve the environment, human rights and press freedom. They did make some progress. But in these three areas, there's a long, long way to go," said Cheng Yizhong, an editor who tracks China's Olympic preparations.
With the Games less than four months away, the International Olympic Committee is scrambling to nail down specifics of how China will treat criticism of its actions during the event. Pressed this month, IOC President Jacques Rogge clarified that athletes would be allowed to speak freely in Beijing's Olympic venues, calling it an "absolute" human right.
"I can't help but feel cynical about all this," said David Wallechinsky, an Olympic historian, who said the IOC should have been more forceful with China earlier. "What are they going to do, take away the Games?"
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What the hell is wrong with you foreigners?!
What the hell are you doing?!
Are you totally, physically and mentally, freaking out?
I can't agree more!
Sarkozy used Olymipics to pressure China on Tibet.
France defended policing of torch relay.
France blamed Chinese organisers for Olymipic torch run chaos.
German media brutally rumoured in groups that China expelled international students.
Japan canceled Olympic torch-related event.
Japan's Prime Minister told China that Tibetan unrest had become an "international issue".
...
The massive news above keep buzzing in my ears.
How can I cool down and still maintain idiotic silence or ironically,playing dumb.
I can't take them any more.
It's such a shame. France.
It's such a shame. Germany.
It's such a shame.Britain.
and you are still doing a good job to be a total pig ass and a Tantony as you always did, JAPAN&USA!
but I'm really disappointed and furious at what you have done, F & G & B.
I just thought our relationship was sort of good and at this very moment at least you two might bravely step forward to support the just struggle and pull us up for good.
but completely the opposite,so far from helping us out from the crisis, you even added insult to injury to make up those ridiculous lies and yell out to the world those stupid denunciation by flaunting the banner of supporting the freedom of expression.
You are such hypocrites and every conscious Chinese has already figured out it was a downright imperialist policy and contemptible trick of profitting at others' expense.
I'm just sorry and regretful that I'd ever been in deep love with you and appreciated your splendid culture and breathtaking scenery.
Actually,too much beauty would probably hide the truth and some abnormal motivations which have been buried for quite a while,wouldn't it?
I do promise I won't be cheated again, though I admit I'd been pretty naive ever.
NOT, any more.
You haven't a clue how many difficulties China had lived through in getting the precious chance to hold the Olympics.
You haven't a clue how China stuck it out through thick and thin under great pressure from western sarcastic remarks and public opinions.
You haven't a clue how hard China tried her best to defend the motherland, resist agression, safeguard unity and oppose split and to be responsible for the history, the Chinese nation and its people who have never given up and never will.
So you haven't a clue how much it hurt!
but,unfortunately, the biggest mistake you've made was that China will no longer be injured or insulted. Instead, she'll stay and fight with all her lovely people.
and it has already been proved that we are more and more unified rather than segregated.
If you'd like to ruin us in the first place,then you gonna lose and feel remorseful for sure.
I guess it can be proved only by the Chinese red immersing French Republic Square in Paris which is painted by the hundreds of Chinese students who love their country as desperately as they can today.
can' it?
Why not knock it off?
you've done here.
Haven't you known yet that your hypocritical democracy of your mainstream media has been revealed?
As regards the Olympic opening ceremony, I wish all the stupid heads never attend for good coz I don't wanna catch one sight of those cocky,ignorant,superficial and self-absorbed idiots' showing.
I can hardly breathe coz of getting more and more mad.
so,
To the hell the impudent racists ,the Tibetan independence supporters, the criminals in history Dalailama!
To the hell the hypocritical and sit-on-the-fence politicians and the blindest citizens!
It's the time for every Chinese to take action.
Speak out the words from the bottom of your heart and make them shameful.
WE ARE READY TOGETHER TO FIGHT BACK!
BUT OF COURSE, NOT IN THE SAME WAY!
B.T.W. we have to admit that we're getting stronger and stronger, especially economically, which brought out the jealousy and harm.
Most importantly, when you're strong, you should learn to cool down and stay in peace while facing the handing out jealous rumors. Calmness is not dumbness but to obtain further proof.
Which will prove that we're not only calm but self-composed and sensible via using our free will.