Posted by spoonman Friday 8 August, 2008 06:01 PM
Would I be wrong in suggesting that there seems to be some cynicism out there in the real world about the Beijing Lympics?
The Chinese government has sent in the smog of peace, friendship and happiness to welcome the athletes, 20,000-odd media and spectators.
The locals who haven't sensibly decided to visit relatives in the far provinces are excited and brimming with enthusiasm, unless they are ethnic Tibetan, a Turkic Muslim or a member of the outlawed Falun Gong.
But you'd have to say that blending so many people of different nationalities in Beijing can only help to make the world a better place, like all the other Lympic Games have - not.
For those who reckon China should not have got the games based on their human rights record, pollution or whatever, they are ignoring the billions of dollars in trade between our two nations annually.
If we feel so strongly about China's record in these areas, should we also ban trade with them? Most would say not. A tad hypocritical methinks.
But how much of the smog of peace, friendship and happiness is caused by Beijing burning Australian coal? Or using the energy created from our coal to power their heavy industry?
We must consider these questions if we are not to be written-off as 'whingers' when complaining about China.
So are the Lympics a waste of money?
China has spent $50 billion tarting up the city. Many of the workers have not been paid yet and while the centre of Beijing will be the focus, these poor buggers are living in slums out of sight.
The games themselves have cost Beijing $20 billion. Each competing nation also spends a fortune training their athletes and getting them there.
Is it all worth it?
Will it make China more 'Western' in outlook, which was part of the reason the IOC granted the Lympics to Beijing?
But does any of that stuff really matter when sport will be the big winner?
Unless, of course, all the big winners in the actual sports are on drugs.
Over to you.....
