Missed Olympic opportunities?

When the young French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin began his quest to revive the ancient Olympic Games in 1894, his vision extended further than just an international sports meet. The modern Olympics are often referred to as a “movement,” with its own philosophy of good sportsmanship, a sense of fair play and respect for fellow athletes. Coubertin believed that through participation in sports, people could be taught that peace is possible between humans of different races, religions and nationalities.

With just two days left till the start of the 29th Olympiad, the whole world is watching Beijing. So far, early indicators seem to show that China is not fully embracing the goals of the Olympic movement. A recent report in the Washington Post (“Chinese Officials Give Club District A Brusque Cleanup” by Jill Drew, Wednesday, July 30) detailed a “clean-up” operation by Beijing authorities that has turned heavy-handed.

All over China, but especially in the capital city, a heavy police presence is evident with locals and foreigners alike reporting unnecessary hassles and intrusive security measures. These measures have been derided by some as mainly cosmetic, with critics saying they may be doing more harm than good.

China’s goal is to showcase itself as a proud, strong, modern nation, ready to become a global leader, but by overdoing the security factor, Beijing may be shooting itself in the foot. Heavy security would, of course, be the norm anywhere an Olympics is hosted, but Beijing has perhaps gone overboard.

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