Did China fool the IOC to get the Olympics?
July 31st 2008 07:35
Did China fool the OIC to get the Olympics?
There was reluctance in the minds of many when China first put in a bid for the Olympics. The memories of the Tiananmen Square Massacre were recent history and as a result China was considered an outside chance. Why would anyone dare reward an oppressive state with the largest spectacular on the planet? I could have said no one but somehow after a long period of lobbying China won the bid.
The catch for China was that it needed to get its house in order. I needed improve its human rights record; it needed to be more open and it needed to let the visiting international journalists freedom to do their job. The promise form the Chinese regime was that they would do their best.
The economic boom was in full force and China was moving from with the strength that would soon see it as an economic powerhouse. The old dictates of Maoism were replaced with a kind of Communist Capitalism where people were encouraged to make more money. Building and cities exploded into form and reach ever higher to the heavens that ironically Chairman Mao did not believe in. In the surface China was looking very close to being the new India.
Yet just below the surface of a freer society were the old oppressive powers of the regime. The ‘One Child Policy’ was still enforced; censorship was still enforced; China still executed more people than the rest of the world combined. On the technical side China connected itself to the internet then installed the most restrictive and comprehensive firewall in history. Dubbed the ‘Great Fire Wall of China’ it restricted all news from sites like Google to remove references to dissidents; human rights abuses; Tibet and especially the Tiananmen Square Massacre. In the other direction dissident websites and blogs were being tracked down with aid of Western IT giants. Cisco Systems helped install the Firewall on the Internet routers. Yahoo was involved in a well publicized case where they provided the identity of user who was arrested by the Chinese authorities. Western capitalism selling the rope that would Eastern Communist would use to hang their dissidents on?
In a recent report the Senior IOC member Kevan Gosper apologised to the world's media for misleading them about access to the internet. "Some IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese to have some sensitive sites blocked," Gosper was reported as saying the added "If you have been misled by what I have told you about there being free internet access during the Games, then I apologise."
It was also revealed that New York Times, the BBC Chinese site, Radio Free Asia, al-Jazeera and Taiwanese papers were all blocked to International reporters
Far from being a free and open experience as was promised by the IOC there will heavy censorship and heavier monitoring of Internet activities. Gosper claims that he was unaware that the IOC officials had negotiated with China to allow such Censorship. Yet regardless of any apology or excuses these Olympics have already been tainted with the heavy hand from the aging but still powerful party machine.
Given the recent history of unrest in Tibet it is unlikely that Western Reporters will be allowed to do much more than provide a sanitized view of China. The losers in this negotiation are undoubted the Chinese people.
Kevin Gosper is sorry about the censorship.
There was reluctance in the minds of many when China first put in a bid for the Olympics. The memories of the Tiananmen Square Massacre were recent history and as a result China was considered an outside chance. Why would anyone dare reward an oppressive state with the largest spectacular on the planet? I could have said no one but somehow after a long period of lobbying China won the bid.
The catch for China was that it needed to get its house in order. I needed improve its human rights record; it needed to be more open and it needed to let the visiting international journalists freedom to do their job. The promise form the Chinese regime was that they would do their best.
The economic boom was in full force and China was moving from with the strength that would soon see it as an economic powerhouse. The old dictates of Maoism were replaced with a kind of Communist Capitalism where people were encouraged to make more money. Building and cities exploded into form and reach ever higher to the heavens that ironically Chairman Mao did not believe in. In the surface China was looking very close to being the new India.
Yet just below the surface of a freer society were the old oppressive powers of the regime. The ‘One Child Policy’ was still enforced; censorship was still enforced; China still executed more people than the rest of the world combined. On the technical side China connected itself to the internet then installed the most restrictive and comprehensive firewall in history. Dubbed the ‘Great Fire Wall of China’ it restricted all news from sites like Google to remove references to dissidents; human rights abuses; Tibet and especially the Tiananmen Square Massacre. In the other direction dissident websites and blogs were being tracked down with aid of Western IT giants. Cisco Systems helped install the Firewall on the Internet routers. Yahoo was involved in a well publicized case where they provided the identity of user who was arrested by the Chinese authorities. Western capitalism selling the rope that would Eastern Communist would use to hang their dissidents on?
In a recent report the Senior IOC member Kevan Gosper apologised to the world's media for misleading them about access to the internet. "Some IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese to have some sensitive sites blocked," Gosper was reported as saying the added "If you have been misled by what I have told you about there being free internet access during the Games, then I apologise."
It was also revealed that New York Times, the BBC Chinese site, Radio Free Asia, al-Jazeera and Taiwanese papers were all blocked to International reporters
Far from being a free and open experience as was promised by the IOC there will heavy censorship and heavier monitoring of Internet activities. Gosper claims that he was unaware that the IOC officials had negotiated with China to allow such Censorship. Yet regardless of any apology or excuses these Olympics have already been tainted with the heavy hand from the aging but still powerful party machine.
Given the recent history of unrest in Tibet it is unlikely that Western Reporters will be allowed to do much more than provide a sanitized view of China. The losers in this negotiation are undoubted the Chinese people.
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Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The wonderful Peter Yang's No.1 blog
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Cheers
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
it is just news so I pass it on with a little editing.
I figure that the Olympics will mask a lot.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I watched a doco a few months ago about the internet, blogging etc in China.
I find it absolutely astonishing that there's a whole generation of Chinese kids out there that do not know about Tienanmen Square Massacre.
Also, the fact that spectators can only raise the national flag of their respective country is ridiculous. No boxing kangaroo allowed in China.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I think from my viewpoint, limited that it is, that it looks like China played the OIC like a card.
Perhaps they had some intention of allowing certain freedoms but as recent history shows they can yank the chain when they desire.
Mrs M
Thanks for you comments.
Where I work they send staff to China all the time.
They are given one word of advice before going: Pretend that you are too stupid to understand the politics and you will stay out of trouble.
Most say that they are great people with bullying thugs for leaders.
Comment by alt_ed
Pop Culturer
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
Since when was the O.I.C. responsible for the Olympics anyway??
O.I.C.
I'd always thought the sporting stuff was handled by the I.O.C.
I.O.C.
I know you're a bit of a nazi when it comes to spelling, so i'm sure you can appreciate the ironing when referring to the Organisation of The Islamic Conference instead of the International Olympic Committee.
Interesting post though Damo, keep em coming!
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
No I am not nazi when it comes to spelling but I am one when it comes to stalking, personal attacks and cyber bullying.
Comment by alt_ed
Pop Culturer
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
xx
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
And look he changed his avatar.
I wonder why.
Comment by alt_ed
Pop Culturer
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
The difference is I chose to change mine and you were told.
Comment by alt_ed
Pop Culturer
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
For clarification purposes Damo, perhaps you would like to familiarise yourself with the below email...
I'm one of the Orble staff and, as you might have guessed, I'm sending you a message about your profile icon, which is an animated icon of Raven and a few sex toys.
I'm not sure what provoked these posts on censorship - it seems that I missed the raging debate. Still, someone complained about the icon, and that's the reason I'm contacting you.
I suppose I'm asking you to change your profile picture willingly, out of good taste. If you have a problem with someone on Orble, it's easier to ignore them, and leads to less hostility.
Of course, you're free to do what you want, but I'm hoping that you'll just settle the issue by removing the picture.
Thanks,
Cibbuano
Seems I was told I could do what I like... And 'asked' to consider removing the said image, which I later did.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Now why would I care what an email between you and someone else says?
I have written hundreds of similar letters when I was running an ISP.
BTW when I ended up with a complaint from anti discrimination then guess how formal it became. Chop!
Happy future trolling but try to stop deluding yourself and avoid the childish cyber bullying. That way you may be a man one day. Perhaps in a decade or so.