One World, One Dream….?
Today marks the official opening ceremony of the 2008 summer Olympic games being held in Beijing, China. To launch the event, we have posted a very interesting, and timely, article on Steroid Abuse in Sport, written by PM Indoe, which we encourage you to take a look at. Doping controls were first introduced by the International Olympic Committee in 1968, and athletes have tested positive for banned substances in 9 out of the 10 summer games held since then, in some cases resulting in Olympic medals being withdrawn. It has yet to be seen whether there will be any doping scandals at this summer’s 2008 Olympics, but based on past games, the ‘track’ record isn’t good.Potential doping scandals aside, the 2008 summer Olympics may still be remembered as the most controversial games in decades, marred by protest directed at host country China. China has received criticism from the international community on a range of issues, including their oppressive regime in Tibet; their ongoing business dealings with the government of Sudan which continues to fund the genocide in Darfur; their appalling human rights record; the pace of pollution and environmental degradation that is occurring there; and the government’s totalitarian control over public information. They have responded to these concerns with delicate tact, outright denial, or accusations that the Olympics are being ‘overly politicized’. But the Olympics – same as any other major international event – have always been, and will continue to be, highly political, and host cities should expect to face a greater level of international scrutiny. If the Olympics is intended to be China’s coming out to the world party, political leaders would be apt to heed the message that the international community is collectively sending upon their entrance.Conversely, the 2008 games isn’t – or shouldn’t be – all just about China. The Olympics are, afterall, an international event, and while the greatest attention should be directed at the host country, there are over 200 nations participating in this year’s games. In the pursuit of identifying China’s failings, the often equally appalling actions of other participating countries have been given a ‘free pass’, or at the very least a temporary abeyance in fielding their own public scrutiny. Other nations need to consider their own human rights records; their own legacy of environmental destruction; their own engagement in the international political arena. If we truly are “one world” united under “one dream”, then all countries should consider what we can each do to further that dream, collectively and individually. Christine Tapp, Lancet Student Intern
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