Politics and Olympics "A wrap up"

Aug 22

numbers in this chart are gold, silver, bronze and then total
1 China 47 17 25 89
2 USA 31 36 35 102

if you count gold as 3, silver as 2 and bronze as 1 both teams USA and China result in a total point score of 200.

ie: for china 47(3) +17(2) +25(1) = 200
and the usa 31(3) + 36(2) + 35(1) = 200


Final Results Aug 25

1 China 51 21 28 100
2 USA 36 38 36 110

doing the same calculation China edges out the US by 3 points.

Post Beijing Olympics the US Olympic committee has decided to pour more money into sports such as badminton, ping pong and weight lifting. After the first 3 days of competition the Chinese took an astonishing 20 gold medals from those 3 sports alone.

What is Canada doing? Prior to Canada getting any medals in Beijing the general consensus was that the athletes were underfunded and that government was to blame for lack of funding. That was until the 14th day of competition where Canada made a late run to get the status quo of 14 medals in Beijing. Now government funding athletics is up in the air.

The host country China has been praised by world leaders for putting on the best olympics ever. By the same token it's also the most expensive Olympics ever.

With Respect to Chinese citizens

Chinese citizens aren't that happy as their human rights issues go unresolved. This is epitomized by the birds nest creator giving his own creation the middle finger. He says it isn't the real China but a facade. Those who were left homeless and/or jobless because of the Olympics have a different thought process. They believe that the government gets more corrupt as you go down the pyramid. As a Canadian I believe the opposite, the leaders should be held accountable for how lower level officials act. The Canadian media is dealing with the issue by hiding behind such statements such as politics shouldn't be a part of the Olympics.

I believe fans have a right to express statements whether political or personal during sporting events.

Here are some memorable and controversial Beijing photos that made the news

Jin Jing, 27, a Paralympic fencer, protects the torch from Tibet separatists


Spanish basketball team pulling their eyes back


Free Tibet protester being led away


A group of british students holding up a banner in Tiannemen square; the heart of Beijing


[edit on 8-25-2008 by websurfer]