The 2008 Games were shaping up as a stage for global debates about China and Darfur, about China and human rights, about great shifts in geopolitical power and the accompanying responsibilities. If Mia Farrow were to have her way, 2008 was to be the Genocide Olympics. If China and the Beijing Organizing Committee prevailed, it would go down in history as the Technological Olympics, the Green Olympics, the coming out event for the new China.
But monumental calamities change everything: national moods, international perceptions, entire dramatic narratives. The US experienced that in 2001. Now, the Sichuan Province tragedies produce this phenomenon playing out in China.
Beijing 2008 will be the Earthquake Olympics--with the other approaches somewhat swept aside..
Just two weeks ago, before the death of tens of thousands, before the ruin of swaths of the country, the imagery that governed was the complexity of a global torch relay gone awry, the rising debate over the status of Tibet, the issues of China's involvement in Sudan.
International officials were debating the etiquette of snubbing, which events to attend and how. There were intense discussions about the testimony of participants: how athletes should exercise their conscience and participate in the Games.
Now, this all is muted. If there are any symbols, gestures of athletes, bracelets, armbands or moments of silence at the Games, they will be, primarily, for the victims in Sichuan Province. As the Torch Relay resumes, each step will carry a different meaning.
Now when the 21,000 reporters come to China, their attention will turn to stories of the earthquake, as a background to the Olympic Games. From the heroics of the playing field, they will relate accounts of rescue and recuperation, towns and cities rebuilt, lives rediscovered, dams fortified.
Talk of boycotts will virtually disappear. Foreign leaders can come to the Opening Ceremonies and make symbolic visits to Sichuan as well -- embellishing their Olympic salute as one of sympathy not celebration. They will not be faulted.
F
or China, it will be a more subdued Olympics, strong but not with the anticipated mood of triumph.
Already, the government itself is striking a different note and, as a result, changing the nature of its image in the world.
It is now brave China, hard-working China, China where there is a new transparency and seeming commitment to journalistic enterprise.
In its current reaction to the earthquake, China is perceived as comparatively open, now, of a sudden, welcoming international cooperation. The state authorities are using transparency and journalistic coverage as a response, not, at least at the moment, as an occasion for censorship. And the stark contrast with Myanmar just accentuates this emerging account.
In the face of catastrophe, wealth and power melt. So the story of China reverts to one of struggle, not only the budding arrogance of twenty-first century accomplishment. The visual symbol becomes not just the glittering buildings prepared for the Games, birds-nest stadia and architectural wonders, but the wretched and desperate collapse of elementary schools.
Already there's a startling shift in international coverage. The drumbeat of harsh coverage in the last months, over labor standards, lead paint, crushing of dissent, fostering genocides, now gives way to stories of courage, individual, communal, collective and national. It's possible that the agenda will change back again, before the Olympics, but I rather doubt it.
The Sichuan earthquake is a transformative moment in terms of rhetoric and political interplay. This is an example of the halo effect of humanitarian need and assistance. The US military learned in 2004 that a response to tsunamis could alter international reputations. China and others have learned that lesson as well.
Yao Ming, the basketball player, made an initial personal contribution of 500,000 yuan. Many Chinese members of Olympic teams have also made a gesture to relief organizations for reconstruction and repair. The IOC almost immediately provided $1 million to be funneled to relief organizations to help the earthquake victims.
For some, this turn of events will be a slight silver lining to the disaster. For others, it will mean a missed opportunity to hold China to public scrutiny. And there's another possibility: from the intensity of effort to shape Beijing 2008, some purer version of the Olympic spirit will return and the main subject of the 2008 Games itself will--dare it be said--be sports and athletic prowess.
still "The Sick Man of Asia" whose land should be carved up and her people to be subjugated?
Who is the arrogant one? As an expert in global communications, can't one face up to the fact that there is a paradym shift in globalization and a move towards a multi-polar world?
That "extreme capitalism" in the name of democracy and human right may not be the only viable
socio-politcal system?
Enough said.
Sichuan earthquake to be deflected from "China Bashing" as it would be totally inhumane to continue to condemn the Chinese when the havoc tof he quake, the herculean efforts of rescue and the prompt mobilization of her leaders and people have been in full view by the whole world.
What the "West" suffering from the continuing hang-over of the Cold War mentality cannot stomach is that there may be an alternative socio-political model other than the "western-style democracy" - that is, by Western definition, a "communist totalitarian" state must be BAD.
When was the last time that the U.S. (and UK) showed such national unity, compassion and humanity in face of calamity? Certainly not Katrina. Maybe going way back to the aftermath of Pearl Harbour?
The world will continue to be surprised with the efforts in resettlement, rehabilitation and recontruction of and for the quake victims - so that by the time of Olympics in August, one would be surprised that the children, old folks and the crippled would be well on their way of resettlement and rehabilitation.
The 2008 Olympics wil be one hell of a celebration - for the recovery from the natural disaster and more so for giving a new impetus to China's on-going evolution toward a civil socio-political environment "for the people".
This is "human right" at it best.
This is NOT Chinese Olympics. Olympic Games belong to the world.
Every article attempting to hijack the World Olympics for some political cause ( no matter how noble) severely degrades the purity of Olympic spirit.