Your View

To Anna Rice - Olympic Athlete.
Very interesting to hear this discussed from the athlete's perspective.

I sincerely hope you are right that this event will propell China and the issues at hand so clearly into the spotlight that positive change will be unavoidable.

Just to play Devil's advocate for a moment though - what decision would you make if you were told that making any public statement that is potentially embarrasing to China means being disqualified and expelled from the country?

This is a hypothetical, of course. But I am curious where they loyalty is strongest - athlete, or political activist? In other words, if you must sacrifice one for the other, which will it be?

PART II:
Athlete and Human Rights Activist: a Tricky Balance

With those of you who have argued that Canada has its own human rights issues to contend with and thus should not ‘throw stones at China from a glass house’, I agree that Canada is far from perfect and we should especially not ignore our dark past.

However, an enormous difference between our two countries is in fact this discussion right here.

This public online forum, where everyone can voice their views freely without fearing persecution, is an enormous difference in the rights and freedoms available to Canadians compared to Chinese citizens.

Tens of thousands of protesters will flock to Beijing next August, and thanks largely to the plethora of international media in attendance, the Chinese government will be forced to accept these (hopefully peaceful) protests.

I have been to China several times to compete in recent months and always take the opportunity to discuss with locals about the upcoming Games.

Although the Olympic money grab atmosphere is evident for all to see, there is also a thick (and most likely toxic!) air of optimism for the future floating in.

Hopefully this optimism can be channeled effectively to satisfy both the Chinese government’s wish of impressing the international community and gaining credibility and influence, and the Chinese people’s wishes of access to social and political rights and freedoms.

PART I:
Athlete and Human Rights Activist: a Tricky Balance

I find myself in an interesting position when it comes to the topic of the Olympics next summer, as I am both a human rights student/activist as well as an international athlete, a badminton player to be precise.

"On the one hand, I am excited to be representing Canada next summer at the Games, especially in a sport such as badminton, which will be one of the feature events since it’s the most popular sport in Asia.

"However, as a proponent of human rights, I have questioned the legitimacy of my own involvement in such an event.

"When China won the nomination to host the 2008 Olympics I was initially disappointed, since like many, I didn’t believe China ‘deserved’ the opportunity to host such an event considering their record of human rights abuses.

" However, I have since then changed my stance and have become thankful that China will host the Olympics, as I truly believe this event will propel the country towards more positive changes at a faster rate than any other event would do.

"Were China not hosting the Olympics next summer, the human rights issues (as well as other issues such as the environment and animal rights) would not have been catapulted into mainstream discussions all around the world (such as this).

"As mainstream pressure for change grows, so too does the power of specialty groups who focus on pressuring and lobbying International governments to in turn pressure China on issues such as human rights.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

Athletes need to ask themselves: Would they have competed in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany?

The athletes should do what they were sent there to do which is particapate in the Olympics.

Not indulge in political activites.

Odd that posters feel they can go to anothers country with the intent only disturbing people.

Apparently they are content with people coming to Canada with the intent of causing trouble eg. pushing Quebec independence

It is every Humans obligation to fight for the spread of human rights to those who lack them.

It would be shameful to think otherwise.

I believe that it is our duty as Canadians to lead the way with Human rights.

I see our athletes as ambassadors of Canada, they should speak out for what's right.

it was going to improve human rights good luck Beijing

Athletes are citizens too, they deserve the right to speak about something that they feel that they might have a moral and ethical obligation to.

Human Rights violations affect us all to a certain degree.

Asking them to remain silent and just perform is a form of censorship.

I believe the evolution of any national culture is shaped by what is necessary for survival within that group. Cultures change and adapt as needs for survival change.

Survival in a Western country differs from survival in the Far East, the Middle East, Africa, or elsewhere.

Canadians critical of the norms of foreign cultures display the insecurities of religious and cultural bigots.

They are threatened unless all other cultures accept the criteria followed by themselves.

I have lived in the Far East, and during that time I followed the culture of my host country without compromising my own values.

At no time did I criticise my host culture, although I reluctantly spent some time in company with other Canadians who could not forego making insulting comparisons to our hosts.

It is this type of rude behavior that is being touted as the route our Canadian athletes should follow while they are guests in China.

My time living in an Eastern culture has enriched the Canadian culture for me.

It has opened my eyes to creative applications of my own culture within Canada,

For those who resent the commercial success of Chinese products available in Canada, I recommend that they keep their mouths closed, and simply not buy goods made in China.

Old Chinese Proverb: "Money speak louder than word."

Tyranny is open to be attacked by anyone, anywhere.

While Canadian athletes shouldn't feel obligated to engage in politics during the olympics, there is one thing I know for sure: If a Canadian athlete with a gold medal around their neck stood up, and called for China's people to revolt against their abusive 'leaders', it would make me feel very, very proud to be Canadian!

Why not have the Olympics made in China? Everything else is.

It seems to me that people don't give a damn about human rights in China when it comes to their pocket books, profit margins, and portfolio growth.

All of which is possible thanks to the Chinese government (which is communist by the way) happily selling their population at the cheapest price possible.

Hell, Canadians flock to Cuba (another communist nation) for cheap holidays; this being a nation that if got its way wanted to blow our capitalist butts off the map only 40 years ago.

Canadians and Canadian big business are the biggest hippocrates in the world.

The drive to get cheap labour undermines our society. It sounds crazy but I think there should be a "cheap labour tax" levied on these corporations that outsource our jobs and then want us to buy their products. North American Corporate Citizenship.... a concept?

Lets see...

Our government representatives don't seem to care about human rights problems in China.

Our corporate and business leaders don't care.

And anyone who buys made in China junk at their favorite store obviously doesn't care either.

So if the vast majority of Canadians don't give a hoot, why should we expect Canadian athletes to be any different? If anything, they should represent true Canadian attitudes.

Of course athletes should be free to voice their opinions as private individuals, but they certainly shouldn't be dragged en masse into any kind of political activism - especially the dubious business of berating a sovereign country for how it manages its internal affairs.

What once started as a great idea where athletes could compete simply for the sake of competition, has been perverted by greed and self serving opportunists.

The Olympics have been come a joke and a party for the rich perhaps it's time to put our tax dollars to something more beneficial like helping the poor.

Like anyone over here really cares about the Olympics anymore anyway.

"The Chinese citizens are as free as we are, they are free to practise whatever religion they want, as long as they do not mess with the CCP."

The preceding has been a paid political advertisement on behalf of the Communist Party of China.

We return you now to reality currently in progress.

I thought I would compose a short play on this piece:

"Athletes, don't go to China, they abuse human rights and such....." self-important demagogue

(demagogue clutches raft of flyers of imported Chinese goods in almost every store in the Canadian Marketplace)

"And they are on their way to becoming the world's biggest polluters"

(demagogue turns up heat against 5 degree "chill", starts up Suburban to drive to MacDonald's)

"And they're, like, icky..."

Please, how can we even consider not sending our athletes to the Olympics as any form of international protest.....did it work in Moscow?

"And won't like the Chinese winning all the medals think they're like better or something?"

Sorry for lowering myself to this level of interpretation, but that is the level at which this whole charade is taking place.

When do sports triumph over human rights?
What we see to be wrong should be reported to whoever is best to act upon it.

Sports is merely entertainment. Let's not go to extremes like our neighbour, and believe it is any more than that!
I love to see our Country win, but if we lose, I also enjoy watching the best defeat us.

Human rights are far more important than a simple thing as entertainment.

If China is what it seems to be, why are we going there?

"The Chinese citizens are as free as we are, they are free to practise whatever religion they want, as long as they do not mess with the CCP."

Are you kidding?

I certainly agree that Canadian athletes have a moral obligation to be political active. Every living human being has a moral obligation to do whatever he or she can to correct what is morally wrong.

Every one know that every item you buy from China being made by Chinese citizens for pennies an hour in deplorable conditions. It is wrong to exploit workers and harm any person's human right.

Many industries employ in foreign workers and exploit workers just for the lowest possible price. These industries will earn good profits from exploiting workers. It is an awful and terrible human rights record in China.

Our athlete need to speak out against China and boycott Beijing Olympic.It is wrong to exploit labor. Every one have a duty to correct what is wrong.

I agree with most of the comments; let the athletes compete. The Olympic Games is not an appropriate venue to express political views. Our country has no leverage on the Chinese anyways. Whatever we say will only be ignored if not laughed off.

If we do voice our opinion it is for the purpose of either 1, win votes, 2, make us feel better about ourselves. Also, the most vocal activists do not have much facts to back their claims up anyways (much less the athletes who have better things to do). They have never been to Tibet, they are not aware of the political agenda of the Fulan Gong.

The Chinese citizens are as free as we are, they are free to practise whatever religion they want, as long as they do not mess with the CCP.

Leave the athletes alone.

The operative word here is "should," and the answer is NO. The Olympics is an ideology, where the world puts aside its quarrels and comes together in friendship in the name of sport.

Faster, higher, stronger is the goal of these games, with the human race emerging as the victor.

Unfortunately, in the real world, the Olympics has become a grotesque spectacle of competing ideologies, nations, religions, and science, where winning at all costs on the world stage being the ultimate goal.

The human rights vocalists will be there, along with a host of various protesters and terrorists. That is the reality of our world.

In any case, good luck to the athletes in Bejing.

If you are morally outraged at something, YOU do something about it. Don't sit on your ass waiting for governments, businesses, or atletes - amateur or professional - to do it.

Every living human being has a moral obligation to do whatever he or she can to correct what is morally wrong. And if a government, or business, or athlete displays the same moral resolve as you do, shake their hand and thank them for their courage.

They'll be able to look you in the eye pay you the same respect.

If an athlete wants to speak out against China and its disgusting human rights record, it is their decision to do so, not ours. Furthermore, it is NOT our place to lecture or shame them into doing so.

Those on this board who believe in boycotting this, protesting that, and turning these Olympic games into some sort of political charade, have lost sight of the purpose of the Olympic Movement.

Its up to our government to deal with the Chinese - and its up to us as citizens to make our views known. But as someone as already said, for athletes who train their entire lives for this, and then have it ruined by some silly political gamesmanship.

Oh - and to James...Mr. Total Boycott. Imagine if the US had boycotted the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Would that have drawn any more attention to Hitler? Or motivated him to stop.

No, instead, it generated one of the greatest sports stories of all time, and gave a huge boost not only to American pride at the time, but served as an even bigger boost for the civil rights movement.

I'm talking of course about the sprinter Jesse Owens, who single handedly manged the best protest against Nazi Germany at the time - better than any provided by government leaders, or NGOs.

Hopefully we can go into Beijing next year and take the best revenge possible, which is to show up, be good sports, compete hard and clean- and hopefully win as many as we can.

Robert from Ottawa has claimed that the Canadian government is "a bunch of bootlicks to the Chinese" and that we no longer have the self respect to deal with nations poor human rights policies.

These statements make it obvious that the person making them is ignorant of the facts. The conservative government, as much as I do not like them, has done much to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party about their HR abuses.

The Canadian forign minister was the first international diplomate to have the opportunity to meet with the newly appointed Chinese forign minister. What did Canada discuss with China? Human Rights. Canada has been at the forefront of the Human Rights debate.

Harper met with The Dali Lama, against the will of the Chinese government, and furthered hostilities between the Canadian government and the Chinese. What Robert needs to realize is that the pressure put on the Chinese by our government, which is ample, can not alter China's domestic policy.

The international community has no ability to effect Chinese soverignty.

Glen from Toronto

I certainly can't disagree that we in the west have it much easier than the typical Chinese worker.

And no doubt much of the reason for our better situation is because of efforts by our grandparents and others, some earlier and some late.

I even agree a worker in China who protests may "face the prospect of being shot."

I've been fortunate enough to study the history of Canada's labour movement and can tell you a great many Canadians in the late 19th century and well into the last century also "faced the prospects of being shot" for standing up and demanding their rights.

In fact thousands were. They we also beat up, blackballed, their families thrown out of housing, etc, etc., etc.

In fact there's been three centuries worth of worker abuse of the worst kind since the industial revolution took hold in the west.

Only since the end of WW2 have things rally improved thanks to the sacrifices of those earlier "grandfathers" and others.

Now, I agree with you we are "part of the Chinese economy," and buy much junk from China.

But rather than pointing fingers at consumers, workers or athletes you might look at who is really ordering the goods (wholesale), running the factories in China to make the junk and managing to earn good profits.

To be frank, its the new breed of western capitalist, who don't want to pay western wages or benefits and seeing a fearful and regulated workforce in China are abandoning the grandchildren of those earlier brave Canadians.

Perhaps our athletes should exercise their outrage in front of Walmart or Nike, who profit by exploiting Chinese workers.

Born again Ape; You're right. We too are responsible as I said in my original post by being a party to it.

We as consumers should be more accountable than the industries because we are the one's demanding the lowest possible price.

Imagine what Matel would do if everyone started to boycott its merchandise that comes from these countries.

Unfortunately that won't happen because we don't want to pay more than the bare minimum as long as it's not happening in our backyard.

That being said, I don't support your 3-to-1 statement. I don't believe that our aboriginal issues, as bad as they are, are comparable to slave labour, sweatshops, "masters" beating their employees, etc.

If you do, then all I can say is that I support your right to have/express that opinion. Now try doing it while living in China and see what happens.

I do not think that it is the duty of athletes to engage themselves in Human Rights activism unless that issue is more dear to them than their personal athletic glory.

It is the duty of those who do business with the Chinese government (like the Canadian government) to urge them to change their human rights policy.

Politicans, human rights group, activists: these are the people who are or have chosen to champian this issue.

Athletes have chosen to pursue their dreams of international success.

It would be an ignorant statement to say that there is no public outcry against Chinese totalitarianism; just look at this discussion, no one is in favor of oppression.

We only disagree on who's responcibility it is to combat this oppression.

My thoughts: let the kids play their games, they are only young once.

Let let those responsible to peace and justice go head-to-head with China.

Absolutely, not! Let everyone do what they are best at.

Olympic Games are for sports!

Micheal Craig's China Rights Network should find his own place and time to argue various inequities, not the Olympic Games venues.

If Micheal Craig is genuine and qualified, he should start in his backyard, then follow through in proper sequence with the rest.

He would be very surprised to find out how little he really knows about the real world, we live in, unless he is a timely opportunist.

Let the games begin, and let the best win!

Glen from Toronto wrote; "This has everything to do with every item you buy from China being made by Chinese citizens for pennies an hour in deplorable conditions just so you can wear comfy glows and buy your kids toys."

So who’s to blame; those whom OUR industries employ in foreign nations or those who allow such products into our markets?

It doesn't matter how you twist it, for every finger we point at others, there's three to point back at us.

Ricky of Van said "Why the heck should Canada interfere in China's private businesses? Do we really want to join George Bush and his the World Police Task Force?"

This has nothing to do with GWB and his bully tactics.

This has everything to do with every item you buy from China being made by Chinese citizens for pennies an hour in deplorable conditions just so you can wear comfy glows and buy your kids toys.

You grandfather probably participated in strikes when he was much younger to protest long work hours, low wages, no job safety.

Now you earn a good wage, probably have benefits or can afford to buy them, work 5 days a week with 10 stat holidays a year and at least 2 weeks vacation.

Chinese workers that produce the merchandise that you crave for such a low price have nothing of this.

Not to mention, if they protest like your grandfather probably did, they face the likelihood that they will be shot.

Sure Canada's history when you look at the ideal has its problems, but nothing comparable to China or countries like it.

So forgive me to those I don't agree with when they say we should put our own house in order first.

We're a part of the Chinese economy so we should also be able to strongly voice our opinions.

I try my best to not buy "Made in China".

I always believed atheletes were chasing the possible once in a life time dream of winning a gold medal?

It's what they train for their whole lives for.

Is this new monetary award for medals at the heart of the political activism mentality?

Personally I have no problem when they compete in another country.

I do have a problem with them using their atheletic fame in another country to speak out about political issues.

Has anyone considered the danger they could put themselves or others in by opening their mouths?

Seems to me we have at least one but probally more former Olympic athletes here from other countries who ended up disappearing and reappearing as political refugees.

As others have also pointed out,we have our own human rights abuses and we buy Chinese products.

Just remember when you are pointing the finger at other countries, three point back at you.

Yes, Canadian athletes definitely have a moral obligation to be political active.

So what if international sport ground to a halt.

It's far better to take a stand against crimes against humanity than to be a braindead jock chasing silver or gold.

BTW, I strongly advise every reader to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to send a strong political message to the Chinese over their persecution of Tibetan Buddhists and their brothers and sisters in Myanmar, aka Burma.

Do you think you could get your HD addiction to sport under control to take a stand against brutality on a massive scale, or are you helpless sports junkies in need of a constant fix?

Shame! Shame!

It will be interesting to see if the athletes raise any questions about human rights issues in Israel, Iraq, Guantanamo or how about the CIA destroying their own interrogation tapes?

In my opinion, we need to clean-up ours and our allies own backyards before going around the world to point fingers at others.

Why the heck should Canada interfere in China's private businesses?

Do we really want to join George Bush and his the World Police Task Force?

It's still as true as ever, East is East, West is West, and never the twain shall meet.

China is different, no matter what.

Athletes protesting political directives at the Olympics will be a puzzlement indeed for the Chinese people.

What will get their rapt attention will be the utter and complete dominance by Western athletes over native Eastern athletes, which they will accept as proof of the Western way of life as 'better' than theirs, prompting the political changes there that so many posters here seem to want.

Why do the Chinese make so many of our clothes, our toys, our electronics, and so forth?

Simple answer - because they see that making cheap and shoddy goods is what they can do as well as the Western companies they compete with.

If they see that Democracy produces better athletes than they can, it will not be long before they embrace democracy as fervently as they have embraced Communism.

[Roch - Your political bias is showing like the plumber's crack. Communism is more closely related to Conservatism than it is to the NDP. Consider - total control of the party by one person; no one speaks unless allowed by the leader (what do you think happened to Chuck Strahl? He got demoted for jumping the gun in trying to get rid of the Wheat Board); special interests favoured by the leader get promoted over human rights, especially women's rights. The comparison to China's government is frightening.]

Now this is why we never really succeed on a global level. We keep sending eclectic representatives to specific gatherings.

Either we train our athletes in social activism, or we provide some rudimentary athletic skills for our social activists.

I'm willing to bet that not one of our medal wannabes has taken so much as a public speaking course much less serious lessons in political science, human rights, or Maoist tyranny.

In my view, Chinese politicians are way smarter than most of today’s western politicians. While they plan for China’s long term future (i.e. plans to satisfy their energy needs for 25 or 50 years or the one-child policy in the past), our politician’s plans are limited to next election.

With or without Olympic, they will succeed better. They govern not just plan for next election.

Even if you look at America; American scientists took them to the moon but democratically elected politicians and the freedom of speech took them to Baghdad.

Sometimes those who SHOULD speak - DON'T. Sometimes, those who CAN speak - WON'T.

The next time any of you are in need of help ... consider this: what if the person you seek help from says to you, "sorry ... it's really not my place. I'm only here to win medals. You need someone else - you know, the people who WON'T help you."

While you may be in your time of need ... we're not ... so, it really ain't our problem. We'd like to help ... but it's just not our place!

Canadian athletes should make their political viewpoints known only if they want to. They should feel absolutely no pressure from their governments or the population they represent to say anything.

To make the stand that they should do this or shouldn't do that based on our own opinions is wrong as they should be excercising their freedom of speech, not ours.

If you think an olympic participant should speak out, then become one and speak out, but don't condemn someone else for expressing or not expressing their views.

With that said, if a Canadian Olympic "activist" goes and puts both feet in first (the mouth that is), then I'll be the first to laugh. If they want to be political activists over there, they need to make sure they prepare themselves adaquately.

Isn't being a political activist the hip thing these days in Canada?

Canadians tend to toot on the horn of Political Correctness, but never marches in the direction of change.

On that note, I say sure, let the athletes be political activists. Its not like Canada will actually take a stand against China and stop all trade with them. So I see no harm in a peaceful protest that will result in no action and no change.

Some here have suggested that athletes aren't qualified to speak on this issue. If everybody waited until they were "qualified", there would be only a select few speaking on any issue - and that represents an abdication of ethical responsibility by the rest of us, in my opinion.

We don't need to have specialized training to speak out against injustice. It's the moral responsibility of every citizen. The only restriction should be that they must state it's their own personal opinion.

Olympic Supporter wrote: "How many people reading this remember the Russian Olympics from back in I think it was in the 1980"s. Remember the amount of countries that pulled out of that olympiad in protest against Russia's internal treatment of it's citizens at the time?"

Actually the boycott was spearheaded by then President Jimmy Carter as a protest over The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. It seemed unfair to the athletes to be turned into political pawns in events over which they had no control. For many, it was their one crack at an Olympic medal. Sacrificial victims I thought. Didn't change the Soviet Union's mind at the time.

The tradition of the games is that athletes from everywhere should meet and participate in peace and goodwill. To put the burden of the world's wishes (often conflicting) on the backs of the athletes is unfair. You want a United Nations Assembly go to New York. Let the athletes earn honor as best they can--hopefully steroid-free. Often they do more good with their examples of sportsmanship and courage than any number of words spoken by people who really have nothing much to lose by spouting off.

If athletes want to speak about human rights abuses, they can start by addressing the deplorable and continued human rights abuses being perpetuated in Canada against Aboriginal peoples.

Enough with the hypocrisy of finger pointing (by both left and right wing political agendas) at other countries over human rights abuses when Canada is right up there on the list of habitual human rights abusers.

How shameful is it when countries like Russia, Iran or China can point to Canada's long long trail of human rights abuses, which the UN has documented and recognized as such?

All of which many Canadians will continue to deny even though the historical and legal facts are there to be learned by the misinformed, undereducated and willfully blind.

It is time the hyporcisy stops and the myths of Canadian history are corrected in the masses. The hypocrisy is becoming quite embarassing for those who have taken the time to weed through to the real history of Canada.

If the atheletes choose not to speak about Canadian human rights abuses as well as those in other countries, then they should be silent on the issue, but that is just my view.

Allan never fails to miss the point, or even to discuss the same topic.

Norman Bethune was a member of the Communist Party of Canada, sister party of the NDP.
He wasn't an Olympic athelete, he wasn't any kind of athelete!

In case you hadn't noticed, this thread topic is whether Canadian Olympic athletes should become political activists while in China during next years Olympics.

The discussion is not about your fixation on Stephen Harper's current and ongoing successes, nor is it about George Bush.

Russ says,

"Us not allowing our athletes to speak their conscience - dare I say, "inhibiting" their freedom of speech is pretty much what we all find wrong with China, isn't it? How does this make us any better?"

I have to take exception to your statement as well Russ. These athletes have all the freedom here that they don't in China. They can protest against the government, are free to demonstrate, are free to practice their religion. So your charge that our athletes don't have freedom of speech in Canada is just nonsense.

What they don't have the freedom to do is get on a soap box at an international event, while wearing Canada's colours and flag and give political statements on behalf of Canada that they have no authority to make.

They can speak as a private citizen and say whatever they want, but as long as they are a member of the Canadian delegation they represent Canada and cannot presume to speak on behalf of Canadians.

That is not their role or responsibility. I couldn't care less what some gymnast or swimmer thinks about political issues in China, just do your best and bring home some medals. If you are more interested in playing politics rather than water polo, stay home.

Sure, let them be political activists if they wish. Of course they won't be speaking for Canada, but will be speaking as a Canadian.

However, they should not go to China and do this. If they feel so strongly about a topic that their political will outweighs their desire to compete - then they can boycott the games. Going to China as a guest and a representative of Canada and then acting in a rude manner is, just that: rude.

Trudeau, you make a good point. Just reading the posts below is reason enough to urge our athletes to take the high road.

Cait from Ottawa in her post has suggested athletes speak out on issues like Tibet, Taiwan and Falun Gong.

Why? there certainly isn't unanimity in Canada on any of those "issues."

Cait didn't spell out her concerns about those issues, but from what I do pick up reading between her lines is enough to convince me a great many Canadians would strongly disagree with her.

Then we have old 'political' Roch blowing hot air in Winterpeg about "left wing loonies" distracting our athletes.

I wonder if Roch thinks LWLs such as Dr. Norman Bethune went to China to speak out against those following in Mao's footsteps.

Despite those (in my view) weird and shallow positions, I have no trouble with athletes speaking out, but they should understand the consequences.

I can still remember the '68 Olympics in Mexico where two black American athletes used their wins as an opportunity to send a message to their own country by raising one hand gloved in black leather as the Star Spangled Banner droned on.

But did anyone from Canada speak out there on behalf of the Mexican activists who were shot and killed by the military when protesting the games 10 days before the event started?

If I remember correctly most right wingers were enraged by the "black power" salutes, but didn't say a damned word about the hundreds of students murdered by the Mexican military.

Obviously there are human rights problems in China, and obviously we as a nation should not ignore them, but Michael Craig's assertion that our athletes have a responsibility to become political activists is just another attempt by a political organization to co-opt publicity for their own cause.

Our athletes only have one responsibility, to compete to the best of their abilities in their events, not in the political arena. If they wish to make their personal opinions known they're free to do so, but it should be made clear that these are the athlete's opinions and not the official position of Canada as a nation.

Athletes train for their sport, not for speaking on behalf of an entire country.

It would be interesting if the athletes decided to make a visual statement. As the world cameras pan the first, second and third place winners and the national anthem of the gold medal winner begins to play, the athletes begin to cough, their coughing becoming even more pronounced where, by the end of the anthem, they have fallen of the podiums and are on the ground clutching their throats.

It might encourage compliance with Kyoto.

It never surprises me the way people will put their own agendas ahead of others...

"I would hope that Olympic athletes will put planet before gold and speak up against the chemical poisoning of our Earth "

Are you serious? Tell the to the guy who trains 8 hours a day for the last 5 years, for one shot at a medal.

Some people are just out of it.
I got a new job a few weeks back, and invited some of my friends out (my treat) to celebrate. One of the wives states "Maybe the war in Iraq is more important than your new job" Thanks for coming.

I think that if the athletes are well informed on the issue, then they would have as much of a right as the rest of us to voice an opinion, if it is TRULY their opinion and their choice to speak out.

However, I am not sure it is appropriate to do so when they are on their way to competeing in China. If they disagree so strongly with China's political ideology and human rights track record, then perhaps they should refuse to compete there.

If they are strongly opposed to China's human rights violations, then all the gold medals in the world couldn't make up for compromising their beliefs. Otherwise, it's like saying 'I really don't think you should steal that chocolate bar, but could I have a bite when you get back outside?'

That being said, I suppose the same could be said for certain consumers who vehemently cry out against China's violations of human rights and environmental standards but continue to purchase products made in China because they were a 'really good deal.'

However, as an earlier post pointed out, Canada's historical human rights track record isn't that grand either, consider residential schools and the banning of the potlach on the West Coast, for example.

Also, if we stop and look at our own environmental policies, it becomes clear that we have a lot of improving to do too. A glance at Vancouver's 2010 Olympic construction/improvement of the Sea to Sky highway is fairly indicative of our record.

The highway was proposed to go underground in a very sensitive ecological area, but to cut costs, it will be above ground and is now going to basically demolish a bald eagle sanctuary.

I wonder what Canada's reaction would be to Chinese athletes (or any nation, really) speaking out against our country in a few years time?

Another problem is, the atheletes are not going to be able to see these human rights abuses. Its not like they are going to be offered bus tours of the poor regions.
I have been to China twice on tours. Anything tourists see, is very nice, clean, and well thought out.

Let the atheletes be, they are there to have their dream come true of competing in the top sporting event for their particular events.

For most, this will be the highlight of their entire life. I don't understand why some of the posters here wish to take that away from them, and turn them into protesters?

If anything it would made Canada look very hypocritical, who buys all the Chinese goods made in sweatshops? I am aware all the posters here would never, but most Canadians do.

Sports are the reason the Olympics exist but they are far far more than sports events. They are the best method to show off the country, it's people, values and capabilities.

For China, the Olympics are the biggest deal since the revolution. They are doing everything to look as perfect as possible.

The best way to protest China's issues is to make a fuss about it now....human rights, pollution etc and then... say we can't attend. (At this point it's gives them little time to change....this should have been started 4 years ago)

This is very hard on the athletes but if major countries did not attend it would really upset China. Especially if you tag not going with facts we could point to, which China can't hide.

I'm very cynical about the olympics. Far too much money spent for the benefit of a very few.

As my own protest, I will not watch it.

My answer is NO. Then again, if we as a country find human rights in China to be that deplorable, we shouldn't even be sending a team over there.

Having the Olympics in China is not going to change the country one iota.

If anything, all it's going to do is push human rights violations into the background.

China will put on a great show and everyone will say "Wow what a nice country."

Then they'll all go back home and buy their Matel toys or Walmart/Gap/Speedo clothing and never think anything more about the slave/sweatshop conditions that are prevalent in China.

Everyone thought years ago that opening up trade would force China to address human rights issues.

Wrong. It's just exacerbated them.

I would hope that Olympic athletes will put planet before gold and speak up against the chemical poisoning of our Earth before Beijing 2008 - despite the 'freedom of speech' controls that government has wired already in place for the next games.

K. Trudeau (Ottawa) points out:

"I have a question for those who think the athletes should be speaking out.

What if you don't like what they say?"

That is a good point. The cult of "freedom of political correctness" assumes that they would speak out against China.

Personally, If they speak for or against it is not the issue for me.

They are there to compete.

Turning them into spokesmen for Canadian views regarding such issues is wrong.

They need to focus on their sport and the competition.

It really should be up to individual athletes as to what they want to say or not say.

Being pressured to say, or not say, anything by either Amnesty International or the Government of Canada would detract from the freedoms that Canadians hold very dear.

Frank from Halifax:

Be careful on that environmental thing, China is a developing nation while we are a developed nation.

Big difference.

China emits about 2.7 tons of GHG per person while Canada emits about 19, so it would seem to me that they are way ahead of us.

While the world waits for Canada to provide leadership our "new" government seeks to follow meekly all the while having negotiated away our energy resources to the U.S. behind closed doors.

Our treatment of First Nations is easily as bad or worse, all time historically, as China's treatment of Tibet.

We are participating in illegal wars where civilian innocents are being killed indiscriminately.

We are active participants in the Extraordinary Rendition program, support secret torture facilities, etc.

We have nothing to be smug or superior about.

In fact quite the opposite.

I have a question for those who think the athletes should be speaking out.
What if you don't like what they say?

I mean, it seems to me that everyone here is assuming that, were they to speak, that they would be speaking out against China and its human rights violations, etc. So what if an athlete's opinion is that China is a great nation, that their decisions and actions have been the best and most appropriate ones, and that the rest of the world should learn from China's example?

Do we still think that athletes should put on the hat of spokesperson for their nation? Or do we only support that if the message they deliver is agreeable to the rest of us?

i agree that athletes should concentrate on their sports while at the games. And we all should be mannerly and gracious, relative to the host country.

Nonetheless, we don't have to go there and help out an extremely repressive regime by applying blinkers or gags to ourselves. We don't have to enable them by pretending everything is as it seems. Although we are in a country with no real freedom of speech, we don't have to play pretend, or keep silent if comfronted by reality.

China has invited the world to their country and should expect that the 'free' world at least will not suspend its intelligence completely while there.

In 1936, Hitler put on an Olympic "show" in an attempt to legitimize his tyrannical horror show, and the world let him get away with this. We don't have to be so clueless 72 years later.

Cecil from Toronto wrote: "The athletes are there to compete for our country in the Olympics. Politics should not be a part of their concern, that is up to the diplomats and political officials."

I have to take exception to this statement. While I agree our athletes are there to compete - they are also there representing our - AND THEIR - country. If they feel their government and/or diplomats are NOT speaking for them ... they should be allowed to freely speak out themselves!

Us not allowing our athletes to speak their conscience - dare I say, "inhibiting" their freedom of speech is pretty much what we all find wrong with China, isn't it? How does this make us any better?

It is clear the Canada Olympic Committee is a bunch of wags who'll pander to anyone, anywhere, anytime. THEY SHOULD NOT speak for our country, our athletes or our citizens.

Yes, but only if they begin in their backyard first. I would rather let the athletes be athletes and do only what they know best!

Propaganda, lies, deceptions, double talk and so on is politicians' domain. What would they do if their jobs are downloaded to others?

Furthermore, what evidence is there that the athletes will be more "productive" than the politicians and spies who earn +$100.000 and other numerous hidden benefits?

Speaking of Human Rights and putting it mildly, no country is clean! Micheal Craig's assertion that the athletes would be seen as agreeing to abuses if they were silent is a cheap intimidating ploy to advance own biases!

If Micheal Craig's idea is taken seriously, no athlete could ever compete anywhere at all!

Looking at the other side of the coin, whose clever idea is that the athletes should be used to overthrow foreign governments solely because they disagree with beliefs of other countries? What is this world coming into?

Participating is indeed saying China's behavior is OK. That said; if we pulled out of every international games cause of some country's record, international sport would grind to a halt.

If anything, the spotlight on the 'host' nation is a good thing. Sunlight is a great disinfectant. Cait is right in that China will not be able to hide everything.

As for the glass house argument (we are on par with China et al in abuses, etc so we shouldn't talk); come on! No nation is perfect, but we are darn bit ahead of most with regard to freedom, human rights and the environment. We wouldn't shoot the hypothetical Quebec separatists and cover it up.

So we can send our athletes there, essentially allowing China the significant financial benefits of hosting the Games, but we’re going to have them complain about completely unrelated domestic policy while they are there?

Well, I suppose as long as we are wasting money on silly games we might as well have the athletes do something useful.

The trouble is, I very much doubt that the Chinese government really cares what Canadian athletes have to say about domestic policy - it would send a much stronger message if Canada simply refused to participate in the Games at all.

In brief - NO.
The Olympics shouldn't even be going to China. The fact that they are is statement enough.

If the IOC and all the participating nations feel it is acceptable that China should be awarded the Olympics at all, then fine. But don't now try to pass off some moral sense of international political responsibility to athletes.

That is exceptionally unfair and would be cowardly and two faced at best.

Should athletes be political activists? Why not? They're human, they live and work on this planet, think about things and have opinions like anyone else. They also have the luxury of commanding a public audience because of their position on the world stage, so they can use that forum however they see fit.

Athletes often speak out on behalf of charities or community causes. Why not politics? We are expressing political opinions here, are we not?

Activism is one of the last truly democratic undertakings an individual can participate in: one person here thinks activists are some sort of shadowy Machiavellian meddler subverting trusting innocents into doing their bidding. How stupid is that? It's like saying politicians shouldn't try to get themselves elected because they're promoting themselves.

Activists fight for our democracy by taking to the streets, challenging the authorities to abide by the models we've determined to live by. They defend those who can't defend themselves and champion those who lack the power to champion themselves. They shine lights in dark places.

Unlike our governments who sell us out in secret. Governments anti-activists fully support, against the national interest, treacherous dogs that they are.

No, the athletes are there to compete not act as political activists. If a protest goes out to China regarding its deplorable environmental behaviour, it grotesque animal and human rights abuses, and its willingness to break international laws in almost every area -- that should be coming out from the Canadian government.

The fact that our government bootlicks to the Chinese is rather disgusting. Gone were the days when we had the self respect to stand up against such thing.

I just want to watch the events.
I am sure most of the atheletes just want to compete. They have trained their whole lives, and most only get one shot at the olympics. They should be there to enjoy it.

They should be there to meet with atheletes from around the world, and have a good time.

They shouldn't be asked to do something like this.
There is a time and place for everything.
This is like asking a bride on her wedding day to speak out about, how her dress was made, or the salaries of the busboys at her reception.

How would people have felt if Chinese, Italian or German athletes had spoken out about the conditions on aboriginal reserves in this country during the Calgary Olympics?

How about if a collation of French speaking athletes were openly advocating an independent Quebec during the Montreal games?

Of course China has problems and they need to be addressed but I can imagine what it would do for international relations if the future Chinese delegation in Vancouver began openly criticizing the per-person waste, energy use and consumption of the host country (because it’s FAR greater than most in the world) while showcasing their own environmental efforts. The same would be true if they started speaking out about our own cases of imprisonment without trial and so on.

The Olympics are about sport but are more about building productive world relationships than anything and I am getting really tired of the smugness and self serving, shallow superiority of many people with regards to other nations.

Stop being such hypocritical paper warriors who revel in making yourselves feel good while not understanding the very issues you claim to care about.

And yeah, athletes generally don't make the best advocates for much of anything to begin with.

How many people reading this remember the Russian Olympics from back in I think it was in the 1980"s. Remember the amount of countries that pulled out of that olympiad in protest against Russia's internal treatment of it's citizens at the time? Was that fair to the atheletes who have trained all their lives for a shot at Olympic Gold? No it wasn't!!! I'm history starting te repeat itself with China

I've said it before and I'll say it again "POLITICS HAVE NO PLACE AT THE OLYMPICS!!!" Yes by western standards there are things that should be corrected in China but that is a fight for a different "battle field" on a different day.

Let the spirit of the games take centre stage! Let the best atheletes of each country come together in the spirit of friendly competition to see who is the "best of the best"

That is the true spirit of the Olympics. Leave the politics at home they have no place there

The athletes are there to compete for our country in the Olympics. Politics should not be a part of their concern, that is up to the diplomats and political officials.

China never should have been awarded the Olympics in the first place for many reasons. However, since we can't change that fact, either we show up and compete, or boycott the games like we did in Moscow.

Don't show up and take part, then take potshots against the Chinese government over the course of the games.

Using athletes as political activists is a cowardly, arms length method that has not worked in the past and will not work in the future.

Any political activity would be using smoke and mirrors. We would only have to supply the mirrors, the smoke is already there and has already caused a few athletes to lose interest in competing and damaging their lungs.

Atheletes are atheletes. Activists are activists.

Activists try to get others to do their work for them, subvert others to become activists too, particularly they try to take advantage of others fame in support of whatever their cause is.

Atheletes do all their own work.

The problem with activists is they feel everyone else should have same priorities as they do.

So no, Canada's atheletes should not become political activists, they should instead focus their attention on improving Canada's dismal summer Olympic performance of late and lack of medals for a country of our size and wealth.

Canada does not need these left wing loonies distracting our athletic representatives.

I think it is up to the individual person to decide if they want to be an activist or not. I definitely do not believe they should be silenced if they choose to speak.

Ultimately, we are answerable to our own conscience. If you cannot live with yours - do something about it.

Are we participating? Yes

The we should shut up.

Should Canada's athletes be political activists?....No.

The government should represent Canadians views on human rights, but I doubt anything will happen except a lot of propaganda by the government of Canada. Economics trumps human rights.

Sanctions are only used on countries the 'west' does not trade with much. Seems like the government tows the corporate line on this topic.

Good luck China, way to clean up all of your environmental messes, human rights violations, labour abuses and all that, just in time for the Olympics. ;)

Olympic Athletes can be activists all they want, it's their own life. They make pittance, it's not like they owe us some company loyalty like millionaire hockey players.

Like it or not, this will be the most political Olympics in a long while.

No amount of money will be able to sweep issues like Tibet, Taiwan, Falun Gong, etc under the rug. What I am waiting for is the reports of the track and field stars passing out from breathing polluted air...