Visit All World All Sports

by Digger

The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of international pride, sportsmanship, superior athletic competition, courage and integrity. Host countries are selected by a long detailed process by the International Olympic Committee. China hosts the 2008 games scheduled to begin later this week. The IOC must be regretting this selection... it's been a public relations failure since day one.

China has long faced intense scrutiny and criticism for its' perceived wide ranging human rights violations. It's been a bit of a shocker to read of how unprepared this powerful nation is with the games only days away. Many problems still persist from air quality to security. Olympic tourch bearers faced unprecidented protests from city to city. International criticism has been stepped up in recent weeks due to China's violent crackdowns on Tibet protesters, journalists, athletes, internet access, publications, entertainers and its' own countrymen and women. Foreign governments have warned of China's intent to monitor/spy on all visitors. It's amazing... during a time of world turmoil.. the IOC selected China to host... what were they thinking?

This is quickly becoming a sad event. Most Olympic games of the past have focused on participating athletes. China's problematic attempts to get their country ready has stolen the spotlight in a negative manner. The air quality for the games is horrendous. A few athletes are questioning if playing in the games will injure their health. U.S. track stars showed up wearing black air filters/masks. Security is now in question after yesterday's terror bombing killed 16 police officers. World leaders are facing scrutiny within their own countries for planning to attend opening ceremonies based on China's human rights violations. Many countries will supply their own food to athletes in fear of contaminated Chinese products. Chinese workers were ordered out of Olympic cities to help crack down on smog. Reporters beaten and jailed. Protesters jailed. Probably plenty more not made public.

As for the athletes...
Russia has set off alarms within Olympic doping circles. Seven athletes have been hit with doping suspensions leading the VP of the World Anti-Doping Agency to conclude Russia is systematically doping its' athletes. I'm sure we'll hear of plenty more caught doping before, during or after the games. Players doping is no secret. Today's technologies make doping harder to detect and harder to hide.

Lost in the side-shows have been the Olympians. These games are for them, for their countrymen, pride of representing their nations in the worlds largest athletic event. I don't know about other countries, but here in the good old USA, not much coverage has been dedicated to our athletes. Instead, we hear the constant daily drabble of our media infactuated with an inexperienced politician attempting to bamboozle anyone for votes by placating to their anger and fears... while his older rival fights to flaunt his record. Sports coverage focuses on our major professional leagues as baseball season winds down and football gets ready to kick off.

There's no doubt Olympic television ratings will be at an all time low in the USA. Other sports news and events will trump the day. NFL training camps have opened with plenty of controversy. Brett Favre's unretirement has stolen headlines. Baseball's blockbuster deadline deals also created quite the buzz.

Long gone.... reporters doing feature spots on Olympic athletes leading up to competitions. Can anyone name our top heavy weight boxer? Top diver? Sprinter? Gymnast? USA Basketball garners attention from the ESPN types because they're professionals with household names (did anyone notice our team doesn't have a starting Center?). What happened to the Bruce Jenner's, Mary Lou Retton's, Sugar Ray Leonard's of the world? New faces pop up everyday but our country isn't focusing on Olympic games these days.

Hopefully the Summer Olympics will stay focused on athletes once the games begin.