contact: peaceintibet@gmail.com
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At the first look, the answer seems out of question with so many ongoing dramas around this year’s Olympics.
No matter people like it or not, Olympic Games have factually become a stage of global significance and a
topic of international politics. However, by definition Olympics are just a sport festival and should be spared
from the violence, greed and hypocrisy of real politics. They are non-political in the sense that their political
impacts are different from the conventional politics. They can achieve effects which cannot be obtained by
violence, protests and sanctions.
No matter people like it or not, Olympic Games have factually become a stage of global significance and a
topic of international politics. However, by definition Olympics are just a sport festival and should be spared
from the violence, greed and hypocrisy of real politics. They are non-political in the sense that their political
impacts are different from the conventional politics. They can achieve effects which cannot be obtained by
violence, protests and sanctions.
Are Olympic Games political? Yes and No.
Suffering from too many political conflicts, the ingenious Greeks created such
an occasion where people could put aside all irreconcilable controversies and
met together for the time being. Representing their own states, people
competed fiercely with each, but made friends as well under the flame of peace.
Distanced from concrete interests, the sanctuary of Olympia was a place of
dream in which everybody can pursue excellence without hurting others. Yet, this
peaceful dream is not an illusion. The meeting and interaction with people from
an occasion where people could put aside all irreconcilable controversies and
met together for the time being. Representing their own states, people
competed fiercely with each, but made friends as well under the flame of peace.
Distanced from concrete interests, the sanctuary of Olympia was a place of
dream in which everybody can pursue excellence without hurting others. Yet, this
peaceful dream is not an illusion. The meeting and interaction with people from
different places are real. The spirit of Olympics did not disappear after the games, but encouraged people’s
pursuit of excellence in their daily life with more mutual understanding and communication.
Pitifully, this dream has been gradually forgotten by us. Olympic Games are more and more pulled into the real
politics. They are regarded as a showplace of nations’ power, used as a tool for influencing some countries’
policies or boycotted to declare political positions. Therefore the Olympics often cause more conflicts rather
than solve them. Though the politicization of Olympics is understandable, it is regrettable that we lose a
precious alternative to conventional politics. While so many political problems in the real world come to
stalemate, the loss of a non-political sanctuary is further narrowing the space for peace efforts.
pursuit of excellence in their daily life with more mutual understanding and communication.
Pitifully, this dream has been gradually forgotten by us. Olympic Games are more and more pulled into the real
politics. They are regarded as a showplace of nations’ power, used as a tool for influencing some countries’
policies or boycotted to declare political positions. Therefore the Olympics often cause more conflicts rather
than solve them. Though the politicization of Olympics is understandable, it is regrettable that we lose a
precious alternative to conventional politics. While so many political problems in the real world come to
stalemate, the loss of a non-political sanctuary is further narrowing the space for peace efforts.
Recently, people are interested in discussing which politicians will attend the Olympics,
but neglect the real heroes of the Games. On April 9, it is announced that all 205
national Olympic committees in the world will take part in the Beijing Olympics, which
represents the largest number of participating countries in the history of Olympiad.
(link) This fact finally casts a beam of sunshine on the Olympics after weeks-long
storms of political tension. As the Olympic spirit says, taking part is important. In this
festival, not only the athletes, but also the fans and audience can enjoy the moment of
wonderful harmony together. Every participant, no matter athletes, politicians or
ordinary people, is the contributor to the Olympic Spirit and the hero of the Olympic
Games. Of course, not everybody in the world can come to the venue, but hopefully
everybody can keep the political controversies away from the Games and devote
himself to the celebration of humanity. The success of Olympic Games is not the
matter of a country, but the matter of all the countries. The host country merely shows
his willingness and efforts to support the festival of the whole world. “One World, One
Dream”, our common dream will enable us to see a new possibility of politics.
Apr. 10. 2008
but neglect the real heroes of the Games. On April 9, it is announced that all 205
national Olympic committees in the world will take part in the Beijing Olympics, which
represents the largest number of participating countries in the history of Olympiad.
(link) This fact finally casts a beam of sunshine on the Olympics after weeks-long
storms of political tension. As the Olympic spirit says, taking part is important. In this
festival, not only the athletes, but also the fans and audience can enjoy the moment of
wonderful harmony together. Every participant, no matter athletes, politicians or
ordinary people, is the contributor to the Olympic Spirit and the hero of the Olympic
Games. Of course, not everybody in the world can come to the venue, but hopefully
everybody can keep the political controversies away from the Games and devote
himself to the celebration of humanity. The success of Olympic Games is not the
matter of a country, but the matter of all the countries. The host country merely shows
his willingness and efforts to support the festival of the whole world. “One World, One
Dream”, our common dream will enable us to see a new possibility of politics.
Apr. 10. 2008
Harmonious encounter in
San Francisco Torch Relay
San Francisco Torch Relay
| 2008, We are all losers? |
In Ancient Greece, a truce (εκεχειρία, which literally means "holding of hands")
was announced before and during each of the Olympic festivals, to allow visitors
to travel safely to Olympia.
However, today's Olympic games become more and more an opportunity to
escalate conflicts in order to attract attention. In Tibet, organized riots killed
dozens of ordinary people and ruined the life of thousands (link) . Then
unprofessional journalism used false photos to agitate boycott. (link). Finally,
activists jumped into the torch relay parade, tried to grab the torch and forced the
torch to extinguish.(link) Can all the Free Tibet supporters in Europe and North
America celebrate their victory now, because they have raised their cause to the
spotlight and overshadowed the original Olympic festival? (click for full text)
was announced before and during each of the Olympic festivals, to allow visitors
to travel safely to Olympia.
However, today's Olympic games become more and more an opportunity to
escalate conflicts in order to attract attention. In Tibet, organized riots killed
dozens of ordinary people and ruined the life of thousands (link) . Then
unprofessional journalism used false photos to agitate boycott. (link). Finally,
activists jumped into the torch relay parade, tried to grab the torch and forced the
torch to extinguish.(link) Can all the Free Tibet supporters in Europe and North
America celebrate their victory now, because they have raised their cause to the
spotlight and overshadowed the original Olympic festival? (click for full text)
Olympic torch extinguished,
does it help anything?
does it help anything?