Is The International Olympic Committe ignorant to Human Rights?

Question

The 2008 Summer Olympics are to be held in Beijing. I'm sure the Olympics have been held in other very questionable settings but honestly, Why China? China has not been the greatest advocate of Human Rights so what concerns if any does the IOC have about Human Rights in countries that'll sponsor games?

Below are a few links that show a glimpse of China's Human Rights Violations

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4326341.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6230148.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6743533.stm

Answer 1

Ok, but what about the human rights records of Britain (hosting in 2012) and the United States (almost certainly hosting in 2016)?

Both countries initiated a war (without good reason) that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians and thousands of their own soldiers.

This is no apologia of China's appalling human rights record. China certainly treats its own citizens far worse than the United States or Britain do. But China hasn't waged a war aggression lately either.

China certainly deserves criticism for it's human rights record and its closed political system, but in offering such criticism we should not be so naive and geocentric by overlooking the abuses of our countries.

Answer 2

Sometimes I think it helps to have a bad human rights record so the IOC can prove how even handed they are. I think it's disgusting

Answer 3

Certainly all organizations have faults, and the IOC has certainly done some really bizarre things and stepped on its crank on more than one occasion.

That said, I think it's important to realize that the IOC is *not* an enforcement organization of any sort.  Human rights are important.  However, the IOC has the mission of encouraging sport and bringing people together.  The Chinese always compete, and I personally feel that any country that competes and would have the facilities to host the Olympics should be given the opportunity.  

I also think that, indirectly, bringing the PRC "to the table" of global institutions and thought would make it easier to encourage a discussion of "human rights," which is a controversial topic in and of itself.

Answer 4

Aren't most people ignorant to human rights issues around the world? We live in an individualistic society where we look after ourselves first-think about others later (or never).

I don't think it's just an IOC issue of ignorance to human rights violations-there are examples all over the world of the horrific treatment of human beings that 'we' continue to ignore.

As David said, no country is without it's issues. China is certainly not the only country with "dodgy issues" to host the Olympics.

I live near Vancouver, and that city is ALLL about the 2010 Winter Olympics. They are spending MILLIONS to build new roads, buildings, etc etc yet they have one of the highest rates of Hep B in their downtown eastside core-as a result of all of the issues surrounding drug addiction ect of the hundreds of homeless people on their streets.

Not only does it mean that the Olympic Host country is choosing to spend money on new buildings, roads ect, rather than spend it on social services, but what also happens is that those living in poverty and on the verge of being homeless are often pushed into becoming homeless.  Individuals, and companies want to make as much money as they can, so they jump on the "Olympic Bandwagon" and decide to kick people out of their homes in downtown hotels (rundown hotels that are rented out monthly for those living in poverty) so that they can raise the rates for all of the tourists that are going to come for the Olympics, resulting in more local people living on the streets.

And of course there are sooo many other issues related to this, but I won't go on...lol..

I personally think that if a country wants to compete for the honour of hosting the Olympic Games, they should have to prove that they will not only not displace locals, bu that they also have the money, not only to pay for all of the Olympic development, but also to support social services for all of it's citizens. Of course we'd probably never have another Olympic Games...sad how that is eh?