POLL: So, let's set this straight - do YOU think that any of the Chinese gymnasts are underage?

Question

Yes, no, or maybe? And please add a reason.

I'm going to throw in my answer, now that I'm here - which is no, I don't think they are underage. I think this simply Chinese really are smaller people in general, plus add in the fact that gymnasts don't mature very well due to the extreme stress they put on their bodies. I have 16-year old (Asian AND white) friends that AREN'T gymnasts and they look like they're 12 years old.

Anyways, I personally think Shawn Johnson barely looks the part either, you know, especially in that little leotard.

But that's just my opinion. What about you?

Answer 1

What? You do realise that Santa Claus doesn't actually exist, don't you?

Answer 2

These girls definitely are under the age limit to compete.  The Chinese government has a rule that everyone has to be "essential" to the success of the country. Children are sent away to "sports factories" by their parents in order to learn diving, swimming, gymnastics, tennis and other sports. If not, they are sent to military schools to join the Red People's Army.

At the "sports factories", they live the sport they are "forced" to excel at and nothing else matters until they are released back to their parents, which is only when they "retire" from that sport to become a baby breeding machine after marriage.

Americans, on the other hand, have lives, can freely go to the mall or visit their friends, can say bad things about the government without fear of reprisals, do not get punished if they make mistakes while performing, don't eat dogs, can grow up doing whatever they want to do, visit the gym whenever they want, can leave the gym to go home to their parents, do not get kidnapped and brought to "reprogramming" centers, are more creative in gymnastics and don't need to cheat by having a communist country's government strong arm the judges by intentionally having them delay results while other athletes are awaiting their start time and falsifying birth documents

Answer 3

No we talk about how wrong propaganda is and then let the media brainwash us not me though I can like to think for myself unlike many others they believe anything the rest of the crowd do.

Which is quite ironical considering China are the ones that are supposed to be the ones that are the ones that are supposed to be brainwashed.

Loriann is perfect example of the believing  propaganda.

Did you know that when the games were held in Atlanta they closed down all the ghettos and moved out all the poor people to beautify the city well thats what we were told anyway.

Also did you know that everyone locked up in Guatunamo bay is guilty and every Iraqi citizen is a terrorist

Also do you know what people in glass houses shouldn't do..

Answer 4

I think one or two are maybe 14 or 15 but in my opinion is that if they are the BEST in China, then why can't they go? If we had 14 or 15 year olds that were better than our 18-19 year olds, why should we force them to wait 2 years just to see if they are good enough?

Answer 5

Yes. In the face they look really young. 10ish 12ish.  I mean come on.  They do not look 16.  Some of them still have baby teeth.

Answer 6

No.

Answer 7

Here's one fact about one gymnast, Jiang Yuyuan:

However, other official documents within China, including a list of junior competitors in Zhejiang Province linked to Jiang's national identification card, indicate that her date of birth is October 1, 1993, which would make her age during the Opening Ceremonies as 14 years, 11 months old. In this case, she would not be old enough to compete at the Olympics and also not having been eligible for the age-exemption she received to the 2007 Worlds. However, on August 2, the IOC stated that they would not investigate the discrepancy in Jiang's reported age, stating that it was a matter within FIG jurisdiction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Yuyan

Another one, is Yang Yilin:

Though according to her passport, Yang is old enough for the Beijing Games, media reports have indicated that she may be as young as 14.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athl...

My opinion, I don't think they are underage either. You are right about your reasons, and I support what you said! But, who cares though, you know? I mean, it should come to conclusion that it really shouldn't matter anyway. Whatever age they are at, it shouldn't be judge on that, and just appreciate and acknowledge the kind of talents they present themselves with when competing. And to top it off, China was awesome, and we all know that from whatever country it is that we came from! They proved all of us that they are better than the rest, and they do deserve the gold that they won. They might be or might not be underage, but they are good and they proved they are the best!

Answer 8

Yes I do. I will say that only about 3 or 4 look younger than 16. I don't think it's that big of an issue, if they did the work for it, shouldn't they be able to compete regardless of age? It isn't exactly fair for the other countries but I don't have any problem with it.  

Answer 9

This calls for more than just a simple poll. It deserves a serious explanation and discussion regarding the rules that have been implemented by the IOC for Olympic qualifying athletes. It is an IOC rule, that gymnasts MUST be at least 16 years of age to compete in the Olympic Games.....period.

x_RLy : You brought up some viable facts about these underage gymnasts.

While it is the opinion of many of you that these little kids should be allowed to compete, the fact remains that rules are set in place for a reason, and these rules are being broken. China, has indeed broken this rule set forth by the IOC. There most certainly ARE underage Chinese gymnasts competing in the 2008 Olympic games. It is a HUGE issue being discussed EVERY SINGLE DAY from ALL parts of the world. The IOC is being pressured to bring these facts forward with some answers, as is Beijing, China....and SOON!!

Athletes are drug tested: because drugging is illegal.

Athletes' ages are checked thoroughly: because there are rules about age regulations.

I did a lot of research on this age discrepancy, only for my computer to freeze up. In addition to these underage athletes from China, Beijing has hidden MANY tragic goings on that no one wants to hear or face the truth about:

THOUSANDS of people were literally kicked out of their homes in Beijing, to 'make room' for the Olympic Games. They had no place to go and at present, are sitting homeless and hidden from our view.

Countless construction workers who have worked day and night to constuct the "Birds Nest" and other Olympic structures, have not been paid a single penny for their work, and are homeless and literally starving!

China is forcing countless toddlers to become gymnasts and divers. It's abusive and practically modern-day slavery! THIS is why there is an age limit set in place!

Has anyone forgotten that China is a Communist country?

Are we to sweep this under the rug by excusing it as "not mixing politics with sports" ??? How immoral are WE to ignore these facts?

Watch National and World News every day. These topics ARE discussed constantly, and of great concern. These issues go beyond separating sports and politics. It's about HUMANITY, MORALS, ETHICS, and INTEGRITY.

I agree that politics should be seperate from sports. However, this is a human, moral, cultural, and social issue. China is painting a pretty picture of its country and glamorizing the highlights of the Olympic Games while there are moral crimes being committed EVERY day and EVERY second, as these games continue. I LOVE the Olympic Games! I AM cheering for my country and for the world. At the same time, I cannot ignore that there are people suffering behind a pretty picture in order for China to 'APPEAR' as a great country and Olympic Host. I would not be human if I ignored the reality of what is really going on in Beijing and many parts of China.

I am truly torn between being so excited for our athletes while I KNOW what is going on behind the scenes. As pretty as it all appears, there is an ugliness,  thousands of times larger, than what the average viewer is seeing on NBC.

We, as humans and citizens of this world, DO hold some part of the responsibility in allowing this to be "okay".

There IS a reason  why the REAL stories are talked about non-stop on National and World News ---

All you have to do is open your eyes and give a d**n enough to face reality,to be honest, and to care!

This is a most bittersweet Olympic year in Beijing, China, as we watch our athletes setting world records, and we are enjoying all the events and festivities, while the citizens of Beijing and China are being tortured, starved, hidden, and immoraly and unethically treated. It IS an absolute outrage.

ANYONE who gives me the "thumbs down" on this, does NOT care to know or face the truth, or admit to the utter inhumanity that is taking place in China, as we cheer for our athletes!

Go ahead and turn your backs on YOUR fellow human beings!  Sleep well  ---

In Great Hope for ALL -

Lori Ann

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On NBC Nightly News (just minutes ago) They discussed this very topic indepth. Children in China (as young as 3 years old) are put into schools, and FORCED to perform gymnastics. These toddlers are in tears, as these instructors hit them and force them into vigorous training. The children have to live at the school and see their parents only twice a year! They also talked about a gymnast on the Chinese Olympic team, who is 13 years old. China has "hidden" her information from the public, the IOC, and from the world!

This goes much farther than a mere opinion poll. This is a very serious matter!

Answer 10

Yes.

The one girl is still losing baby teeth and China was caught at the 2000 games with a 16 year old that was 14.

Answer 11

6 years old girls with alot of make up on look like 12 or 14 yrs old. just like the girl you didnt see during the opening ceremonieswho wasnt cute enough to be on tv or the fake fireworks. there will be 2 things people will be talking about the 2008 summer games 1. the 5 year old gymnastic girls and 2. michael philps.