Русская версияChina would have preferred to host the Olympic Games in the year
2000.
But after the bloody suppression of the democratic movement
in 1989, the International Olympic Committee decided in favor of
rival applicant Sydney in 1993. In 2001, however, China's
perseverance proved successful -- not least because hosting the
Games was associated with necessary progress regarding human
rights.
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Matthias von Hein
For the Communist Party, the choice of Beijing as the center for
hosting the Games was a stroke of genius. Ideologically exhausted,
the party could then use the Olympics as a new focus for the
enthusiastic population for the next seven years. It would be a
collective goal that would merit all the hard work put towards
achieving it. Thus, the sworn divide between sports and politics
was pure hypocrisy right from the start.
These Olympic Games are inwardly concerned with how to best convey
the rise of China to the outside world in powerful images. Some 80
heads of state will sit beside the Chinese president at the opening
ceremony. Chinese television will broadcast images of Hu Jintao
chatting away with Nicholas Sarkozy, George W. Bush and Vladimir
Putin to the furtherst corners of the country. The message is
clear: We belong up there with them, shoulder to shoulder. The
media has not even mentioned how Bush has criticized the human
rights situation in China before. They're simply not told.
Scope for change?
In the past few years people have happily referred back to how
positively the Olympics Games transformed South Korea 20 years ago.
But it is not a fair comparison. South Korea is a small country
whose national security is dependent on the USA. China is, on the
other hand, an enormous country that functions according to its own
rules.
Contrary to all agreements Beijing has intensified pressure on
dissidents in the last few months. Just one of the most recent
examples is the trial begun less than a week ago against former
attorney, Ni Yulan. For years she spoke up for the rights of forced
expropriates. In April she became one herself. Then her house was
torn down. That area of the city needed to be "cleaned up" for the
Olympics. When she stood up against this act, she was arrested and
possibly tortured. Not even her husband has seen her since.
Whether the Olympic Games still stand a chance will be seen in the
next few days. The international outcry due to the Internet
censorship in the Olympic Media Center has led to some relaxations
of suppressive policies. The formerly censored Deutsche Welle site
has since become accessible again. And not only in the press center
but across the country. Yet, the fact that sites remain blocked,
that around 80 journalists and Internet-writers still remain in
prison is unacceptable.
China's leadership does not deserve these Olympic Games -- but the
population does. And there is still hope. The deciding glimmer
would be if this exhibition of architectural and organizational
achievement leaves behind a more relaxed party. If the Communist
Party can hold out without falling into the reflex reactions of
control-mania and paranoia, then maybe these Games can even change
China.
(Deutsche Welle)
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