China wins 2008 Olympics - Here are some new sports

[TheLoneGunman]

To celebrate China's win of the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing, here are some new events they might hold:

Student vs. Tank race - student stands in front of tank and sees who wins

Democratic demonstrator skeet shoot - Why waste clay pigeons when you can shoot unarmed demonstrators?

Slave labor factory race - Which group of contestants can assemble clothes for Kathie Lee the fastest? (In keeping with the "amateur" spirit of the games, all contestants won't be paid in any way -- just like the prison labor China uses today)

Counterfeit challenge - How quick can you produce an illegal copy of current media products?

[CluelessSi]

...... Not Funny....

[ironchef]

my friend reminded me that something's missing from the list: US Spy Plane Disassembly Sprint.

[Markel]

Originally posted by CluelessSi
...... Not Funny....
Actually, I don't think it was particularly meant to be funny, but rather to point out what a farce it is to overlook the obvious reasons that China has no business being awarded the Olympics.

[Burzhui]

Markel is completely right on this one. I agree they should have given the olympics to someone else until china cleans up their act

[Markel]

Originally posted by Burzhui
Markel is completely right...
As soon as everyone else realizes this, the world will be a much better place. :)

[Ice-9]

While I see your point, Markel and Burzhui, I think it might be more difficult to persuade China to "clean up their act" if they are denied what they no doubt feel is their rightful status as a world superpower. If holding the Olympics there improves relations and maybe even allows for advocacy of change in some of the less humane practices in China, I'm all for it.

China is the world's most populous nation, and despite the underdeveloped state of their economy and the sub-standard living conditions suffered by much of their populace, they are one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, and have tremendous potential for industry, technology, and political power. Better to draw them into the circle of world powers to promote cooperation and harmony, rather than alienate them by denying them the right to host a symbolic showcase event.

[chrissy]

Originally posted by Ice-9
While I see your point, Markel and Burzhui, I think it might be more difficult to persuade China to "clean up their act" if they are denied what they no doubt feel is their rightful status as a world superpower. If holding the Olympics there improves relations and maybe even allows for advocacy of change in some of the less humane practices in China, I'm all for it.

China is the world's most populous nation, and despite the underdeveloped state of their economy and the sub-standard living conditions suffered by much of their populace, they are one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, and have tremendous potential for industry, technology, and political power. Better to draw them into the circle of world powers to promote cooperation and harmony, rather than alienate them by denying them the right to host a symbolic showcase event.

Very well stated. :)

[CluelessSi]

agreed...

An event like this will bring in many people and ideas and stuff...

[TheLoneGunman]

Don't forget of course, that since the East Germans no longer field an Olympic team, the Chinese have more athletes banned for drug and other illegal practices than any other country.

If they can't win legally, they cheat.

Is that really the Olympic spirit?

[CluelessSi]

Originally posted by TheLoneGunman
Don't forget of course, that since the East Germans no longer field an Olympic team, the Chinese have more athletes banned for drug and other illegal practices than any other country.

If they can't win legally, they cheat.

Is that really the Olympic spirit?

I don't know about the stats or facts on that but on the question about cheating and spirit... welll... there was quite a debate on the Olympics in Alanta and the US treatment of people...

[Ice-9]

Originally posted by TheLoneGunman
Don't forget of course, that since the East Germans no longer field an Olympic team, the Chinese have more athletes banned for drug and other illegal practices than any other country.

If they can't win legally, they cheat.

Is that really the Olympic spirit?

No, but I think that may be an unfair generalization, and I think it may not be applicable in this case. I know about the suspicions surrounding the women's distance running team in the mid-90s and their other past infractions, but I'm willing to bet that the other Olympic countries probably do too. Do you really think that the US or Canada or Russia will sit back and let them get away with cheating, if that's what they're doing? I think that China will try to play it clean and tight, because if they cheat, they're going to lose any possible respect they might gain for hosting the games proudly and effectively.

And I was there for the Atlanta games, and Clueless is right - there was a lot of controversy surrounding both prices and general treatment of athletes and spectators. The US doesn't exactly have the untouchable moral highground where the Olympics are concerned - a lot of people feel that Atlanta was in it just for the money.

[cruelpupet]

Originally posted by Markel

Originally posted by Burzhui
Markel is completely right...
As soon as everyone else realizes this, the world will be a much better place. :)





oh please we have our problems too

[sbp]

Originally posted by Ice-9
While I see your point, Markel and Burzhui, I think it might be more difficult to persuade China to "clean up their act" if they are denied what they no doubt feel is their rightful status as a world superpower. If holding the Olympics there improves relations and maybe even allows for advocacy of change in some of the less humane practices in China, I'm all for it.

China is the world's most populous nation, and despite the underdeveloped state of their economy and the sub-standard living conditions suffered by much of their populace, they are one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, and have tremendous potential for industry, technology, and political power. Better to draw them into the circle of world powers to promote cooperation and harmony, rather than alienate them by denying them the right to host a symbolic showcase event. There's only one world superpower. No need to pretend otherwise.

Has most favored trade status persuaded China to "clean up their act"? How about China's entry into the World Trade Organization? What makes you think this will be any different? That it won't be used for propaganda purposes?

[mojo]

Originally posted by CluelessSi

Originally posted by TheLoneGunman
Don't forget of course, that since the East Germans no longer field an Olympic team, the Chinese have more athletes banned for drug and other illegal practices than any other country.

If they can't win legally, they cheat.

Is that really the Olympic spirit?

I don't know about the stats or facts on that but on the question about cheating and spirit... welll... there was quite a debate on the Olympics in Alanta and the US treatment of people...

aha! er....yes!!!! i don't have a good interjection to express that i agree.

i speak with people in other countries all the time that tell me how they are often afraid to come here, travel, relocate, etc. now, a good deal of this could be from their country's propaganda scheme. but our own thinking of how we are "so much better off" is partially our own government's propaganda. as good as we have it, it is merely our vanity to say that we treat people better than anywhere on the planet.

[Ice-9]

Originally posted by sbp

There's only one world superpower. No need to pretend otherwise.

That's just arrogant. The US recently got dropped to 6th in the standard-of-living rankings (from 3rd, too, not 1st). And Bush as president is practically an international joke, at least according to my friends and relatives abroad. I'm not trying to start an argument about Bush, sbp, I'm just trying to point out that the US is not the "one world superpower" in everyone's eyes. If that's the way you feel, though, I will admit that that's your prerogative.


Originally posted by sbp
Has most favored trade status persuaded China to "clean up their act"? How about China's entry into the World Trade Organization? What makes you think this will be any different? That it won't be used for propaganda purposes?

Possibly not, but I believe that each of these could be a step in the right direction in urging China to comply with what most of the rest of the world agrees are standards and guidelines for the fair treatment of workers, citizens, foreign nationals, etc. And holding the Olympics there will put them under international scrutiny in a way that few other events could, encouraging them to clean up their act that much more. It may not be an instant fix, but it could definitely help.

[pennypinch]

Yes, I love how these unilateral conceptions of "right" or "fairness" somehow worm their way into what we think the world should do. And yet when the lens turns inward, the same folks scream that some third party is messing with their lives. Do you not see the dichotomy there?

The Olympics, while marred by political overtones, have often been used to bridge political differences. I'd encourage the Chinese government to continue the practice. Regardless of socio-political aspirations, just let 'em play.

[pennypinch]

Originally posted by Ice-9
That's just arrogant. The US recently got dropped to 6th in the standard-of-living rankings (from 3rd, too, not 1st

And commie pinko socialist nations like Canada and Sweden (?) are perenially first.

[Ice-9]

Heh, Norway this time, I think. :D

[Y2J]

I wonder what the possible sites are for the 2012 olympics..Let me guess: Tehran, Baghdad, The West Bank. One of those three will do nicely Im sure, at least the IOC seems to think so

[sbp]

Originally posted by Ice-9
That's just arrogant. The US recently got dropped to 6th in the standard-of-living rankings (from 3rd, too, not 1st). And Bush as president is practically an international joke, at least according to my friends and relatives abroad. I'm not trying to start an argument about Bush, sbp, I'm just trying to point out that the US is not the "one world superpower" in everyone's eyes. If that's the way you feel, though, I will admit that that's your prerogative.So the US has the 6th highest standard-of-living out of 200+ countries. The US has the world's number one economy. The US has the world's strongest military.

Bush's European trip was a success. As for friends and relatives abroad most of them don't get a vote now do they? :P

[pennypinch]

What the hell is the good of money if it doesn't buy anything in real terms? All these other places have a near-equal economy in real terms, i.e., people make about the same in terms of what their income will buy.

Sure, it's great if you can head over a border every other day, but really decreases its coolness if you can't buy much at home.

As for the military: who the fuck cares? Canada and Mexico don't even realy need a military because the States aren't stupid enough to try and enforce a non-imperialistic agenda abroad and an imperialistic agenda at home. Meanwhile, they know the States will come to their aid should anything befall them. We're spending OUR money on behalf of other countries. Great! :hmm:

[mojo]

ok...i think i got it. we are great! er...we are not so great. no, wait, we are great, but not for the reasons some of us think. who are the ones that think what? and who gets the final say on why we are so great? what reasons qualify our greatness? who is credible? why are they credible? maybe we are great because we have always been great? maybe i aint got it.

who has it? why do they have it? and who gets to substantiate their level of having it? maybe we are great just because we say we are so great. we don't agree on why we are great...but we agree that we are great. maybe we have some unknown, hidden greatness that transcends reason.

[Markel]

Originally posted by Y2J
I wonder what the possible sites are for the 2012 olympics..Let me guess: Tehran, Baghdad, The West Bank. One of those three will do nicely Im sure, at least the IOC seems to think so
Based on another thread that was started today (see http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=27197 ) I was going to suggest that Afghanistan is a logical choice (at least, by the logic if the IOC).

[CluelessSi]

Originally posted by sbp

Originally posted by Ice-9
While I see your point, Markel and Burzhui, I think it might be more difficult to persuade China to "clean up their act" if they are denied what they no doubt feel is their rightful status as a world superpower. If holding the Olympics there improves relations and maybe even allows for advocacy of change in some of the less humane practices in China, I'm all for it.

China is the world's most populous nation, and despite the underdeveloped state of their economy and the sub-standard living conditions suffered by much of their populace, they are one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, and have tremendous potential for industry, technology, and political power. Better to draw them into the circle of world powers to promote cooperation and harmony, rather than alienate them by denying them the right to host a symbolic showcase event. There's only one world superpower. No need to pretend otherwise.

Has most favored trade status persuaded China to "clean up their act"? How about China's entry into the World Trade Organization? What makes you think this will be any different? That it won't be used for propaganda purposes?


So u mean to tell me that China is no different then it was before........ Did HK die?...

[Edited by CluelessSi on 07-13-2001 at 09:44 PM]

[TheLoneGunman]

More facts to clear up the situation....

In the '80s, we thought that apartheid was so bad in South Africa, that we led the movement to BAN them from the Olympics.

Was this so different than what the Chinese are now doing to the Falun Gong? (They killed 50 in the last few days according to people at the Chinese embassy)

The US boycotted the Olympics in Moscow to protest the Russians in Afghanistan.

Is this any different than the Chinese occupation of Tibet?

Further, China's crackdown on the media and all other forms of free speech can't be a positive step.

Why is it okay to crackdown on Caucasians, but not Chinese?

I am just curious... If we saw the way they treated our airmen in China, why exactly would we send innocent athletes over there for the same treatment?

[CluelessSi]

Originally posted by TheLoneGunman
More facts to clear up the situation....


I am just curious... If we saw the way they treated our airmen in China, why exactly would we send innocent athletes over there for the same treatment?


U know that is funny.... hmmmm were the airmen killed? i mean they are SPYING!!! don't know about you but if someone snopped around my property, I would hit them.... wow plane got returned... o man what happen to finders keepers...

nah we don't care about the guy that died and the plane lost... only our stuff matters....

China could not win the Olymipcs for the year 2000 now you can tell me what will happen in 8 years .... So you don't believe in giving chances?



You know I do wonder ...if China stops all trade with the US, would they suffer more or us? I know Big business for one would not like it at all.... Are we controled by our arrogance? Why should this be a US matter, should it not be a UN matter?

[fakesurfers]

What is it that China does that's so bad?

-They execute a lot of people
~~The United States executes quite a few people too.

-They occupy land that does not belong to their country
~~The US occupies Cuba, various islands in the Pacific, not to mention our long history of imperialism (Spanish-American war, 54' 40' or fight, any of these ring a bell)?

-Their system of government is different than ours?
~~I don't believe democracy is best for everyone. For societies that crave consensus, democracy will not work.

-They put restrictions on the free press?
~~What about all the things that are restricted in our press in the name of 'protecting children?' What about the DeCSS fiasco? What about the DMCA? Try advocating the violent overthrow of the US government, which is what a lot of these protestors have done in the eys of the Chinese government.

I think it's important to look at other societies without your own frame of reference. Different strokes for different folks. Despotism always fails sooner or later. For a system of government to continue, enough people must accept it. Apparently, this is what is occurring in China.

CluelessSI was correct when he said the US has a lot to lose if we got into a trade war with China. Deceivingly, it looks like we have the advantage; we buy more from China than they buy from us. The problem, though, if we stopped all trade tomorrow with China, we would see substantial price increases for a number of things. This would force the Fed to increase interest rates to head off inflation. We would be in a hard landing recession before Labor Day.

Another thing to consider in the event of a trade war: what if they really wanted to hang us out to dry? What if China made every piece of intellectual property the US has created available for free. Source code, movies, music, books all available on Chinese servers. Easy enough to download that even your grandma could do it. Would we be willing to go into a military confrontation for that? What could we do?

Personally, I think politics has no place in sport. Do people protest at the Super Bowl that New Orleans has a corrupt government and police force. Is this an issue when theyre deciding whether to have it in the Super Dome? If we were to draw Libya in the World Cup, would we forfeit? Do we see anyone refusing to play at Wimbledon because the UK goverment treats South Asian minorities very poorly? Nope. Why do we reserve politicking for the Olympics?

[TheLoneGunman]

Jay Leno reads off my original post almost in its entirety as part of his opening monologue.

Too bad he isn't paying me royalties...