The Olympics are supposed to bring the world together, right? They attract more than 200 countries and unite the world in cheering for world-record breaking, meeting other athletes in the Olympic Village, enjoying sport and wondering what the hell the interpretive dances in the opening ceremonies are about. But with the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing just over a year away, it seems that these games have become more politically divisive than anything else.
The International Olympic Committee must have known that they were courting controversy when they decided to let China host the Games. The country is still Communist, faces accusations of repressing its citizens and has shaky alliances with other world powers. It was only a matter of time before something ignited over the Committee’s decision to let China host the Games.
The earliest controversy manifested itself in a dispute over the route of the Olympic Torch. The proposed route, released last Thursday, involves taking the Olympic Flame through Taiwan. However, the Taiwanese government has expressed outrage because of the manner through which it passes through the nation. A long-standing dispute about Taiwan’s independence from China led them to insist that, if the Torch went through Taiwan, it should not enter or exit into China or a Chinese-owned territory (such as Hong Kong). Naturally, the Chinese organizers decided not to listen and scheduled the Torch to exit into Hong Kong, which Taiwan interpreted as a statement that China still controls them.
Taiwan has a tenuous history with China, dating back to after World War II, when Chinese troops arrived to “liberate” Taiwan. The status of the nation has been ambiguous since then, especially after the Republic of China became recognized as the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan became a refuge for the non-Communist faction. The government of mainland China and the government of Taiwan have been at odds ever since. Although mainland China has threatened to reclaim the island of Taiwan, with force if necessary, the issue has been dealt with by basically ignoring it. Other nations and international organizations recognize Taiwan as sovereign when convenient.
Taiwan is sensitive to perceived attempts of Chinese ownership. This Torch controversy is no exception; Taiwan has gone so far as to propose alternate routes, while China is wondering what all the fuss is about. However, this issue isn’t going to die by ignoring it and it threatens to rip a hole in the already unstable diplomatic relationships between China and its neighbors. It’s not unreasonable to think that Taiwan will withdraw its Olympic delegation and that other states could follow.
This isn’t the only route controversy. As always, the Torch will start in Athens, but many other locations have caused disputes. The Torch will be carried up Mt. Everest in Tibet, a move that has sparked protest abroad. Since a 1950 invasion, China has controlled Tibet, but Richard Gere and others want China to declare Tibet an independent state.
The Torch will barely be stopping in North America. San Francisco is the only American city to get the Torch, a possible dig at the U.S. Meanwhile, it will bypass Canada entirely. Stephen Colbert will be thrilled, but others aren’t too hot on the idea of China skipping Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration has angered the Chinese government by criticizing its human rights record and some observers think the Torch snub may be retaliation.
The Olympic Torch is usually one of the most celebrated aspects of the Games; an opportunity for each city on the route to show itself off to the world and feel like a part of the international community. It’s given us some of the best moments in Olympic history, including Muhammed Ali’s run and the absolutely baller flaming arrow lighting in Barcelona. But, if this tradition is being torn apart by controversy, it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the Games. They’ve already been dogged by charges of repression and the political controversy surrounding China means that every dispute puts the Games’ success in jeopardy. Even one country pulling out of the Olympics takes the story out of the realm of sport and into politics, overshadowing everything the Olympics are supposed to be about and making them that much less enjoyable.