Monday, October 19, 2009

Human rights and the Olympics

If you have not gotten over Chicago's early-round loss on the Olympic site voting, well, in the words of Nike (who will certainly be a presence in Brazil) just do it. I, personally, was glad the US did not get another games so early on. And that South America (as in the whole continent!) has never had a hosting opportunity seemed wrong.
I have to admit, though, that I was a little concerned about potential human rights issues, primarily the ousting of poor people from their homes to make way for various Olympic venues. But it's not as if every country has and has had in the past it's issues with human rights. This is why Human Rights Watch has asked the IOC to find a way to monitor the potential abuses of host nations. These issues arose, of course, in Beijing. They are anticipated on Sochi and, well, as I said--no country is acting angelic these days. (Perhaps ever, but that's a discussion for another time.)

2 comments:

Diane said...

Speaking of Beijing, I hope they look at non-human rights, also. The things that went on in China were horrible.

Anonymous said...

Oh please, Rio is far more worse than Chicago for the Olympics. Sex, drugs, violence, poverty... I'd say the IOC should give the back the Olympics to Chicago. It be more better.