Rogge: Will He or Won’t He?
Lhadon just posted a video of herself trying to arrange a meeting with the president of the International Olympics Committee, Jacques Rogge. She spoke with Robert Roxborough, the IOC Communications Coordinator, who took her number and promised he’d call her back.
Let’s hope Mr. Rogge takes the time. He obviously knows what this meeting is to be about; Lhadon posted an open letter to him on her blog (here).
Mr. Rogge should look at this meeting as a chance to hear important concerns about how China has hijacked the Games to further its own political interests. This issue is one the IOC should care about as well. Representatives of the IOC unfortunately seem to have confused the public relations image of the Chinese government with the principles that the IOC says the Games stand for. Perhaps Mr. Rogge can clear this up.
For instance, Hein Verbruggen, the IOC’s chairman of the 2008 co-ordination committee, said, “The way in which the Games are being used as a platform for groups with political and social agendas is regrettable.” However, the Olympic movement claims to value “Cooperation with public and private organisations to place sport at the service of mankind.”
If Mr. Rogge is concerned with the politicization of the Games, he should look at the Chinese government, which from the very beginning has been transparently political. Mr. Rogge cannot blame civil society for responding, Mr. Verbruggen’s accusations notwithstanding. So would the Games be better off cooperating with civil society working for human rights and freedoms for the people of Tibet and China (in the “service of mankind”), or with the regime that is opposing these goals?
The history of the 2008 Olympics is in Mr. Rogge’s hands. Will the Games go down as infamous as Hitler’s 1936 Munich Olympics (but with even more protests in the streets and stadiums)? Or will the Games be remembered as being a positive influence for freedom in China and Tibet? Mr. Rogge should know: the interests of the host city are not necessarily those of the overall Games, especially when a host like Munich 1936 or Beijing 2008 is acting at the behest of a disturbing political agenda.
The confrontation between the Chinese government and groups supporting human rights and freedom has been set from the moment the IOC chose Beijing for the Games. Mr. Rogge has an opportunity to salvage the IOC’s decision, so that 2008 does not become synonymous with 1936. Let’s hope he takes it.
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[...] Posted by as Uncategorized Rogge should look at this meeting as a chance to hear important concerns about how China has hijacked the Games to further its own political interests. This issue is one the IOC should care about as well. Representatives of the IOC … article continues at Lhasa Rising brought to you by gambling and travel [...]