Beijing Getting a Bum Rap

So I've been really excited about the Beijing Olympics and I've been following it closely in the newspapers and online. Boy, for a city that's getting so much flak, you'd think that they would have awarded the Games elsewhere.

Let's see, it beat out Toronto (sniff, it could have been in Canada), Paris, Istanbul and Osaka. All these cities would have been a lot less controversial. Kind of makes you wonder that a city/country with all that humans rights violations, pollution, censorship problems could be awarded the Olympics.

I remember that a few years ago, the ex-IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch was accused of corruption but was cleared of wrongdoing. I also remember reading about bribing votes for the host city. The thought is in the back of my mind that maybe this is still going on.

Now don't get me wrong, I do think that the criticism Beijing has received up to this point has been excessive and that's before the Opening Ceremonies. You also can't deny that China is becoming an economic superpower. It seems right that the Games be awarded to it. However, did the IOC really believe that magically, the country will change it's ways, free Tibet, lift censorship, become Green suddenly? Please.

And now one of the most ludicrous thing I read recently was that someone tested positive for anabolic steroids because he ate a piece of barbecue meat from Beijing! That's the best excuse I've heard yet. First off, the athlete was Chinese so I didn't think it was right piling the criticism onto the cuisine of your own country. Second, because he was Chinese and he was accostumed to eating Chinese food on a regular basis, why didn't he test positive for steroids before?

So while I don't agree with some of the Chinese politics, I think the city is getting a raw deal. The IOC knew what it was getting into and reform doesn't happen overnight. Lets just wait and see what happens at the Games and then people can say I told you so.

Welcome to Olympic Glory!

Hello, and welcome to my Olympic Glory blog. Every 2 years (yes, I'm counting the Summer and Winter Olympics) I like to play the armchair Olympian. I watch sports that I normally wouldn't watch on TV like volleyball, swimming and heck throw in some kayaking in there. But there's something compelling about the Olympics. I don't know if it's national pride or the drama of watching athletes fulfill their dreams or crash and burn. It just makes good sports drama. So I'll be glued to the TV set this August to the Beijing Olympics. I am Canadian and I don't think our Canadian team will do all that well. That's okay, I'm banking on the Vancouver 2010 Games. While I don't expect many podium finishes from our Canadians, I'll still be tuning in to the greatest sporting show on earth. Join me as I share my opinions on the Games to come!