2008 Olympics Controversy Highlights Debate on Olympic Goals

The bright orange flames of the Olympic Games.  Usually, this iconic sporting symbol brings joy and excitement everywhere it goes as the torch proceeds through countries throughout the world, from hand to hand, building anticipation for the Games.

But this year, the burning torch has been met with both pride and protest.

Human rights protestors have aggressively confronted and halted the processions in London and Paris, in a statement against the human rights abuses of the government of China, which is hosting this year's games.

The outcry has not affected the stance of The International Olympic Committee, which believes that politics should not be an Olympic issue. The Committee has released several statements in which they've made it clear that the Olympics is purely about athletics. IOC rules in fact prohibit athletes from participating in any type of commercial or political statement within Olympic athletic grounds. 

This growing controversy raises some interesting questions for us to examine. First, should the Olympics be purely about sports, or is it indeed a conflict for the games to be hosted in a nation that is a consistent oppressor of human rights? Second, given that the games are being held in a nation that oppresses human rights, what are the responsibilities if any of the athletes and powerful politicians participating in and attending the games?

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