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Athletes Urged to Tackle China

New Republic wants sportsmen to condemn Olympic hosts

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2007 1:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – US athletes have a moral imperative to take a stand at the Beijing Olympics, the New Republic’s editors assert: The American delegation should follow Lee Bollinger’s example of “spectacular rudeness” next summer, condemning the Chinese for their brutal human rights record. It’s unethical to be hosted by a country that tortures political activists, they argue, and be silent.

The Olympics can provide a rare opportunity to speak openly about injustice within Chinese borders; they also bring rare global publicity. To be sure, the editors allow, athletes are not statesmen, but the International Olympic Committee made Olympians into “political actors” by scheduling the Games in Beijing. And the famous Black Power salute at the 1968 games shows how emblematic unexpected political speech can be.

People walk past the 2008 Olympics National Stadium in Beijing...
People walk past the 2008 Olympics National Stadium in Beijing...   (Getty Images (by Event))
Swimmer Michael Phelps swims in the preliminaries of the 200-meter breaststroke at the US Swimming Nationals in Indianapolis, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. Phelps finished with a time of 2 minutes, 15.81 seconds, failing to  qualify for the final.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Swimmer Michael Phelps swims in the preliminaries of the 200-meter breaststroke at the US Swimming Nationals in Indianapolis, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. Phelps finished with a time of 2 minutes, 15.81 seconds,...   (Associated Press)
Joey Cheek talked about Darfur after winning the gold at Turin
Joey Cheek talked about Darfur after winning the gold at Turin   (Getty Images)
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant poses with some Filipino children during...
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant poses with some Filipino children during...   (Getty Images)
President Bush Attends Rose Garden Ceremony
President Bush Attends Rose Garden Ceremony   (Getty Images)
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