The Question of the Olympic Boycott

Unchecked aggression, humans rights violations, and the prospect of an Olympic boycott. The year is 1980 and questions abound about what to do during the upcoming Moscow Olympics. The context is similar though not the same, the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan and the United States issued an ultimatum demanding the Soviet withdrawal. The Soviets did not withdraw and the United States decided to not participate. The results were disastrous, Soviet Policy remained largely unchanged and Soviet athletes dominated the games winning 80 gold medals, and many United States athletes were denied the chance to participate in the Olympics.

The question is would a boycott of the upcoming Olympics have a similar result? The situation is similar but not analogous, rather than a country with which we are diametrically opposed we have China. Not exactly a friend or foe. China is a powerful economic force that many world leaders would rather appease than confront when faced with the Human Rights violations which they have committed or tacitly allowed. The record of the Chinese government is poor in relation to human rights but the protests and boycott focuses on primarily two issues. The first and perhaps most pressing is the continued Chinese aggression into Tibet but, also important is the Chinese government’s close relation with the Sudanese government which has been linked with the genocide in Darfur. There are literally hundred of thousands people dead in Darfur and the prospect of affecting change on the Chinese government is enticing.

However, I believe that an Olympic boycott would be the incorrect maneuver. The Chinese government has grown too powerful to be bullied into changing its policies. It is a moreover a weak statement, the more successful Olympic sanctions in the pace include the shaming of South Africa done during the Apartheid years by refusing to allow their athletes to participate in the games. Rather, to cause change in Chinese policy western governments will need to use a policy of engagement (roughly we give you something in exchange for something) and it will need to be done with the support of many countries not unilaterally.

The fact that the United States participate in the games does not mean we are giving our support to the actions of the Chinese governments. In fact, it offers a platform of protest that will be directly in front of the leaders of China. The image of the American runners Tommie Smith and Carlos Smith in support of black pride and against racism and human rights violations in America. Another example is the courage of Jesse Owens during the Berlin 1936 Olympics where he was battling his own countries stereotypes along with the propaganda which was being put forth by the Nazis at the time. One feels that this Olympics will provide an athlete with a rare chance to make some sort of political statement in support of the Tibetans and other oppressed peoples.

The Olympics are a sporting event but, to attempt to divide it from politics is silly and erroneous. I feel however that an Olympic Boycott would be ineffective in achieving a change in Chinese Government policy. Its only likely effect would be to punish the athletes of those countries participating in the boycott.