China a lousy choice to host Olympics

For better or worse, the Olympics remain a premier event on the global sporting landscape.

Every four years, the best athletes from around the world come together to compete for pride, country, and medals.

The event has lost some of its luster in recent years because Olympic organizers have allowed it to become more and more commercialized.

It is no longer as special as it used to be.

Despite this fact, the competition between cities to host the event remains fierce.

Beijing, China, was selected to host the event this summer, which proves once again that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cares little about how abusive a country is regarding human rights.

Make no mistake, this is all about money. China's population is more than one billion, and the IOC must be absolutely giddy about the opportunity to tap into that market.

However, in doing this, the organization is closing its eyes to the Chinese government's abuse and persecution of its own people.

Recently, the U.S. State Department released its annual report about human rights practices around the world.

The report labeled China as an authoritarian human rights abuser and cited as examples alleged torture of citizens, state control of daily life, and tight control on religion, according to multiple media outlets.

The State Department’s report included details about alleged torture techniques including electric shocks, beatings, and use of shackles. The report included a graphic account of the "tiger bench" form of torture that forces a person's leg to bend sometimes until it is broken.

Of course, reports like this involving China are nothing new. These types of abuses have been known about for years.

Despite this, the IOC rewarded China with the Olympics, and if we know anything about the Olympic stage, it is that it will give the host nation the opportunity to drown the world with propaganda regarding how great their culture is.

Expect no different from the Chinese. The big question is whether or not the world media will have the guts to put the Chinese government under a microscope and provide a well-rounded idea of what it is like in that country.

The answer to that question is not easy because China continually clamps down on freedom of the press.

The selection of China as the host country has generated considerable controversy and some athletes may boycott the event. However, that would be a mistake.

When it comes to sports, boycotts just don't work. In 1980, the United States led a boycott of the summer Olympics that were being held in Moscow.

Though some other countries joined the boycott, it really didn't affect the event.

The Soviet Union and other communist countries retaliated in 1984 when Los Angeles hosted the games, but their presence was not missed.

Of course, the selection of Moscow as an Olympic city was another example of the indifference the IOC has shown through the years toward governments who mistreat their citizens.

The most infamous example of this was when the games were awarded to Berlin in 1936, and Adolf Hitler attempted to exploit the event for propaganda purposes.

However, the great U.S. track star Jesse Owens completely upstaged him by winning four gold medals.

Regarding this year's games, the bottom line is Chinese officials will attempt to exploit the event in a vain attempt to show the world that they really are good guys.

I sure hope the world won't be gullible enough to buy what they are selling.