Ethics Issues Top News About Upcoming Olympics
Jun 23rd, 2008 • Posted in: NewsRunning of Olympic torch through Tibetan capital stirs resentment; New York Times reports that in zeal for gold, Chinese athletes are pushed to compete with injuries; and IOC mounts antigambling initiative
BEIJING and SHANGHAI
Several ethics issues dominated Olympic coverage last week. Among the stories:
- China sent the Olympic flame through the streets of Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, last week, though there was barbed wire to keep ordinary Tibetans away and residents were told to stay inside their homes. The Globe & Mail reports that a small group of foreign journalists was allowed to see only the beginning and end of the run. Human rights groups were critical of the decision to run the torch through the Tibetan capital, according to the report. Recent separatist demonstrations in Tibet were crushed with violence, leading some critics to call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
- The New York Times reports that China, in its quest for Olympic gold, routinely pushes injured athletes to compete. The report cites the case of Hu Jia, China’s champion 10-meter platform diver, who won gold in the 2004 Athens games. Despite diving injuries to both of his retinas, Hu is training for the upcoming Olympics — a decision likely motivated by cultural pressure, financial promise, and powerful nationalistic forces, reports the Times. According to the report: “For many athletes, playing through injuries is standard practice. Most of China’s Olympic-caliber competitors are tightly controlled by a system that manages almost every aspect of their lives, often from early childhood. This includes housing, education, medical care, and interactions with the public and the news media. In this system, decisions about training regimens and the risks of injuries do not get much of a public airing.”
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced new antigambling measures, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. According to the report, the IOC will demand that all athletes, coaches, officials, and journalists sign documents pledging not to gamble or promote betting during the games.
Sources: Globe & Mail, June 21 — New York Times, June 20 — Sydney Morning Herald, June 19.
For more information, see: Related Newsline story, May 27 — Related Newsline story, May 27 — Related Newsline story, May 27 — Related Newsline story, May 19.
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