With the news focuses on human rights abuse, terrorism, air pollution and doping, it seems that the Olympics are not what they were before. The Beijing Olympics hoped finally begin this Friday, but maybe even more than politics? Can we still be touched by the Olympic spirit?

Growing up in the 1980s, my heroes Olympian Coe, Cram and Ovett, Carl Lewis, Daley Thompson and Torvill and Dean. I loved the story of Jesse Owens compared with the Nazis and even our weak Eddie the Eagle took an emotional issue. In the 1990s and beyond, Redgrave, Pinsent and Co were Olympians adequate with Kelly Holmes and Amir Khan stories provide some Olympic inspiration in 2004.

Over the coming weeks, I'll be looking out for our men's rowing team four legs and little Tom Daley, diving equipment for GB, with only 14 years old. But the repression of political activists, detention without trial – in fear Re-education through Labor (RTL) system – and censorship in China, unfortunately, are ahead of the competition for me and many others in this time.

This is a great shame for the athletes involved, but really nothing new. Policy have been highlighted in the Olympics since 1936, When Hitler seized as a piece of Nazi propaganda. Fortunately, as the American black athlete Jesse Owens was there to dispel the myth of Aryan supremacy.

The 1956 Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia, were boycotted by many nations for many reasons and 1968 saw the volatile Mexico City Games. Two American black medalists, Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the black power salute the anthem of the United States and were subsequently expelled from the games. Student protests He also tried to use the Olympics to raise awareness of the Mexican authoritarian government.

Tragically, this eventually culminated in the shooting death more than 200 demonstrators by government forces in October 1968, just days before the games began. It emerged many years after the government U.S. has supported the Mexican authorities with weapons, ammunition, radios and training in riot control, in an attempt to avoid disruption of the Olympics.

The 1972 Munich games were kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists, eleven Israeli athletes were kidnapped and eventually killed. Difficult to imagine how Olympics could recover from an event so shocking.

In 1976 the Summer Olympics were riddled with boycotts, accusations drug and debts. The 1980 Olympics saw the largest ever to boycott U.S. and 61 other countries refused to enter the games in protest against the invasion of the USSR in Afghanistan. In response, the USSR, East Germany, Cuba and 14 other nations boycotted the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. Incidentally, this was the first Olympic Games of the People's Republic of China.

Numerous countries around the world have been close to boycotting the Beijing Games, but so far not think this will happen. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Beijing the games in July 2001, under the condition that human rights in China going to improve. Many people believe that the Olympics can be used as a positive political force, citing a ban on South Africa between 1964 and 1992. They believe that This was instrumental in forcing the country to allow black and white athletes to participate together in the national sport, a significant step toward equal rights and an end to oppressive apartheid regime.

According to the website of Amnesty International, Liu Jingmin, Vice-President of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee, in April 2001 said:

"By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help the development of human rights".

Jacques Rogge, IOC President at the time said:

"We are convinced that the Olympic Games will improve human rights record in China."

In April 2008, Rogge had to remind the Chinese government of its commitment to human rights and ask them to respect it. Only time will tell if they do.

Over the past twenty years, scandals perfomance enhancing drugs probably have eclipsed the political storms Olympics. This has added to the negativity that surrounds the Olympics and perhaps now means that the public is more cynical and less impressed than in the old days.

But most of participating athletes at the Olympic Games have legitimately reached the pinnacle of their sport and deserve our respect. Why not set aside our concerns and cynicism, once you start the opening ceremony and just enjoy the thing? Accept that politics is an integral part of any event that involves the nations of the world and ignore it. Why not let the Chinese people are proud of their athletes and their culture? Why not celebrate the outstanding human achievements? Why Why not let the Olympics to join, just a few weeks?

About the Author:

Max Clarke is a copywriter for holiday services company, Holiday Extras, currently writing about Gatwick airport parking,Manchester airport hotels and Heathrow airport parking.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Olympics and Political Games

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