Let the Olympic Torch Be

There is something sad surrounding the Olympic torch protests in London. The Olympic flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and not China’s human rights record.

One thing is true that the world would be worse off if there were no Olympic Games. Apart from China the Olympics have been held in countries where the record of human rights has been less that exemplary. The 1936 Games held in Berlin were used by the Nazis as a propaganda tool but in the end they have been remembered for the wonderful athletic performances of Jesse Owens. Those Games exposed the myth of the Nazis theory of Aryan racial superiority.

In 1976 African nations boycotted the Olympics in Montréal because of New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa. No one cared and the great African runners did not get a chance to show how good they were.

The 1980 Olympics were held in Moscow just after the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan.

There is hardly a nation on the face of the earth that has held the Olympics and could claim to satisfy everyone everywhere in regard to its policies foreign or domestic.

It is right that China’s human rights record should be scrutinised but targeting a symbol of peace and humanity is not the way to do it.