One of the things about the Olympics is that the event is supposed to be free of politics, signifying the unity of man through the glory of athletics. And if you believe that load of horse crap, I'd like to sell you some Iraqi WMD's.
The reality of the matter is that politics always intrude into the games. In 1972, it was terrorism. In 1980, it was Jimmy Carter protesting the invasion of Afghanistan by having us boycott the Moscow games. But the Soviets showed us: They got back at us by skipping the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
This year is no different. Mainland China has long considered Taiwan a breakaway province. The dispute is occasionally punctuated by threatening rhetoric, with the occasional missile test thrown in for good measure. Now the two governments have been unable to reach an agreement on the Olympic torch relay, and thus the flame will NOT be passing through Taiwan on its way to Beijing.
No big deal, except that the torch WILL be carried all the way to the top of Mount Everest. It's a shame that the Olympic organizers could figure out a way to get that flame to the highest peak on Earth, but were unable to get it past a gap caused by the petty bickering of two governments.
Then again, it's just as well. That Chinese torch probably has lead in it.
The reality of the matter is that politics always intrude into the games. In 1972, it was terrorism. In 1980, it was Jimmy Carter protesting the invasion of Afghanistan by having us boycott the Moscow games. But the Soviets showed us: They got back at us by skipping the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
This year is no different. Mainland China has long considered Taiwan a breakaway province. The dispute is occasionally punctuated by threatening rhetoric, with the occasional missile test thrown in for good measure. Now the two governments have been unable to reach an agreement on the Olympic torch relay, and thus the flame will NOT be passing through Taiwan on its way to Beijing.
No big deal, except that the torch WILL be carried all the way to the top of Mount Everest. It's a shame that the Olympic organizers could figure out a way to get that flame to the highest peak on Earth, but were unable to get it past a gap caused by the petty bickering of two governments.
Then again, it's just as well. That Chinese torch probably has lead in it.
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