The Martlet

With the Summer Olympics fast approaching, some countries are considering a boycott of the Beijing games in August in protest of China’s human rights record.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicated Canada won’t boycott the games, but Harper said he won’t attend the opening ceremonies. This month, former Martlet opinions editor Spencer Anderson and Martlet sportswriter Gavin Day debate whether or not Canada should boycott the Olympics.

Anderson: The decision about whether to send a Canadian delegation to the Olympics in Beijing is very real in the sense that it strikes at the heart of what Canada represents as a democracy. The Chinese government has chosen to kill, imprison, torture and make political refugees out of those who have exercised their human rights. This is an assault and offense to every human being. Canada cannot endorse this behavior by patronizing the Chinese government with our athletes and money.

Day: China’s occupation of Tibet is nothing new. It has been going on for years, and little has been done to hold the Chinese government at account for their actions. That being said, a boycott would do nothing to change the policies of the Chinese government. All we need to do is look at the lack of effectiveness of previous Olympic boycotts (1976, ‘80 and ‘84, for example). The show will still go on — with or without our athletes — and in the end they are the only people that will suffer.

Anderson: The point is that Canada should categorically rule out participating in games hosted by dictatorial governments that terrorize people. To host the Olympics is an honour not worthy of the Orwellian administration in Beijing. Furthermore, if others followed Canada’s lead, you would see real change real fast. As for the athletes, they have my condolences, but partying in Beijing isn’t conducive to getting tough on China. Quite frankly, it’s like playing tennis with Hitler.

Day: Canada should show real leadership by boycotting trade missions and by imposing trade sanctions against China. If they stand behind their words that human rights are paramount, they would place this above their desire for more money. Canadian athletes believed they were going to change the world when they boycotted the 1980 Moscow games. When they saw that they were essentially pawns, they felt their lives’ work was ruined by politicians who were not willing to make meaningful sacrifices.

Anderson: I too believe that there are a range of options the Canadian government could pursue, including trade sanctions. I am disappointed, however, that you would go as far as imposing trade sanctions, which would affect thousands of working Canadians, but not so far as to boycott games which may or may not affect the careers of a few athletes. I’d argue that your priorities are misplaced. Canada should not endorse a Chinese Olympic host until human rights are respected.

Day: What I am understanding is that we should condemn a government that violently puts down dissent and exterminates the culture of an ethnic group within her borders — as long as that doesn’t cost our economy money? Human life is equal, be it in Canada or in Tibet. Boycotting the Olympics would be a meaningless gesture that would change nothing. Politicians could take decisive action, or they could just take the easy way out which, in the end, hurts our athletes. Our athletes represent Canada, and we should not punish them.