I'm not boycotting the games. I love the games, the ritual, the sportsmanship, the winners and losers, the ceremonies and the glory. For political reasons, I can only hope to catch glimpse of one Tibetin flag, we'll see if that flies. At this point, one thing is certain: nothing will be seen clearly due to the smog. But if China wasn't a communist state, would we be giving them such a hard time? Just take a look at Mexico68. On one ocassion, I couldn't wear my contacts in Mexico City because it was just too poluted. If they could just place super-sized fans around the city and point them upwards, perhaps the air would clear. But mountains get in the way, and Beijing suffers in similar fasion. 17 million+ people will do that.
But Mexico in 1968 also had more that just the Olympics to remember it by, there was a movement going on, a revolution being built by a young generation. During that time, the Vietnam War caused an ideological revolution around the world. No other place in the world was more divided between older and younger generations. In 1968, 17-year old feminists like my mother took to the streets declaring "No queremos Olimpiadas, queremos revolución". Social and political changes in Mexico were the result of months of protests around the country. Feminism may have grown from the power of "Free Love", which was more than likely ushered due to the advent of "The Pill", but it brought with it the light of significant change in social participation of women.
Now it's potentially China's moment to shine as all host cities do for these 14 days of glory. And the glory is theirs, and economically it seems to be headed in that direction for them as well. How things pan out is anyone's guess, but the guessing is certainly worth paying close attention.
Meanwhile, It's good to stay on top of the game...
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