Sport, the Olympics and Politics: European Responses to Beijing 2008

Abstract

The broad base of sporting activity in China functions as a hatchery for an elite, by which is generally meant the Olympic elite since China commits itself with full force to those Olympic disciplines that have the most medals and which are easiest to win. For the leaders of the Chinese state, the primary aim of the Beijing Olympic Games was a facelift that would demonstrate that the country had finally become a modern superpower. All opening ceremonies are, of course, a form of cultural propaganda on behalf of the host nation. However it is also something unique that a one-party state with serious human-rights issues and with severe ethnic border conflicts is given the right to make use of the Olympic opening ceremony, especially since it seems that the games, contrary to promises by the Chinese sport authorities, did not result in improvements in human rights or any relief for the Tibetans. In Denmark the Beijing games aroused controversies because of the presence as head of state of the Danish Crown Prince Frederik, who in October 2009 at the prestigious Olympic Congress in Copenhagen is almost certain to be elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee.