Should a country's record on human rights and civil liberties influence whether or not they are given the Olympics?

That depends on what your priorities are. At least here in America we have no problem buying cheaply made products that are supposedly made by child labor in sweat shops in foreign countries. We seem to place a higher priority on entertainment than human rights, just so long as it doesn't effect us personally. I use the term "we" to describe America as a whole, not me individually or anybody in particular here at GF.

As for me I don't think China should have ever been considered as an Olympic host under their current way of thinking. There are other countries that have a higher regard for human rights that would have been better choices if you ask me.

I believe that a countries record of human rights and civil liberties should most definitely be taken into consideration in hosting the Olympics.

Do I think China should hold the Olympics? Most definitely, their human rights and civil liberties record may not be on the same level as many countries but then again it is being measured with a different cultures yard stick.

I want to say no, only because I feel like the Olympics are a platform to bring the issues to the global stage. Yes, it will make the news if they are denied. But people will organize and protest if said country is participating. And chances are the athletes themselves have little to nothing to do with the politics.

Freedom of the Press

China (2007): 163rd
Italy (2006): 40th
Greece (2004): 33rd
The United States (2002): 17th
Australia (2002): 12th

Acatually the Olympics games ,esp mordern Olympics games are deeply connected with one courtry's culture politics and economy. suppose, China is a very small poor country with a unsteabl politiacal system. Should the IOC give the chance to this country ? the answer is NO. but as it is concerned with the human rughts and the liberties for individuals, the government did a rather bad job after the foundation of the Red China.

on the other hand this gaint red china is quite different from the SU ot Nazi Germany. it is a very practial capitalistic regime, you can not define it or clsssify it by the name. it is rather a kind of state capitaliism with the collective culture there but our west is individual capitalism with a obvious individual tradition.


so theri way of thinking can not change in a few years . i think so firmly.

ha,...we feel disgusting~~
many tails nurse people.
cannot take package,cannot watch the fire .cannot do many other things ,
..i hate it ...it

I think it should be considered but then what would be the cut off? Even the US is in the human rights watch list, I cannot imagine denying the US the opportunity to hold the Olympics.

When the Olympics was given to China, there was an assumption that this would improve things over there. They made a moral obligation to do so and they didn't keep with that promise. Still, the Olympics happened for some, fancy fireworks was enough to forget about that broken engagement.