Should Gordon Brown boycott the Olympics

[james Greenhalgh, MyP]

Today the Olympic torch is being paraded through the streets of London - amidst protests from pro-Tibetan protestors.

Should the UK take a stance on China's poor human rights records?

[Liam Hannan]

The Dalai Lhama has said he does not want the games to become a symbol of protest for a free tibet.

(Partly because that was the chinese justification for shooting all those students)

If we're wanting to show solidarity with the free tibet movement our first goal has to be not to make their life worse - so no. He shouldn't boycott it.

[make.me.smile]

Nope, he should've already done something about it. But ohwell, wait until the Olympics are over and then take action. Even though we could get something out of supporting our fellow Europeans.

[Spirited discussion]

Take a stance: yeah we should

Boycott the olympics - no deffinately and categorically no. Sport should be seperated from politics. Plus, as the dali-lama is the nominal head of free tibet and he has no problem with us goin to the olympics then we should go.

[Hamsterwaffle]

Politicians should boycott the olympics, as well as raising tariffs on Chinese goods, but they should allow athletes to make up their own minds.

[nathan]

there still should be a british entry into the olympics, I think politics and sport shouldn't really be linked and I support the games being held wherever the venue.

I understand that protestors for Tibet wanted to use the olympics for mainly publicity and do not intentionally aim at the olympics but it is the best way for them to make a statement. It will be seen by Chinese politicians and probably have a lasting effect on the events in London today.

I think the governments role in the olympics is debatable, Gordon Brown I'm glad did not hold the torch which could have been a symbol for Chinese support and a sign of propaganda. I think it is Britain's role as the next hosts to show they are supporting the olympic games alone, and not China. I feel we should take a more serious stance on China in different ways through lesser support economically and publicly condemning their part of the situation in Tibet

[Miuccia]

"The Dalai Lhama has said he does not want the games to become a symbol of protest for a free tibet."

Probably because he's a peaceful person and doesn't really want to openly encourage that sort of thing.

How can our politicians stand there and support an event that's supposed to be about fair play?? China was given the privilege of hosting the Olympics on the grounds that they improved their human rights record. Haven't really seen that happening, have we?

[matt christodoulou]

To be honest i do not think that Gordon Brown should not boycott the Olympics. Why because, it may prove bad. If we boycott China's Olympics, they will probably boycott our Olympics in 2012. We don't want that.

[atearth]

Sports and politics humans are really silly.

[EmmaGallen]

Agree completely with Hamster. Politicians should be sayign "we don't want to be involved with china when they are being liek this" adn they should let athletes compete if they want to.

[Miuccia]

"If we boycott China's Olympics, they will probably boycott our Olympics in 2012. We don't want that"

Who cares? Freeing Tibet is more important than China boycotting our Olympics. The rest of the world would still come and see us. I can't believe that anyone would put sport above human lives.

[matt christodoulou]

England should stay out of it, they should concretrate on Iraq. France aren't keen on China - the Olympics - there is a good chance that they might.

[Miuccia]

"England should stay out of it, they should concretrate on Iraq."

I don't see why we can't try to tackle more than one problem at once.

[soph41190]

I've never really been the flag waver for the Uk, normally I'm the one burying my head in my hands going 'Jesus.....'
However, (despite me not being alive haah) I am very proud of the fact that the only nation NOT to salute Hitler in the 1939 Olympics was the English athletes. That's something to admire, something to live up to. This is why Brown makes me sick, Britain is associated with being indipendant, self-absorbed, annoying but dogged, Brown is a kiss**** who cares not for the lives of the people he should be protecting but his own saggy skin. Its dispicable, if he knows what's good for him he will boycott. No human life should be cast aside at the expense of sport and international relations. Why would we even want to associate ourselves with such a regime?! They say if we give China a chance it will feel accepted and change its ways. No! It won't, because it likes the way it is, because a dictator does NOT share power, no lovely democratic fairy is going to change that.

[Hamsterwaffle]

Sorry to be pendantic, but Hitlers were the 1933 Olympics, 1939 was when the war started.

[Samantha Stainforth]

Obviously the Dalai Lama isn't gonna go

Gordon Brown shouldn't go

Sam
xxxx
MYP Candidate for East Riding of Yorkshire

[rosieposey]

As a politician, he can't win. If he goes, he will be ridiculed for being seen to support the Chinese government; but if he doesn't go, it will cause the government of one of the world's fast growing economies to dislike him. And that really wouldn't be good for Britain!