Germany Warns China Olympics at Risk

[proud2BlibKansan]

The Associated Press

Friday 21 March 2008

Berlin - Germany's foreign minister has warned China that its response to the crisis in Tibet may jeopardize the Summer Olympics in Beijing, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Frank Walter Steinmeier criticized the Chinese government's lack of transparency in the ongoing conflict, according to an interview with the newspaper Bild that will appear in Saturday's edition.

"This much is clear: the Olympic games don't work like they did 80 years ago," Steinmeier said according to an advance copy of the article made available by Bild Friday.

"You can't just host glamorous events for television while things are going topsy-turvy in your own backyard. The host has to allow thousands of journalists into the country - you won't be able to sweep anything under the rug."

more . . . http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Germany-Tibet.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Cooley Hurd]

1. BOYCOTT!

China's despicable actions against Tibet are worthy of it!:thumbsdown:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I will not be watching

[Clear Blue Sky]

2. Unfortunate for the athletes that the games have become so political.

But I guess they were even many years ago. Hitler wanted the Berlin games to make a big political statement on his behalf.

[JimiJonga]

3. In your face

China is timing this as an in-your-face move, as they are a major economic player now, thanks to us. They are doing it on purpose to show their power.

Sleep with dogs, you gonna get fleas.


They are going to start testing computer chips in animals soon enough, then humans, then the trouble will really begin.

[tekisui]

4. BIG K & R $ BOYCOTT!!!

No Totalitarian Games!!!!

[Beregond2]

5. Olympics

I think it is a big mistake to drag politics into the games. For a long time, I have been advocating that they have them in the same place every year. The current system is incredibly expensive and wasteful, and far too prone to these political entanglements. Why not have the summer games in Greece every time, and the winter games in the Balkan mountains, the nearest possible locale? It is idiotic to keep building these massive facilities over and over, and allowing the games to be used as political theatre.

[PSPS]

6. Yeah, but doing that would deprive the olympic committee of all that graft and sex

[Omega3]

7. never understood how China of all countries was able to host the Oly. games, sad really

[greyghost]

8. BOYCOTT!!!

[DCKit]

10. "...Olympics...don't work like they did 80 years ago..."

A sly reference to Hitler and the Nazis? Very subtle and non-accusatory, while still assuming his own (national) historical placemark. What a diplomat.