Olympic Games as a Social Movement

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) purports to head a movement (defined by Webster as an organized effort to promote or attain an end) encompassing people and entities inspired by the values of Olympism, which is a philosophy of life consistent with the values and ideals embodied in the Olympics as articulated by Pierre de Coubertin.

QUESTION 1.

Do you think it is pretentious of the IOC to refer to itself as the head of a social movement? Why or why not? What is it about the Olympic Games that qualifies it to be regarded as a movement (if indeed it is)?

QUESTION 2.

Recall that Coubertin famously said: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part; just as the most important thing in life is not the victory but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." Do you think most countries agree with Coubertin's view of the Olympic Games? Explain your response.

QUESTION 3.

The Olympic Games have been called the greatest international peace-time gathering on earth, bringing together the youth of world for friendly competition with the aim of promoting universal peace. Do you think the IOC has been effective in leading this social movement toward the goal of conflict reduction and global harmonization? What evidence can you cite in support of your thesis?

Articles-->

http://www.twq.com/08summer/docs/08summer_cha.pdf

http://www.ioa.org.gr/books/reports/1997/1997_249.pdf

http://www.olympic.org/upload/news/olympic_review/review_2006101915623_UK.pdf

http://www.nassm.com/files/conf_abstracts/2008-327.pdf

http://www.playthegame.org/Knowledge%20Bank/Articles/The_Olympic_Games_as_a_force_for_social_change.aspx

http://www.olympic.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=5627

http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/idea-peace-coubertins-vision-modern-olympic-movement-development-and-pedagogic-consequences

http://preardon.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/the-ioc-olympic-charter-how-did-china-qualify/

http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf

China and Intellectual Property Rights

QUESTION 1.

China today is well on its way to becoming the unrivaled capitalist superpower of the 21st century, with a booming economy, its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (one of only five), membership in the World Trade Organization, and showcasing its firepower at the mega sporting event of the year . . . the Olympic Games. At the same time, China is regarded as the world's "capital of counterfeiting." How is it possible that a country bent on being a leading citizen of the global community can tolerate such rampant violations of intellectual property rights within its territory? What -- if anything -- does China risk by its continuing lack of respect for international standards of fair business practices?

QUESTION 2.

Notwithstanding China's reputation as a largely unregulated frontier when it comes to the strength and power of trademarks, copyrights, and patents, why do you think that so many foreign companies are nonetheless eager to do business in that country?

QUESTION 3.

As you may know, caveat emptor is Latin for "Let the buyer beware!" As we are about to depart for China, what are your thoughts about shopping for -- and possibly buying -- designer accessories that may very well be counterfeit, but which may be obtained for a fraction of the cost of the genuine article?

BONUS QUESTION.

What is the difference between counterfeit (or fake) goods, and so-called knock offs?

Articles-->
http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2006hearings/written_testimonies/06_06_08wrts/06_06_7_8_chow_daniel.pdf

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/14/content_8366142.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/26/60minutes/main595875.shtml

http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/June/20060612124226ASesuarK0.5563623.html

http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10111006

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/25/business/worldbusiness/25soft.html

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/18/i_ins.00.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/03/news/letter.php

http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1179997531348

Relationship of Sport to Human Rights

QUESTION 1.

When we hear the term "human rights," it might trigger thoughts of abuse perpetrated by people in power against people without power, from genocide and torture to repression and exclusionary practices that amount to a denial of simple standards of fairness and decency. In a nutshell, human rights encompass the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans should be entitled. How have human rights been implicated in the sporting context? What are some examples, both from the past and in more recent times?

QUESTION 2.

Does sport serve to protect and enhance human rights, and conversely, can it also serve to undermine human rights? What are some examples?

QUESTION 3.

In the specific case of the 2008 Olympic Games, the torch relay from Ancient Olympia to Beijing has been mired in tremendous controversy (so much so, that the International Paralympic Committee last month cancelled the torch relay for the Paralympic Games, which follow the Olympic Games by two weeks) with numerous demonstrations calling for an outright boycott of the Games itself to a partial boycott of the Opening Ceremonies. What are your thoughts on (a) the use of sport to promote the human rights agenda, and (b) the use of boycotts -- full or partial -- in the sporting context?

Articles-->
http://hrw.org/reports/2008/china0608/HRW_Beijing_Olympics_Reporters_Guide.pdf

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott15apr15,1,5683207.column

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/10/europe/EU-EU-Sarkozy-China-Olympics.php

http://select.nytimes.com/preview/2007/09/23/magazine/1154689927201.html?scp=4&sq=human%20rights,%20sport&st=cse

http://www.unesco.org/education/information/nfsunesco/pdf/SPORT_E.PDF

http://china.hrw.org/press/faq/beijing_olympics_basics

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121027313547578141.html

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=NATIONAL&ID=565336104376860762

Comparative Media Censorship

QUESTION 1.

In the US, we sometimes take for granted the personal freedom of expression that we enjoy, in part because it is so ordinary and ingrained in us as a basic right that is guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution. This same First Amendment also provides for a free press, which is another cherished right that we as Americans hold dear. Of course, these freedoms of speech and of the press are not universal; and as you know, governments in many countries regulate the extent of permissible speech and media activity. When you think about this, what thoughts come to mind about being an American and living in the US?

QUESTION 2.

In recent years, much has been written about media censorship in China, starting with the government's promise in 2001 -- when it won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games -- that media access would be open and unfettered. As mentioned in many of the articles (below), this has been an issue in contention, because China has yet to deliver on its promise. On the one hand, it might have been unreasonable to expect that a government accustomed to strict control over internal dissemination of information would suddenly reverse its course and allow the media -- both foreign and domestic -- to report on whatever, whenever, and wherever it likes. On the other hand, the government's desire to showcase its competence in staging a successful Olympic Games necessarily depends on reporting by a legitimately free press. Recently, the IOC and BOCOG announced that Olympic broadcasters would be able to broadcast live from locations around Beijing, including Tiananmen Square (in addition to the competition venues). So here's the question: do you think that the IOC should respect a particular country's culture, laws, and traditions when it awards the Olympic Games, or should it impose conditions to ensure that the games are organized according to "Western" values?

QUESTION 3.

You may know that the major media outlets in China -- CCTV and Xinhua News Agency, among others -- are run by the government, which is very different from the American experience. Still, there is a growing number of so-called independent media in China. Do you think the Chinese government is more wary of its independent domestic media, or of the foreign media that will portray China -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- to a global audience of six billion people?

Articles-->

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/china/beijing08/censorship.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-dietz/covering-the-beijing-game_b_106378.html

http://www.asiapacificbusiness.ca/apbn/pdfs/bulletin295.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-China-Olympic-Media.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=media%2C+censorship%2C+olympic&st=nyt&oref=slogin

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/world/asia/31china.html?scp=2&sq=media%2C+censorship%2C+olympic&st=nyt

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/world/asia/25tibet.html?scp=3&sq=media%2C+censorship%2C+olympic&st=nyt

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/sports/othersports/01athletes.html?scp=4&sq=media%2C+censorship%2C+olympic&st=nyt

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121383862421687115.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821878,00.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/sports/olympics/21nbc.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/world/asia/24quake.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

Blogging 101

For those of you who have not yet posted a blog, all you have to do is (1) click "comments" at the bottom of the original post, (2) blog away in the box, (3) choose "Name/URL," (4) type your first and last name, (5) click "Publish" . . . and voila!

China's Sport Ascendancy

QUESTION 1.

In terms of China's hosting its first Olympic Games in 2008 (by comparison, the US has hosted the Olympics eight times), what thoughts come to mind?

QUESTION 2.

Even though the "modern" Olympic Games has been around since 1896, from which time the US has participated in all but the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games and those cancelled due to the world wars, China's participation is relatively recent, beginning with the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Thus, while China's sporting history in the Olympics is a scant 24 years, it is already on the cusp of outperforming the US, which has led all competing nations in both gold and total medals ever since the demise of East Germany and the breakup of the former Soviet republics. What accounts for China's rapid ascension, and in your opinion, is this a good or bad thing?

QUESTION 3.

When we think of the countries besides the US with great sporting traditions, we might associate Australia with swimming, Cuba with baseball, Brazil with soccer, India and Pakistan with cricket, Kenya with distance running, etc. But in terms of strength across the board, only a small handful of countries -- say, the US, Russia, Germany, and China -- can legitimately claim to be a sporting superpower. What do you think is China's motivation for wanting to become such a superpower?

Articles-->
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2007-06-13-china-sports-schools-1a-cover_N.htm

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/11592789/site/21683474/print/1/displaymode/1098/

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813961,00.html

http://www.china.org.cn/english/olympic/211765.htm