Sports and Politics

Looking back to 2008, one of the biggest event to China would be the Beijing Olympics. During the seven years leading to August 8, 2008, Beijing went through a facelift. And looking forward, many years later, people will possibly still attribute some big impacts to China to the 14 days.

Indeed, the relationship between sports and politics like water and milk. Dr. Victor Cha, former U.S. National Security Council Asian Director, explained in today's briefing to introduce his new book on sports and politics in Asia.

Why Asia?

According to Dr. Cha, Sports are particularly politicized in Asia for the reasons:
1. frequency, such events as BJ Olympics are truly big and significant events to not be politicized
2. So many resolved historic issues in the region
3. developments associated with big sports events

Regarding BJ Olympics, Cha pointed that there are four benchmarks: first being perform well, which China leads with the most gold medals, second being host well, Atlanta is not good, Sydney is good, BJ is good, too. Third being Clean Air, which had made such a huge issue before the games and the expect ion was so low that no one cared too much any more during the games. Fourth being marginalized demonstrations, which China effectively avoided and controlled.

Cha also pointed out that on 08/08/08, the opening day, Russia invaded Georgia, which was godsend good news to BJ Olympics, as all in a sudden a news cycle start that people turn attention away from Beijing, all the bad news such as Tibet issue activists, underaged gymnasts, lip sync,etc are not on the top news worldwide any more.

Even like many people, he thinks the BJ games were just too perfect, not organic. Next games in London will certainly turn the games back to real games, However, Cha did point out that the profound impacts to China are probably yet to play out.