1. All Communist Countries have been doing this for hundreds of years, and NOW this is bothering everyone! They have been doing this in Russia, Romania, Czeck Republic etc... Where were all of you people when they were teaching World History In School. I didn't pay attention either, but apparrantly I got something out of it.

Instead of The United States boycotting the Olympics, Why don't we just not purchase anything made in China - No cars - nothing that is in the dollar stores; Nothing thats says Made in China which is practically EVERYWHERE should be bought by an Americian. That will hurt them in the long run. They may get billions of dollars today, but when the buck stops here, lets see what they do!

We should have been doing this all along Espicially when the Chinese were putting Lead in the toys that our children Play with. Talk about boosing the economy I think that would do it, and if it won't it is at least a good start. Charity begins at home!!!!

suzanne gambardella at 12:37AM on Jul 7th 2008

2. This is nothing new. It has been going on for ages in "old Russia", China, Japan and even here for the US kids. It's just that many times the US hopefuls' parents have the means to relocate (usually one parent) to travel around and train with them full-time...most parents in "less than affluent" nations or circumstances cannot do that.

Many of these kids move in with coaches or intp "Olympic training camps". And yes, being lured by the prospects of getting a house, a job and your family being able to live a better lifestyle...are many times the carrot that is dangled in front of these kids and their parents.

Think about it for a while what the other children and their families face otherwise...what is wrong for these families to want a way out...for them and their children?

If you think kids [in general] aren't forced to train all around the world instead of sitting on their butts eating Oreos and playing video games, you've never watched one of those "behind the scenes" bios they normally show when they feature a key Olympic athelete. These kids are yanked from their homes and train their little butts off every single day. Most of these children cannot possibly be college-age kids when they begin to train...aren't when they are IN the Olympics...and most aren't when they "retire".

As for boycotting - all the atheletes involved shouldn't be penalized - I've never been one for using the Olympics for this type of agenda.

Cadeaux at 1:09AM on Jul 7th 2008

3. Hear Hear!!!!!!!!

babybearsmom at 1:51AM on Jul 7th 2008

4.
1) Ada it seems more of an insult to humanity if we don't boycott the olympics. What is more important, the human condition or gold medals?

2) Suzanne sorry to rag on you, but what communistic nation has existed for over 100 years?

3) Cadeaux are you stating that there is no difference between U.S. and Chinese olympic recruitment/training methods?

JefFlyingV at 2:14AM on Jul 7th 2008

5. JetFlyingV - I'm not saying that our recruitment process is the same. What I am saying is that these children, and they are children, have hours of training every day...from a very early age. They are also now coached by some of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, etc., Olympic coaches who know what it takes (our coaches do, too) to churn out a Nadia Comaneci, et al.

If you think these kids aren't worked hard here in the US as well...you are fooling yourself...you can't get to the point these skaters, gymnasts, divers, etc., are...unless you work hard. VERY hard.

Here's a couple articles I found without much searching which talks about things I've been hearing since as far back as I can remember dealing with Olympic training and children:

http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/joan-ryan%E2%80%99s-expose-of-abuses-in-gymnastics-and-figure-skating/

http://jezebel.com/383090/former-national-champion-says-girls-gymnastics-is-not-all-its-chalked-up-to-be

It is always sad and distressing to see such young people being taken thousands of miles to go to training camps under the hopes they will perhaps be a champion and can move their parents to a nicer village, home, etc., but you can NOT expect someone's parents who have no means to do it - to tag along. So, what would be best then...is for these countries not to have any competitors because their ways of doing it are going about it differently? Unless someone, across the board, makes up definitive rules about what can and cannot happen and disqualifies 'this coach' or 'that team'...I don't see what is going to get accomplished. Just boycotting the games shatters dreams from countless atheletes who sometimes have ONLY one shot. These lines also need to be drawn and crossed well BEFORE zero hour. These problems are not new...address and fix them if they must - but do so right AFTER the Olympics not right before.

Cadeaux at 5:55AM on Jul 7th 2008

6. The reason we are not boycotting the olympics is because we are in debt up to our eyeballs to the Chinese. From whom do you think we've borrowed all this money to finance our war in Iraq? From whom do you think we get most of our consumer goods? It's not like anything is manufactured in the US anymore. Go to a store and try to find someting American made these days, it's virtually impossible. Why aren't we boycotting the Olympics? It's simple, we can't afford to make our bosses mad.

Stephanie at 6:44AM on Jul 7th 2008

7. The Olympics is about athletics and friendly competition between nations. It is an opportunity to interact with people from around the world. It is the one venue where human beings meet in peace. The Olympics should never be used to punish. These athletes train their entire lives for this competition. It is unfair to destroy their dream because of politics. I opposed previous boycotts by the US and former Soviet Union. I oppose a boycott of the Olympics in China.

janesophie1 at 8:46AM on Jul 7th 2008

8. The Olympics is about athletics and friendly competition between nations. It is an opportunity to interact with people from around the world. It is the one venue where human beings meet in peace. The Olympics should never be used to punish. These athletes train their entire lives for this competition. It is unfair to destroy their dream because of politics. I opposed previous boycotts by the US and former Soviet Union. I oppose a boycott of the Olympics in China.

janesophie1 at 8:46AM on Jul 7th 2008

9. Have to agree with Stephanie.
We've whored ourselves up to our eyeballs in debt and in accepting Chinese products without tightening trade. American greed has allowed this imbalance. Some might bring up the pet complaint about Tibet but there was never anything we could do about it. Had the U.S. gone in, it would have resulted in a nuclear war back in 1959. The situation is the same now and the population in Tibet is over 80% Han Chinese, not ethnic Tibetan. So please end that argument quick and one will save themselves a headache.

No, its our greed and our enslavement to it that will make the U.S. attend. Were we not so indebted, we would have complete freedom to tell China where to head in.

As for the athletes, unlike China [whose athletes I won't even get into discussing]- nobody holds a gun to the head of our athletes and says 'perform'. Parents usually want the accolades and pride in their 'mini me' and a lot of children who train to the Olympics honestly WANT to get to the Olympics. Only thing is, once you've had your shot if you don't win you seldom can go back for a second chance.
I'd bank on scholarship and higher learning instead.

OMBMNS at 8:55AM on Jul 7th 2008

10. I agree with Stephanie.

GREED is one reason why we are still supporting the Olympics of China. The fact we are whored in over our eyeballs to that country says enough about how committed we are to having to be there. Whether anybody likes it or not, the Olympics pays lip-service to the athletes but its still a political show for the host nation and likely always will be. The only truly neutral country would have to be Greece itself.

Some folks might like to bring up Tibet as a reason to boycott. That's a little 'Johnny come lately'. If we had stepped in back in 1959 it would have resulted in nuclear war. If we were to make a statement and boycott because of Tibet now it would create a rift to war. We screwed ourselves there.

Still others might wish to bring up the athletes themselves. I know they train their lives for the Olympics and, indeed, they are to be commended. However, the Olympics is guaranteed for all to attend. Nobody here holds a gun to your head and says 'Get to the Olympics, or else'. Perhaps Communist nations [like China] still practice that level of Soviet-style training but I know of no U.S. case where that is done. Though I have heard of glory-seeking parents who will stop at nothing to see their children compete so they can garner the huge monies to be gotten from lucrative endorsements.
No, folks, the Olympics now are about GREED and catering to it. Athletics takes a back seat to it. Its a shame, but its the truth.
No doubt, there are some athletes in there for the love of their sport but they are the fewest and most far between. Sad, but true.

BTW- Will I watch or buy any products related to or from it?
No.

OMBMNS at 9:12AM on Jul 7th 2008

11. Correction #1: Sorry for the double post. My second is the one that I wish would have printed- though both of them are valid representations of my thoughts. If my first was more biting its because that is the way I think and I often have to be more elaborate when posting most times. Hence, post #2.

Correction #2: I had meant to say that the 'Olympics are NOT guaranteed for all to attend'. Late correction but I hit the 'post' button before doing a proofread [eh, lazy on a Monday morning].

My apologies all!

OMBMNS at 9:19AM on Jul 7th 2008

12. Well Ada, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selects the site of the games. And rumor has it, they sell out to the highest bidder.

Jimmy Carter boycotted the Olympics when they where held in the Soviet Union. All that happened was that the Russians boycotted the Olympics when they were held in the US (the LA Olympics).

We bocott China, they'll do the samething when some US city bids and gets the Olympics. You want to nail someone, nail the IOC.

Willet at 9:22AM on Jul 7th 2008

13. To answer the question of a boycott, three words-

BAD - FOR - BUSINESS.

You figure it out.

Robert at 10:43AM on Jul 7th 2008

14. You people are sadly misinformed about kissing up to China because of our debt.

Our heaviest foreign debt load is to our ally Japan in the amount of approx. a half trillion US dollars.

China would be second on that list last time I checked in the amount of approx. 300 billion give or take a few billion.

Our nat'l governmental budget is over 3 trillion annually. It's easily conceivable one yr of reduced pork spending could pay off China.

The overwhelming majority of our nat'l debt is owed back to the federal reserve & private funding in the issuance of bonds within our own borders.

We are not owned by China contrary to popular belief...

Bobby at 11:46AM on Jul 7th 2008

15. The U.S. should not just boycott the chinese olympics we should boycott the olympics, period. The 'games' are no longer games they are totally political as when the soviet union tried to show that communism was superior to capitalism by winning more medals

Geoff Barker at 11:46AM on Jul 7th 2008