with less than one year before the beijing olympics begin, some rumours have started.

over the summer i heard a couple of canadian’s theories that some countries will boycott the olympics for political reasons.

while i doubt this is true (okay, taiwan might), i really hope this is not the case. i am not for countries boycotting the olympics.

why?

1) i don’t believe in athletes being used as political pawns.

2) the athletes dont make the choice not to attend, the choice is made for them.

3) athletes spend much of their lives, especially the four years leading up to the olympics, building up to this one moment in time. many of these athletes are full time athletes, and are hoping for a post olympic sponsorship that can help pay some of the bills (and parents)!

4) it’s the olympics! their dream! yes there are world championships, but the olympics are the pinnacle.

i hope politicians dont get in the way of dreams.

another person suggested that the pollution might be another factor for which beijing might come under attack. yes, beijing is polluted, no doubt about it, but since when have the summer olympics been about a clean healthy atmosphere? anyone remember mexico city and los angeles? so spare us that arguement. the summer olympics have been held in extremely polluted cities before.

(there is an interesting rumour which i personally believe, that three weeks before the olympics commence, the factories around beijing will shut down, drastically reducing the pollution that creeps over the city.)

beijing olympics will be interesting, no doubt about it. i am excited about them. hong kong is hosting the equestrian events (go look on your map to see how that is a geographical stretch of the imagination).