The Summer Olympics may’ve commenced today under pomp and circumstance though that hasn’t stopped a group of athletes from criticizing China’s human rights violations. As part of the “Sports for Peace” campaign, over 100 athletes signed a letter urging the Chinese government to “respect human rights in China.” The petition- which was signed during an international track meet in June- also called for an end to the death penalty and a “peaceful solution” to the conflict with Tibet.
Several Latin American and Caribbean athletes signed the letter including Brazilian pole vaulter Fábio Gomes da Silva and Jamaican sprinter Ricardo Chambers. One of the most prominent signatories was Dayron Robles of Cuba; Robles holds the world record in the men's 110-meter hurdles and is a favorite to win gold.
The Chinese government responded to the controversy over its lackluster human rights record:
"The Chinese government puts people first and is dedicated to maintaining and promoting its citizens' basic rights and freedom," (foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang) said. "Chinese citizens have freedom of religion. These are indisputable facts" [ed. Oh really? Do the words “Falun Gong” ring a bell?]…
The Chinese government says human rights have improved, with fewer death sentences, increased numbers of religious worshippers and a temporary relaxation of travel restrictions for foreign journalists.
Protestors have recently highlighted the situation in China; a pro-Tibet banner was briefly unfurled near the Olympic stadium yesterday while the torch relay became a fiasco in several cities.
Image- CTV Toronto (“Fireworks over the National Stadium during opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics”)
Sources- Times Online, Wikipedia, The Latin Americanist, Sports for Peace, SI.com, BBC Sport, Guardian UK, TIME, Palm Beach Post
