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Belgium won't rule out Olympic boycott

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 3:27 PM EDT 27/03/08

Vice-Premier Didier Reynders: 'We can never exclude the worst' ...Read the full article

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  1. Larfing Outloud from Virgin Islands (British) writes: First France, now Belgium.

    Could be the start of something big.
  2. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: The line forms to the right, just watch the rush when GWBush threatens to boycott, remember 1980 in Russia. If he does watch how quickly Stevie Wonder of Canada follows. It will be like a cancer.
  3. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Wonderful that this call has been led by Western European socialist leaning nations. Perhaps they're moving closer to the centre, but if the E.U. nations come on board I suspect they have credibility in the world (due to their passive socialist politics) that this thing could spread across the whole free world. Take that CPC!!! Live by the sword die by boycotts, justice would be sweet. Memo to the IOC maybe start thinking of back up hosts for particular events?
  4. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: The "Olympic Committee" Says politics shouldn't be tied to sport. Too funny....Go Belgium
  5. Pelotas Piquen from Lashburn Sk., Canada writes: Boycotting the Olympics hurts no one except the athletes. What are the politicians really giving up? Nothing. What are the citizens really giving up? Nothing.
    If you want to boycott China don't buy products produced there and don't shop at stores that sell products produced there.
  6. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Pelotas are you telling me the Olympics couldn't be staged anywhere else? Are you telling me the "hurt " that the people in all of China who aren't associated with the ruling Communist Party of China is worth less than the "hurt" to athletes? Sports is to be about fun, or supposed to be, languishing in a chinese jail or being executed as a subversive (whatever that means) for say getting a petition signed is not. What a weak arguement, can you do a little better?
  7. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: We in the west have in almost every situation turned our backs on our brothers and sisters that live or have lived under communism for almost a full century, what we did out of necessity in 1945 to Eastern Europe has left hundreds of millions affected and generations scarred for ever, with societies such as Hungary, Czech Rep and Poland finally starting to recover. We can cry over that episode if you like? However I would suggest that here is our opportunity to protest, for all men and women who admire freedom and individuality, all over the world to stand up, peacefully, non confrontationally and say to these thugs..."we're not going to be complacent in your in human ways any longer." As a member of the human species I think we owe it to those poor people, if you do not agree with that, I would love to know what your agenda really is!
  8. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: From the story.... “Belgium could consider Olympic boycott” “The Belgian government was not ruling out a boycott” “staying away from China ‘is not an option that we reserve today’” “Belgian government was holding out the possibility of a boycott.” Those Belgians!! They’re waffling!
  9. Pelotas Piquen from Lashburn Sk., Canada writes: Easy Martyn... I'm on your side bro. I'm just saying it's a bit disingenuous of politicians to be threatening to boycott the Olympics and then be chomping at the bit to sell natural resources to China and buy as much manufactured junk as possible. If the government really wants to send China a message, a trade embargo would be more effective.
    For the average Canadian or Belgian citizen to say 'let's boycott the Olympics'... is to say to a bunch of athletes, many of whom scrape by on poverty level incomes and spend years getting to the level to even be able to compete at the Olympics : you guys take the hit for us, and we'll continue to buy useless Chinese made gewgaws and doodads at Walmart.
  10. Larfing Outloud from Virgin Islands (British) writes: Terry Terry from Brantford: ABSOLUTELY the worst pun this week.

    Well done Terry2
  11. Synchronicity Tour from Canada writes: Pelotas Piquen from Lashburn Sk., Canada writes: Boycotting the Olympics hurts no one except the athletes. What are the politicians really giving up? Nothing. What are the citizens really giving up? Nothing.
    ------------------------------------
    As a Canadian athlete who expects to finish 35th in their event I would welcome a boycott. It would just save the time, money and embarrassment of going there. I will however still collect my monthly cheques from the government. Hey you dont expect me to work for a living do you???
  12. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: me calm down? ha! Ok I will. I'd agree with your second post, I think we definately should not do business with them either, and it will take a while but we will realize that their whole economy is tied to the west exporting their cheap junk, and it is us that hold the stronger hand. All bubbles will burst, and the myth of chinese power and superiority (based on buying cheap goods) will too burst. No communist regime has survived yet, and I see no reason why this one will either, it's just a matter of time, however the Olympics falling apart on the Chinese would be a sweet justice. How about moving them down south to Sydny again, most of the facilities are still there?
  13. Synchronicity Tour from Canada writes: Amen Martyn!

    I agree 100% and I would add that the rest of the world should have been asking these questions of China many years ago – even recently as to their involvement in the Sudan.
  14. Stevie Dee from Canada writes: Martyn,

    How do you expect the IOC to start implementing backup hosts? What's the operating budget to stage an Olympics, and you're going to expect another country to build all of this infrastructure just in case? Don't think that they'd be willing to do that.

    Even if you guaranteed them the next Olympics, I don't think that they'd be willing to put up that amount of $ four years in advance. Plus, think about the feasibility of switching that type of event on short notice (hotels, transportation, Visas, etc., etc.). Not going to happen!!!
  15. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Perhaps not, throwing it out there, I haven't done a study on it, however there has to be a country out there that has stadiums and facilities to host events on an individual event by event basis. California for instance I know they have the faciliities. I mean honestly I'm not bothered by the Olympics, but if the major reason against boycott is that the athletes are being punished, well let them compete someplace else. Thinking outside of the box.
  16. Stephaska Galli from Kazakhstan writes: How can you invoke change by staying home. I wonder what the Chinese people will think when no comes to an event that would fill them with great pride and bring them closer to the rest of world. Is that not what the games are about, creating a global community. Do we isolate China. What will the government tell their people, ... we've told you along the world is cruel ...we are your only choice.

    I think millions of people going into China will open doors and create change, or

    We could plan a boycott of Vancouver 2010. Maybe Quebec soverignity, First Nations abuse...if the Games are about political leveraging or pushing an issue or an agenda, lets just call the whole thing off pick up our ball and go home.
  17. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: I agree that everything possible short of sending the athletes to Beijing should be done to send a message to the Chinese government. Have all the nations carrying their own flag when they enter the stadium during the opening ceremonies also unfurl a Tibetan flag. What could authorities do. Have government representatives from countries who attend make statements about what is happening so that it can't all get blocked out by Chinese media. And as consumers we can boycott to our heart's content so that these tin pot dictators get the message that what they are doing to Chinese, Tibetans and by proxy to Burmese and the people of Dafur is not acceptable.
  18. P McLean from Canada writes: I can't believe anyone is seriously thinking that boycotting the opening ceremonies will send any kind of message. People remember the competition, not these bloody ceremonies. Who even watches them? Heck I remember stories about athletes not going because their competition was in a few days. Having the Olympics go off the way the IOC/China want them to will do nothing but legitimize China, which was the IOC's goal all along. People need to remember these Olympics as the ones where (insert countries' names here) didn't compete in order to have any impact. Otherwise they will be like the last 4. We knew they happened, but they all just kind of blend together. Nobody forgets that the US wasn't in Moscow, or the Soviets weren't in LA. No one will remember who missed the opening ceremonies by the third day of competition.
  19. d s from mtl, Canada writes: Wait a sec...let me get this straight. Some of you are suggesting athletes sacrifice years of training to make a political point, while all you contribute to the cause are comments posted on a website using a computer where, most likely, 90% of the components were made in China.

    Let me guess, you also participate in anti-WTO, anti-free trade, etc. rallies wearing clothes made in third world countries by companies benefiting from these treaties, because they're cheaper than made in Canada alternatives?
  20. brokeback mountain from toronto, Canada writes: lol at Belgium, how many people are there in Belgium? and how many athletes are they sending to Beijing?
  21. In a Fog from Toronto, Canada writes: Spare me the "what about the athletes?" argument. Are you seriously suggesting that we prop up China's hegemonist policies, ignoring how they have crushed an entire country and culture so a few jocks can have their day in the sun?
    Perhaps we should let the olympics go on but boycott the television and mutli-media coverage. That includes un-subscribing from the Globe and Mail if they cover the events.
  22. I am a Con from Canada writes: If Belgium boycotts the games who will win all the medals?

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