Despite the human rights controversy, not much fuss will be made about China's right to their victorious bid for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

"We neither oppose nor support the Olympics being held in any particular location, including Beijing, and that will not change. You won't see us calling for a boycott nor opposing a boycott," said Alistair Hodgett, spokesperson for Amnesty International U.S.A.

Dave Wind, Utah area coordinator for Amnesty International, said there will be no organized opposition to China and the Olympics in Utah.

Wind plans on preparing for a human rights film festival in the meantime. Wind said it would be great if they had something in the festival about human rights in China, but it's not a priority.

Amnesty International is still concerned with the human rights conditions in China even though the organization isn't protesting. Hodgett said that in China's latest "Strike Hard Campaign," the Chinese authorities have managed to execute more people in three months than the rest of the world combined for the last three years. "That's probably an underestimate," he said.

Most of the Chinese students on campus seem to be thrilled about the announcement.

"China has the right to hold the Olympic Games - the country is capable," said Zhihong Ding, 28, a graduate student from Beijing. "Before I came here most people told me America is so terrible," he said. "You probably would feel the same way if you went to China." Hodgett said his words are not so much in protest toward China, but for such groups as the International Olympic Committee and the international sporting community.

"We want human rights to be on their agenda when they meet with their counterparts in the Chinese government," he said. "The obvious benefit is the high level of media scrutiny that will continue, presumably throughout the games."

Although China will be under the microscope for the next few years, Hodgett said that he has little faith in change.

"It would seem to be hard to argue that awarding the Olympics to China would lead to an improvement in human rights," he said. "There's not a lot of reason to be optimistic given their recent track record."

Curtis Ashton, a 23 year-old graduate student from Orem, returned last month from teaching English in China. "I think it'll be good. It will increase the awareness of people outside of China and vice-versa," Ashton said.

Ashton said that controversy aside, Beijing would make a great host city. "Beijing is a city made to be seen," he said. "It's on display, it's like a stage set."

"They made sure that we saw what they wanted us to see. I think that's how it's going to be - the foreigners will come and China will put on a good show," Ashton said about witnessing human rights violations. "I don't think you could say because it's not going to change anything that it's a reason not to have it in Beijing. I think it can only be good. At worst it will stay the same."



Copyright Brigham Young University 25 Jul 2001