Beijing Was Selected to Host This 2008 Olympics in 2001: A Look Back

In July 2001, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Beijing as the host of the Summer 2008 Olympic Games.  Beijing was selected over Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka.

The BBC coverage included the following dialogue on July 13, 2001:

The International Olympic Committee have announced that Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games.There has been much debate over whether China, with a poor human rights record, should stage the prestigious sporting event.

Is Beijing the best choice?

Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympic Games, beat off competition from Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka.

Having joined the Olympic movement in 1979, China has sealed a successful bid at the second time of asking - having been beaten by Sydney for the 2000 Games.

This time, Beijing was the front runner but controversy has stirred over China’s human rights record, and whether the IOC are right to hand them the opportunity.

IOC members were encouraged to vote on a city’s preparation and technical ability to host the event.

So is Beijing the best choice? And should their ability to host the sporting showpiece override political considerations?

China has finally won the right to stage the Games and the country was overwhelmed in jubilation when the winner was announced. The Games will act as a catalyst to the improvements of human rights in China. What is more, it will provide many jobs and the economy will grow faster. By the year 2008, a more democratic and modern China will welcome the people from all over the world.Han, China

Beijing winning the rights to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games will make China change its image. If China wants to be respected as an equal in the world scene, then it has to do an about face and cooperate with the rest of the world. Just as easily as they won these games, they can lose it as easily. If it worked for FIFA when it pulled the 1986 World Cup from Colombia and gave it to Mexico, then the IOC should do likewise if China doesn’t meet the demands placed by the world populace.Gabriel Moliterno, USA

As a Tibetan exile that was kicked out of my country nearly 50 years ago, I feel utterly devastated by this award. I cannot believe that the IOC can reward nepotism, brutality and savage occupation. The IOC has once again proved that human rights are only a side issue when it comes to a multi-billion dollar business venture. Will humanity ever come to our aid?Dorje K., Dharmasala, India

If human rights are really an issue, why was Moscow awarded the Games in 1980? Do you really think that the former USSR had an excellent human rights record? I do not agree with many policies of the Chinese Government, but we should not deny the Chinese people their rights to host the Olympics.Kent, USA

Isn’t it a joy to see that the same standards are applied worldwide to all repressive regimes? Except of course if they have 1.3 billion consumers to stuff corporate pockets. All guys like Milosevic have to do to garner the IOC’s favour is encourage its people to procreate! See you at the Baghdad Olympics in 2012!Nelson Coelho, Canada

That the brutal regime that is the Communist Party of China is rewarded with the Olympics is sick beyond belief. Persecuting the followers of Falun Gong, committing genocide in Tibet and continuing to suppress the Uygurs is obviously acceptable to the majority of the IOC and indeed supported. Once again respect, tolerance and promotion of common human decency has lost out to the dollar.f China is rewarded with the Patrick Smith, United Kingdom

With America having hosted the worst games in Olympic history perhaps the time has come for China to show the ever critical US just what it can do.Mark Buckton, Japan

Keep politics out of sport. If we’re going to look at countries’ human rights records, how about Japan’s treatment of ethnic Koreans, how or America’s attitude towards capital punishment? It’s ultimately a sporting event. Keep it that way!David Gatenby, Germany

Awarding the 2008 Olympic Games to China is disgraceful. Anyone who thinks that China will use the Games for anything but political propaganda is a few cards short of a full deck.Alan Williams, Australia