Opponents of the IOC’s decision fear a repeat of the 1936 Berlin Games or the 1980 Moscow events. Neither Nazi Germany nor the Soviet Union were softened by the Olympics in their capitals, but they also failed to gain acceptance through the events. Moreover, every boycott failed in their aims, too. They succeeded only in allowing participating athletes easier victories. On the other hand, the 1988 Games in Seoul lifted South Korea from a semi-authoritarian state to the developed, thriving democracy it is today. Even the Berlin Games produced a hero in Jessie Owens.

If China is refused, then who else should be? During much of the early years of the Olympics, women were barred from such events as swimming. Women’s permanent participation in "strenuous" events came in 1960. If the IOC were as fair as they are today, they would have denied most if not all countries from hosting the Olympics. More realistically, if a country has no chance of hosting the Games, it would not want to participate at all. And thus the Olympics, billed as the least political of any major international event, would lose much of its support around the world.

China’s adversaries also pointed at the rising number of executions, which are largely the result of harsh but ineffective crackdowns on crimes. They lament an unrelenting political climate that has driven away any significant debates in the country. They believe that awarding the Games to such a country will remove the incentive for reform. However, just as the removal of the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Commission had angered many Congressional members, hard-liners in China view any rejection of its bid as a stinging rebuke. These conservatives have always fought with liberal reformers for control of the Communist Party. Their power would be greatly strengthened by giving the Games to another city. Indeed, similar arguments have propelled China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.

A major issue in Beijing’s bid is the financial burden that the Chinese people will bear. Sadly, discussion of this issue has mostly been absent from the award process. It is generally assumed that the Olympics bring vast financial benefits to the host. This is not true. The Chinese government claims the event will generate 1.6 billion U.S. Dollars in profits, but official estimates show they will lose $3.6 billion once such items as government subsidies and private donations are excluded. Even the most optimistic profits forecast – which includes indirect benefits such as tourism – reach only $1.4 billion.

What’s more, corruption that led to the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989 has never been dealt with. Indeed, it is so widespread today that the Chinese President has invited capitalists into the Communist Party. The push to include business owners in the Party is fastening Communism’s dissolution in China. While hard-liners are fighting quite publicly against the move, they are not successful yet. Because of this interwoven government-business complex, it is doubtful how much of the profits from the Olympics will pass on to the people. Already, massive construction projects have impacted large populations and forced families out of homes. Measuring the true economic costs will be difficult, if not impossible.

All aspiring hosts face this problem to some degree. They try to hide the homeless and downtrodden from TV cameras and tourists. The IOC ought to discourage such actions, and to pay more attention to the social cost of the Games, especially those placed disproportionately on the least powerful members of society. When audiences enjoy the performance of hard-working and talented athletes, they cannot forget others who make it possible.

What the Chinese government does now will impact IOC decisions in the future, and determine whether the Olympic torch will travel to other opaque corners of the globe. By working hard on showcasing its strengths, China earned the right to host the Olympic Games. While Jiang Zemin will no doubt benefit from a successful show, he is also peeling away the veneer of Marxism in China. The world can hasten the process, not by turning away, but by showing the proper ways of governance. In the meantime, let us watch and enjoy the Games.
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