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Olympic Glory for Beijing as Human Rights Activists Criticize IOC
MOSCOW, July 13 (News Agencies) - A celebrating Beijing won the 2008 Olympic Games here on Friday, erasing the bitter memory of their stunning defeat eight years ago when they lost the 2000 Olympics to Sydney by only two votes.
The announcement by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch was greeted by an explosion of ecstasy from the red-coated Chinese delegation watching the outcome on a giant screen in a room adjoining the IOC Session hall.
Beijing won in the second round when they garnered 56 votes, more than enough for outright victory. Toronto came second with 22 votes, Paris third with 18 and Istanbul fourth with nine. Osaka was eliminated in the first round with six votes.
The despair of the losing cities, Toronto, Paris, Osaka and Istanbul was etched on the faces of the four delegations as Samaranch read out the result.
The decision was also a bitter blow for worldwide protest groups who had attempted to have IOC members reject Beijing because of their human rights record.
The rush of protests was led by Tibet's government-in-exile in New Delhi. They condemned the decision, saying the move gave an "international stamp of approval" to China's human rights violations.
"We deeply regret that China is awarded the 2008 Olympic Games," the exiled government's foreign minister, T.C. Thethong said in a statement.
"This will put the stamp of international approval for Beijing's human rights abuses and will encourage China to escalate its repression," said the statement.
In London, Amnesty International said China must prove itself worthy of staging the Olympics.
"The Chinese government must prove it is worthy of staging the games by upholding the Olympic spirit of fair play and extending respect for universal, fundamental, ethical principles to the people of China," the group said.
Outraged Chinese political and religious dissidents joined with a leading U.S. lawmaker to protest the IOC's vote.
"Just as the Chinese government has abused the spirit of sport through conducting executions and sentencing rallies in athletic stadiums, so they will also use the economic and publicity benefits of hosting the Olympics to prop up their corrupt regime," said former political prisoner Harry Wu in a statement.
"It truly boggles the mind that the IOC has awarded the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing," said Representative Tom Lantos, who has led a fight in the U.S. Congress opposing Beijing's Olympic bid based on its human rights record.
IOC director general Francois Carrard admitted they had taken a human rights gamble by awarding Beijing the Games.
"Human rights are a very serious issue throughout the world. It can be approached in two ways - we close the door, we say no and we hope things evolve. But there is another way. Bet on openness, to bet on the upcoming seven years," said Carrard.
"We take the view we will see many changes in the next seven years. The 2008 Games are now in the hands of the Chinese people. We trust them. It is up to them to deliver a great Olympic Games," he added.
Carrard defended the IOC members' decision not to ask Beijing officials any questions on human rights when the Chinese capital made it's final presentation earlier in the day.
The meeting was broadcast on television.
He said that during the campaign, members had privately discussed the issue amongst themselves.
Beijing officials hailed their victory as history making as they moved amongst IOC members, hugging and thanking them before the traditional signing agreement between the winning city and the IOC.
"We have been recognized by the world. This is a great day for China and for China's future. It makes up for eight years ago," said Wang Wei, co-secretary general of Beijing 2008 team.
IOC executive board member Kevan Gosper, who had been a fervent Beijing backer, said the IOC had taken the right decision.
"The message is it is time for the Games to go to China. I was a bit surprised by the size of their victory, but they have never had the Games before and today was a historic opportunity. The Chinese learnt from the mistakes they made in 1993," said Gosper.
IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch showed his pleasure at the outcome, smiling broadly.
The 80-year-old former Spanish diplomat, who stands down on Monday after 21 years in charge, had been a keen supporter of Beijing for the 2000 Games and had vowed to ensure them the biggest prize in sport before his retirement.
Beijing had carried out a sophisticated bid, hiring top public relations companies in both the United States and Europe, to promote their campaign. They also had the behind-the-scenes support of Samaranch.
In the run-up to Friday's vote, anti-Beijing protesters had bombarded IOC members by fax, e-mail and letters, demanding they reject the Chinese capital - a move that backfired.
"The IOC does not like being told what to do either by politicians or political groups," one IOC member told AFP. "The more such groups tell us what to do, the more likely we will go the other way."
IOC members admit that Friday's vote was a political one.
"Beijing is Beijing, China is China. Toronto and Paris had excellent bids but you simply cannot ignore China. Politically it was wise to bring them into the Games, to make them feel a full member," one member told AFP. "Now China has seven years to deliver what it promised."
It was not a view shared by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Jospin was in Moscow to support the bid and launched a bitter parting shot as he set off for the airport almost immediately after the Chinese victory was announced.
"The argument that China, as the most populous country in the world, should have the games paid off," he said. "A billion and a half inhabitants counted more for the IOC than a good bid."
French bid chief Claude Bebear was equally scathing about the vote, upset over what he saw as blanket promises from Beijing.
"You want to be small. You want to be tall. Ask Beijing. They promise you everything," complained Bebear to one of the rival bid teams.
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