Am I perhaps being a tad cynical here...

[Grumpmeister]

Or is Tessa just bricking it that people will follow suit when its the UK's turn to host the olympics and boycott here over the illegal invasion of Iraq?

Any call for a boycott of this summer's Beijing Games would be counter-productive, the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said.
Her comments come after a group of Nobel Prize winners, international athletes and politicians wrote a letter to the Chinese president.

It asks him to use his influence in Sudan to end the conflict in Darfur.

Tessa Jowell said calls for a boycott are a "great pity" and Britain is still committed to attending the games.

The Nobel laureates letter says Beijing has to ensure its actions live up to the ideals of peace and international co-operation.

But Ms Jowell told The Times newspaper: "The world has known for the last seven years that Beijing would host the Olympics.

"Most progressive governments accept that there are wholly unacceptable aspects of Chinese policy but that did not stop the International Olympics Committee (IOC) awarding them the Games.

"A call for a boycott doesn't serve any purpose and it would be a great pity. This doesn't mean, however, we should we distracted from the urgency of Darfur."

Ostracised

Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.

In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

On Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, the open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president, Hu Jintao.

Fair play to Speilberg for boycotting Beiiing though, there are plenty of others who would put their principles aside for the position.

[Darwins Selection]

Fair play to Speilberg for boycotting Beiiing though, there are plenty of others who would put their principles aside for the position.

He didn't put his principles aside.

He has done exactly what you would expect of a Hollywood goblin, maximised his exposure and "Look at Me" factor.

Until this came up I had no idea the man was involved in the Olympics, now he is in all our faces and on the headlines and everybody says how wonderful he is.


I still enjoyed ET though.

[Grumpmeister]

I'm not so sure Darwin, its not as if he needs to maximise his exposure but its a good way to increase exposure on Darfur. After all if he had wanted to use the entire event to promote himself then he would have found a way from the get go and as you said, none of us knew he was part of it till he announced his withdrawal.

[Barman]

I'm not so sure Darwin, its not as if he needs to maximise his exposure but its a good way to increase exposure on Darfur. After all if he had wanted to use the entire event to promote himself then he would have found a way from the get go and as you said, none of us knew he was part of it till he announced his withdrawal.

Darwin is right I’m afraid…

I listened to a programme on the wireless over a year ago pleading for Speilberg to cut his ties with the Olympic Games but he did nothing about it.

Now suddenly just before the games he jumps up wringing his ghands and saying what a good guy he is by not backing this odious regeime and its policies in Darfur.

Bollocks to that, he’s done the work, taken the money and now gets a free boost to his profile. What a tosser… 

[Berek]

Now suddenly just before the games he jumps up wringing his ghands /quote]

shouldnt that be his " glands " 

[Barman]

Now suddenly just before the games he jumps up wringing his ghands /quote]

shouldnt that be his " glands " 

Or glans... 

[Darwins Selection]