2010 Olympics It's OK to Trample Human Rights

by Barbara McPherson | November 12, 2009 at 10:07 am

154 views | 71 Recommendations | 11 comments

The hoopla surrounding the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver/Whistler has been going on for far too long already. Stories abound regarding the stupidity and callous disregard for the 'little people' who are paying the freight on this big party next February.

There are minor annoyances like the symbol for the 2010 Olympics being a pile of rocks. It doesn't symbolize any part of B.C.'s culture which is rich in aboriginal art. The cuddly souvenir toys are made in China. Irreparable ecological damage was done to build the Sea to Sky highway, eliminating endangered species habitat. Free speech has been curtailed and people have been visited by the constabulary for speaking their minds about the games. Oh yes, fat girls need not participate in the ceremonies.

Human rights issues were to be a big part of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but when push came to shove the Olympic majordomos caved. Now they seem to think that it's OK to violate the Canadian Charter of Rights by discriminating against women. In their wisdom they have decreed that women may not participate in Olympic Ski Jumping. The women are world class athletes and have every right to participate if Olympic Ski Jumping is part of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The women ski jumpers have taken on this fight to participate with no help from the Vancouver Olympic Committee(VANOC). The courts have found that the athletes were discriminated against on the basis of sex, but ruled that the Olympic Committee(IOC) has the ability to ignore the laws of Canada.

Today the elite women ski jumpers are having another day in the court of appeal.

Deedee Corradini, president of Women’s Ski Jumping-USA and former mayor of Salt Lake City, agrees with Clark. “Canada has poured over $2.5 billion taxpayer dollars into the 2010 Olympics and almost daily local, provincial and federal politicians are claiming credit for hosting the games. Rights to free speech are being curtailed and government will be forced to underwrite any loss,” Corradini pointed out. “It seems obvious that government is deeply involved."

According to Corradini, VANOC’s argument of being supportive of the women ski jumpers is not credible either.

Canadians are going to be paying for the 2010 Olympic blowout for many years to come. Women in Canada are equal partners when it comes to paying taxes. Canadians need to ask themselves if they wish to support an organization that so blatantly discriminates against over half the population. Good enough to pay for it, not good enough to play in it.

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Amy Judd

at 10:18 on November 12th, 2009

Good opinion piece, I personally hate what they did to expand and rebuild part of the Sea to Sky highway.

Roy C

at 11:56 on November 12th, 2009

"the Olympic Committee(IOC) has the ability to ignore the laws of Canada."

Now, do some of you get what the dark side of TRANSNATIONAL means? What kind of BS is this? And you think the UN will be better?

Just a small taste of the bullying immunizes those of us who are not sick against this kind of dysfunctional idealism, hopefully.

albertacowpoke

at 15:21 on November 12th, 2009

The IOC has long been an elitist organization that makes its own rules. Personally I think women should be permitted to participate in ski jumping in 2010. It is obvious that the court felt powerless vis a vis the IOC.

With the present budget overruns for these Olympics, I am sure that all of us will end up funding it. A bunch of old fuddy duddies, who live in the dark ages have forgotten the ideal of the Olympics. Is it any surprise?

YankeeJim

at 15:32 on November 12th, 2009

Do you think that the Greeks were not doing a little trampling when the games began?

a211423

at 15:44 on November 12th, 2009

Is it just Canadian women or all women from ski jumping? All I could find was the IOC was claiming technical merit as the reason, which sounds a bit strange. And wouldn't women be competing against each other and not against men? If this is true, what would technical merit have to do with it when they are competing against women with similar skills no matter what level.

You might remember years ago. Eddie the Eagle from the 1988 Olympics at Lake Placid.

From Wiki

Edwards was born in Cheltenham, England, and was working as a plasterer when he qualified, as the sole British applicant, for the 1988 Winter Olympics ski-jumping competition. He had previously represented Great Britain at the 1987 World Championships, and was ranked 55th in the world. Eddie began jumping under the watchful eye of Chuck Berghorn in Lake Placid, NY, using his equipment though he had to wear six layers of socks to make the boots fit. Edwards was handicapped by his weight - at about 82 kg (181 lb), more than 9 kg (20 lb) heavier than the next heaviest competitor - and by his lack of financial support for training - he was totally self-funded. Another problem was that he was very short sighted, requiring him to wear his glasses at all times, even though when skiing they fogged to such an extent that he could not see. He finished last in both the 70 m and 90 m events.

I remember watching him on TV, and I think we can say his technical merit left a lot to be desired. Maybe the IOC needs to look at the precedence in ski jumping.

albertacowpoke

at 16:22 on November 12th, 2009

It's ski jumping for women period. Yes women would be competing against women. This is just a cop out by the IOC. I guess they go by the principle "He who has the Gold makes the Rules."

By the way Eddie was fabulous, he demonstrated what the Olympic Spirit is supposed to be. He probably had more fans the the winner of the Gold Medal. How many remember that without looking it up.

a211423

at 17:02 on November 12th, 2009

Oh yes, cowpoke I remebered how people were cheering him on. It was like he was a regular person that most people could relate to. Indeed, I agree he did present an Olympic spirit, but I cannot help but wonder how they ranked his technical merit. And why are women being held to a higher standard? It's strikingly unfair, in my opinion.

You sure are right! I don't remember anything about that Olympics except him!

albertacowpoke

at 17:51 on November 12th, 2009

It is unfair indeed, the IOC is all about process and we know what process does, as it does in politics as well. It bites us in the butt despite our tail.

Paschen

at 18:12 on November 12th, 2009

One would have expected such report to come from China or Burma and not from Canada.

Maybe we have been to busy pointing fingers at other and failed to take a look at what was going on in our own back yards.

I am certain that China will not be able to resist a grin.

albertacowpoke

at 18:33 on November 12th, 2009

Paschen this is really about he Olympic Organizing Committee and the IOC. It is the arrogance of the IOC that continues to invoke these ancient rules of process to permit a sport as a competition sport. The Canadian courts apparently are impotent to do anything about the IOCs decision and therein lies the problem. Who makes the IOC accountable? The symbols and logos, as far as I know, were chosen by the Vancouver organizing committee.

So from my perspective the beef is with the IOC, not Canada.

As far as displacement of people is concerned due to construction this, again, is a choice by the City of Vancouver as far as I know.

I think most Canadian would be proud to have women compete in the ski jump competition but we won't take ownership of the IOC position.

Besides in Alberta, women compete in rodeo:)

Paschen

at 16:42 on November 13th, 2009

Well, yes and no. Wile the Olympic where held in China, all the Western press blamed China for just about every thing not the IOC though, now in Canada it is the IOC and not Canada?

It is both at best. Canada has laws and could counter this with ease. Sounds a lot like a double standard to me.