The Olympic Flame: a Dying Flicker of What it Was Meant to Be
April 8th, 2008by R Kent
PARIS-
The Olympic Flame passed me by, and I didn’t even see it.
I was waiting outside Stade Charléty, not far from Paris’ Chinatown section in the 13th.
As the Olympic torch makes its second-ever global tour of the world before the Beijing Games this August, it swooped into Paris on a cold April day.
Already plagued by protests, starting with its lighting ceremony on Mount Olympus a few weeks ago, the Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) ran into continual hassles along its Parisian stretch, which caused organizers to stash the torch in a bus and keep it rolling through the city, the flame sadly reduced to a few licks of fire in specially-designed lanterns.
At Stade Charléty it seemed like the cop to spectator ratio was about 1:1.
Paris’ finest, decked out in all kinds of protective gear, riding in all manner of vehicle, lined the street as if preparing for a foreign invasion.
Some three thousand men and women in blue were stationed along or near the relay route, giving Paris the feel of a military state.
This birthplace of human rights put on a somewhat shameful show yesterday, as I saw spectators doing nothing more than waving protest flags and cheering the unfurling of a Reporters Without Borders banner decrying China’s human rights abuses, chased by policemen.
These were teenagers exercising their right to a peaceful protest, and these were French police officers dressed up like soldiers pushing them toward their vehicles for questioning.
How ironic that thousands upon thousands of French citizens turned out with Tibetan flags, chanting things like “Liberté au Tibet!”, advocating a boycott of the Olympics because of Chinese policies toward Tibet and its own people, and here were these stolid men in uniform standing their ground, keeping close watch over us, and in some instances denying certain people their own inalienable human right to free speech.
The flame, whisked by us spectators without so much as a flicker, shot into Stade Charléty, where an invitation-only crowd made up mostly of sponsors’ guests and journalists were entertained by music and a Chinese dragon.
I caught glimpses of it from my spot in the crowd, about a hundred yards away.
All of this was hard for me to watch, because you see, this was the first time I’ve ever attended an OTR that I was not a part of.
The first time I ever saw the Olympic Flame was in 2001 on a December day in Atlanta, when Muhammad Ali was on hand to kick off its 65-day journey around the United States before the Salt Lake Winter Games.
I was working for Chevrolet back then, one of the OTR co-sponsors, and I had the opportunity to drive all around the country with the Torch.
This was only a few months after 9/11, a time when the American public wanted some good news, wanted something to cheer about.
Sure, it was only a parade, a glorified pre-Olympic marketing event, but before Iraq and Katrina and the oil and housing crises, it made me feel good to be an American as I encountered millions of smiling faces in big cities and small towns in nearly every state of the Union.
In 2004 I was hired by new co-sponsor Samsung to help conduct the first global relay.
Though Samsung is a horrible company, I was swept up in the excitement of our 35-day tour of the world, starting in Sydney, Australia, and finishing in Greece, touching down on every continent save Antarctica.
It was during this relay that I commented, “I wish this ride would never end.”
I lived in Torino for the five months leading up to the Torino Games in 2006, again working for Samsung on their OTR marketing plan, then leading a team for the first month of the torch’s Italy tour.
And while I loved being in Italy and have great affection for the Italian people, the job was terrible.
Every OTR I did, I saw more and more how it’s just a big sham.
It’s about corporations and money and not really about any sense of “Olympic spirit.”
When the IOC awarded Beijing the Games seven years ago, it attempted to thwart public outcries by announcing that through the Games, they expected China to clean up their act regarding China’s treatment of its citizens.
Did anyone believe this would really happen?
By many accounts, the situation in China has only gotten worse.
The IOC, in the pockets of big business, gave China the Games because it saw the potential economic windfall.
Government leaders of the free world, who from time to time make statements about China’s need to change, won’t boycott these Games, just as they don’t implement trade boycotts.
It wouldn’t be good business.
So, instead, the U.S. picks on Iraq and says how we’re bringing about a stable democracy to an important Middle East nation.
Lies upon lies.
It’s all about money.
Those French police on the street were following orders from their superiors, and their superiors were just following orders from theirs, so I don’t blame them.
But it sure is sad when what should be a happy event for Paris, and for the world, turns out to be a grim and foreboding march through the city and around the globe.
As I said, I don’t expect a boycott, and Beijing will probably put on a good face come August.
But there will be many more protests between now and then.
And there will be the embarrassment of having to flood the streets with riot gear-wearing police officers wherever this Olympic flame goes, and the message will be clear: the moneyed and the powerful will protect the shameless and the cruel.
I got off the Olympic ride over two years ago, and while I will always maintain hope for a better future, I am glad I have played no part in these Olympic Games.
As a further sad reminder of China’s disrespect of human rights, and notably freedom of information and the press, I just received an email from a former colleague of mine who is currently working on the Games and living in Beijing.
I send out an email to friends and family, alerting them to a new post. I write a short message, saying what the story is about, and I put a direct link to the TNB story.
My friend responded that she couldn’t open the site from my link, but she hoped I didn’t say anything bad, considering she has friends working on the event. I sent the link to the main page to her, in case there was just some problem with my story link, and I pasted my story into the email. I asked her to leave a comment with an opposing view at the end of my story, if she could.
She just responded that again she could not open the site (the TNB is outlawed in China?), and that even if she could leave a comment, she “should steer clear of comments anyway.”
This is from an American working in Beijing.
RK
We share your pain. How can it be that everything good gets spoiled. I’m sure you will hear that it’s about the athletes. Those hard working, talented people who have to stay focused even though their fellow men, women and children are deprived of basic human rights. How hopeful it would be for mankind to witness numbers of unselfish athletes standing up for truth. Unfortunately some of the responsibility has to be placed on the athletes too. When people refuse to compromise no matter the cost, we all have a better chance to live free.
RK - Bravo for this post.
If I may, I’ll add a little about the previous stage of the journey. The OTR came through London on Sunday, over Tower Bridge and past the building where I live.
There were 35 arrests made across the city as people protested peacefully against China’s human rights violations. The police confiscated banners and T-shirts saying FREE TIBET on the grounds that they were ‘inflammatory’ and inappropriate. Protesters were segregated in pens and the media were moved away from protesters and towards supporters who had been brought in on buses with pro-Beijing banners and flags.
By 3.30, the flame was surrounded by its own Chinese guard, making it near impossible to see. This was because people had made three attempts to put it out by then.
The mood of the city had been badly misjudged by the organisers and the corporate sponsors (like the Samsung bus with leotard-clad dancers) looked stupid and out of touch.
It was a worrying display of government and corporates riding roughshod over public opinion and a dismal display of disunity.
We should remember that the Olympic torch relay was invented by Joseph Goebbels for the glorification of the Nazi regime and was not part of the Classical games.
RK, when I heard this news on NPR yesterday (which was delivered a little breathlessly, I thought)it struck me as what the French DO, they take to the streets. It’s inspiring.
Emma, if the torch’s origins are indeed Nazi-related we should just cut that shit.
Kudos for Hillary Clinton. She called on Pres Bush to boycott the opening ceremony. Lots of luck!
RK,
As you know, I live in SF — next stop for the torch! Tomorrow is the run. Already, there have been protests, a full day ahead - 500 people protesting at UN Plaza, a few people scaling the GG Bridge to hang banners of protest…the city is debating a last minute change to the route…what a mess. And the relay is supposed to conclude at the plaza outside my office tomorrow afternoon. I’ll keep you informed. Should be interesting.
Me too, couldnt help but think about Ali lighting the torch, his trembling hand and wonder if that’s the last of the Olympic good will.
I think this is fantastic.
The more attention China gets for its evil deeds the better.
Too often, when we avoid a nasty thing, people forget it exists.
Keep that sucker in the limelight.
The banner of the olympic handcuffs was genius.
Thanks to you all for your comments.
Hmm… for some reason I knew this would be a hot topic…
ML,
I agree. I’d like to see some of the athletes stand up for something that is bigger than they are. I’m not in their shoes, of course, but I think even if only a handful of these gifted individuals passed on their shot at a gold, they would be remembered much longer for the statement they made than the medal they wore. And yes, kudos to Hillary, who took a stand. Barack placed himself firmly on the fence on this one. Makes me wonder what he would have done had he really had a vote about Iraq.
ER,
Thanks for the London perspective. And yes, I do know that the OTR was started in the ‘36 Berlin Games.
MLP,
Yes, it was certainly no surprise that the French protested in such high numbers. But not even I thought they’d manage to essentially cancel the event! And while the Nazis were the first to come up with the idea of the OTR, I don’t know if that in itself is a reason to stop having future OTRs.
The B,
Yes, sister Kent sent me a photo of the GG Bridge folks. Wild! Let me know what happens…
11,
I am in the end an optimist. I believe goodwill can never die. But the flame does need rekindling.
JR,
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. For those who say that this should not be “politicized”, that is being naive. This became politicized the moment the IOC gave Beijing the Games.
Thanks again to you all for writing. Great comments. If anyone out there has an opposing view on anything that’s been said, though, I’d love to hear it.
RK
Hi RK,
great post!!! Of course your point of view is very interesting, we were sure u will be there to see what was happening. Reading your post remember me our italian adventure, i worked for the OTR just once, but i understood quickly that is just a matter of money and nothing about sport,peace or other values.
What’s the point of having an OTR if the cities have to be full of police like in war?!?! This is not any more a sport event, and now I’m happy that I’m not on the caravan watching the protestant being arrested.
As you know we are still in India, we don’t know yet if we are going to Delhi to see the OTR (the route will be only 3 km!) or to Dharmasala to see what is happening there…we’ll let u know.
I wonder, when the Olympics will finish, if someone will still write about Tibet…
Free Tibet!
mondovisione
RK: I’ve been discussing this issue with my boyfriend’s parents for several nights now. They think the Olympic games shouldn’t be protested because it’s the Olympics and it’s supposed to be a unifying thing. But I think if no governments are going to do anything about China (because it would be bad for our economy), then we have to take it into our own hands to say something. It’s sad that it has to overshadow the Olympics, but it seems to be the only way to get anyone to pay attention.
The torch is coming through San Francisco today. I couldn’t make it down there, but I’ve been watching the news for updates. Of all the places they could choose to take the torch in the U.S., they had to pick one of the most liberal cities? And one that has had Free Tibet organizations for as long as anyone can remember? They were asking for trouble.
Thanks for this post. I like the personal look at it, as opposed to the media take.
RA
Hey RK:
I agree with Josie. The more attention this matter receives the better. Bravo, brother.
Thanks to Mondo (CR), RA and RF!
CR,
Let me know what happens in Delhi! I doubt the protests will be like they were here in the west…
RA,
From what I’ve read from eyewitness friends in SF, it was a pretty sad display. The route was cut in half, and they played hide and seek all day with the protesters, finally cancelling the final ceremony. Pathetic.
RF,
Just glad I’m here to bring the noise.
-RK
Thoughtful and intelligent post as usual, RK. Yes, Chevrolet and Samsung. We all like to think the Olympic spirit rises above politics and economic gain, but the bottom line IS money, no doubt.
I’m reminded of Ned Beatty’s classic “money speech” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI5hrcwU7Dk in the boardroom scene in the film *Network*: “There are no nations, there are no peoples… . It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet.”
“The world is a business, Mr. Beale.” So true.
- Jim
JS:
Very apropos, the Network clip! Thanks for that.
RK