The President will go to the Games because he does not want to embarrass a juggernaut that is so vital to the U.S. economy. Things are tough enough here on the economic front. Staying home, however, would be the right thing for President Bush to do. He could frame his decision to boycott the Games as part of his overall “freedom agenda.” It would be a big chunk of the President’s legacy, remembered the same way as Nixon going to China. Nixon going to China is as important to Nixon’s legacy as Watergate. Boycotting China could help Bush on Iraq.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he will decide next week about whether to attend the opening ceremony of the Games. His decision will be based on progress made during this week’s talks between Chinese Government officials and the Dalai Lama. With all due respect to Sarko, who cares? The Frenchman just doesn’t have the same PR juice as Bush. A Bush boycott would be a game-changer.
China’s Government is surely having second thoughts about hosting both the Games and the world’s media. The Government, which spent $13.6B this year on earthquake relief and reconstruction, now must deal with pesky PR crises such as the giant algae bloom in the Yellow Sea that threatens the Olympic sailing regatta. Had the `08 Olympics been slated for London, the New York Times would not have run the algae story and two photos on A-6 today.
Officials say the 20,000 people who have been dragooned into scooping out the mess will have everything spiffy by the time the Olympians hit the water. What if they don’t get the job done? Imagine the fun the international media will have filming the world’s fastest boats stuck in the muck. Would China dare ban the international media from filming boats going nowhere? That would be a risky move.
One wonders what is next for the embattled Games. How about a plague of locusts?
(Photo: Plus magazine)