I’m guessing there was an opening ceremony today, because I saw still pictures of it on Yahoo.com. I didn’t even think of watching it… Yet I think I’ve probably watched at least part of every single ceremony since I have been old enough to want to, so what’s different now?

Well, I live in the United States. I haven’t seen any of the build-up I am used to because they simply don’t provide the extensive coverage of Athletics that the BBC do back home. But, the thing is, as much as I’d love to say the problem is bad coverage, it isn’t. The other difference? China.

In Chicago today there was a march on the Chinese Consulate asking for the Chinese to end their occupation of Tibet. China has also refused an Athlete’s visa to travel and compete recently also, the reason being that he wants the Darfur regime (that the Chinese support), to end and has been a campaigner. Then, of course, there’s the little issue of human rights.

Come to think of it, what on earth were the Olympic Committee thinking?!