So now we know. Gordon Brown will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. But it's NOT a boycott or a snub to China because Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister, will be there. And Brown will attend the closing ceremony, because London will host the next Games in 2012.
Downing Street is adamant that this was the plan all along. I am not so sure. I and many other journalists had certainly got the impression that the PM would be at the opening ceremony. Normally, when we get something wrong, Number 10 is not slow to tell us.
I was present at the People's University in Beijing on January 18 when Brown was invited to attend the Games by Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier. Brown said: "I will most certainly come to the Olympic Games if I'm invited and the reason I want to come is to learn from what I know will be the great success of China so we can follow you in London in 2012." In these remarks and others since, Brown did not make clear he would be turning up at the end of the event.
I suspect that his team worked out some time ago that he needed to
find a compromise that would send a nod to the pro-Tibet lobby without
upsetting the Chinese too much. But they didn't announce it - a
mistake, as it now looks like a reaction to the demonstrations in
Europe and America against the Olympic torch relay.
As with his disastrous late show for the Lisbon Treaty signing ceremony in December, Brown should have made his intentions clear earlier to avoid damaging confusion.
Too gutless to boycott. Too ashamed to go.
Gordon Brown is suffering from delusions of adequacy.
What kind of a leader is this? This gutless freak should be jettisoned without delay. May 1st has become referendum on his spineless inability to lead the country.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 11:11 AM
The USA invaded Irag on a pack of lies and is setting up huge bases with the intention to stay put to control the oil resources. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died. More will die. And pray tell us what the self proclaimed human rights activists Europeans are doing. They cozy up to the USA instead. Sarkozy was the face of Europe in this. Granted Tibet has a human rights issue but is still an internal issue as far as China is concerned. Two hundred years ago, a Indian Chief said " The white man speaks with fork tongue". He was ever so right.
Posted by: t b wong | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 11:33 AM
Just to let you know Andrew, if you check Nick Robinsons blog he explains it all there, seems like you were in the dark but many others were not.
The plan all along was for the closing ceremony as a 'handover' to London.
God knows how Brown managed to fluff this one and not realise the entire world presumed he was going to the opening ceremony but there you go. Things were meant to be tighter now Carter is involved!
Posted by: Alex | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 12:03 PM
Well done, t b wong!
You've correctly identified Chinese invasion of Tibet as analogous with America's invasion of Iraq!
Both are the actions of inhuman thugs.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 12:03 PM
Go full extend to boycott the whole event, please!
As one of a Chinese, I care about of western boycotting as much as you care about Chinese opinions. Who give a shixxt if you come or not. If you think boycott can somehow improve you-so-called human right, you must be dreaming. The only thing that can accomplish is the opposite. Of course you do not give a dam; coz all you want is to get some high time by enjoying the anti-china orgasm. Well, enjoy while you can. If china ever became a democratic country, Tibet can look forward to a much improved life. They can double check this with IRAQ to know what democratic country can do to them.
Posted by: Dext | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 11:18 PM
Dext has a point. Nothing will be accomplished by trying to force China into a corner and with the fragile global economy do we really want China to turn inward. They could cut off all foreign imports and concentrate on building up their own economy as has happened in other industrial revolutions. There people could earn a better wage so they could buy the products they produce.
They could cash in their dollars, euros and pounds for gold and other commodities of use to them. Then What?
Besides, when was the last time a foreign President or Prime Minister attended an Olympic opening ceremony. I couldn't find any record of it. So your whole boycott issue has no validity.
Posted by: David | Friday, 11 April 2008 at 02:02 PM