Press the IOC on this, and press them and press them and press them, and do not give up.

The two options are key; without a 2nd option, and with the humiliation of the Chinese gymnast as the only way out, the IOC is more likely to balk and plead powerlessness with the almighty Chinese gov’t, and once again beg the world to live with a open double-standard (that everyone acknowledges under their breath but doesn’t state offically).

This way, by insisting that *one* of the two actions be taken, removes that excuse and forces the IOC either to comply with one of them, or else to state openly that there is a double-standard between democracies and lying Potemkin regimes, that the IOC acknowledges it, and will in fact be enforcing that double-standard from now on.

1. We should *not* make this only about the little girl and whether or not she should keep her medal. We absolutely need to *shame* the Chinese over this, tell the government that they have caused shame to be brought upon the Chinese people.

Attack the core of the legitimacy of the PRC government to represent the Chinese people around the world.

Is shame dead as a concept? When it comes to the Chinese at least, I don’t think so.

2. We should not demand from the IOC that the little Chinese girl be stripped of her medal, or another one awarded, etc. That won’t get it done.

We do need to demand from the IOC that EITHER (1) the little girl be stripped of her medal; OR (2) the IOC remove age limits altogether from the gymnastics competition, and all other sports, on the *accepted premise* (not subject to dithering or equivocation by IOC members!) that, after the Beijing incident, no sovereign government can be relied upon to issue valid documentation of age, and such removal of age limits must remain in place until the *IOC* is able to determine someone’s actual biological age (through some new technology, should it ever be invented, etc. etc. etc.).

China coach Lu Shanzan said “Chinese competitors have for years all been small. It is not just this time. It is a question of race. European and American athletes are all powerful, very robust. But Chinese athletes cannot be like that. They are by nature that small.”

So now we can all see the direction this is going to be heading…not that it was that difficult. They are now going to be screaming “racism” and “Ethno-centricity” See, it is all because we Americans think “they all look aloke”, thereby deflecting it away from the truth. After all, we wouldn’t want to appear racist, now, would we? Just by pointing out that these three look 12, inclusing the babyteeth shows that we, as a society, are nothing but racist bastards, and refuse to accept their ethnic differences.

And who do you think will pick up the “Racist Flag” and lead the charge for that claim? Why I expect any number of Liberal Activists to take off and run with this claim at any moment now that the Chinese coach has planted the seed openly.

On August 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm, englishqueen01 said:

It won’t matter.

They’ll deny, deny, deny. Lie, lie, lie.

Or they’ll punish the gymnast.

My sentiments exactly. China is caught cheating, but it’ll be the gymnast’s fault because she did something wrong. That’s how it is in a totalitarian state. It’s never the state’s fault. Ever.

It’s pathetic to see this is how low the Chinese have to stoop to beat the Americans.

I don’t think stripping the Chinese youth of their medals will in itself do any good. They gave good performances, so let them keep their gold. They’ve been exploited, but the girls themselves earned it.

Having said that… the price of gold is high these days. I think the price for these golds should be the following: the IOC should ban the Chinese women’s gymnastics team (and individuals) from competing in the 2012 Olympics. They should then refer their files to the governing body of international gymnastics competition, whatever that is, for further action for competitions between now and 2012.