Olympic games – human rights: Sarkozy's attendance at opening ceremony is a scandal
Speaking at a press conference on the morning of Nicolas Sarkozy's confirmation he will attend the Olympic opening ceremony, Greens/EFA Group co-president Daniel Cohn-Bendit said:
"It is scandalous that Nicolas Sarkozy will not boycott the Olympic opening ceremony. He said that his attendance was conditional on an improvement in the human rights situation and progress resulting from talks between the Chinese authorities and Tibetan envoys. No progress has been made. On the contrary, the Chinese have issued a thinly veiled threat to the Tibetans not to cause trouble during the Games and political prisoners continued to be detained. Even the wife and child of political prisoner Hu Jia have now been placed under house arrest.
The opening ceremony is a grandiose political showcase, not a sporting event. By attending, Nicolas Sarkozy gives his endorsement and seal of approval for China's flagrant disregard of its own promises on human rights. Sarkozy also shows that his priority is the sale of nuclear power stations and Airbuses, not the rights and welfare of countless millions of people."
Pietro Mennea, Olympic gold medallist and former MEP, said:
"The IOC made a huge mistake in awarding the Olympic Games to China on the basis of a promise. In any case, for the IOC the Olympics are about trade, not ideals. Multinational companies have signed multimillion dollar contracts and China represents a huge and growing market. By attending the opening ceremony, Nicolas Sarkozy puts aside all concerns regarding Tibet and those who have lost their homes for the construction of Olympic facilities."
Vincent Brossel, Head of Reporters Without Borders' Asia desk, added:
"Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement to attend the opening ceremony flies in the face of public opinion, which supports a boycott. In his presidential election campaign he promised human rights would matter. But by already confirming his attendance a month ahead of the ceremony, he throws away a window of opportunity to apply pressure and achieve some progress. He has proved to be a weak link, cracking under the pressure of a well-orchestrated campaign in China that targeted France in particular. Other leaders and the European parliament must take a firmer stance."
