Chinese Ban Remains Against HIV Positive Visitors

This is a really interesting story about the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games mostly because I’m not 100% sure where I stand on the issue.  Despite public scrutiny and lifting the ban against visitors with leprosy, Chinese officials have decided to continue to deny entry to foreign travellers who have AIDS or are HIV-positive.  This currently means that Olympic gold medal-winning basketball legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, couldn’t attend the Beijing Games even though he was a part of the US “Dream Team” at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Of course, experts and advisors, such as World Heath Organization’s Connie Osborne have been trying to fight the ban which she describes as an “ongoing battle.”  She elaborates saying: “When we do not address stigma and discrimination, people who may be affected and those at high risk tend to go underground.”

There are approximately 67 countries world-wide that have similar laws, including the United States (they have been working to lift the ban, however).

Here’s where the situation gets strange for me.  A spokeswoman for the Beijing organizers said that athletes and delegates would not have to give their HIV-AIDS status and would be granted entry into China.  The same applies to their families.

Honestly, I consider myself pretty well-informed about HIV/AIDS and, while I realize the risk is minimal, you would think the rules here would be the opposite and that they would actually be cautious with the athletes and not just regular visitors.  Let me stress that I am not saying that a ban should exist (because I really don’t think it should at all) but I’m commenting on the fact that this particular ban makes little sense to me. 

What do you think?