Podium Protests at 2008 Beijing Olympics?

Image details: Mens 10m Platform Medal Ceremony served by picapp.com

US Olympians have started speaking out about the recent protests surrounding the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  Some are even predicting that there will be podium protests. 

"There will be protests but I don’t think it will brand the Games," said 2004 bronze medal wrestler Patricia Miranda said. "I would have said no a month ago but the fact the protests started so early caught me off guard.

Some, like gold medal-winning softball outfielder, Jessica Mendoza, have even considered participating in the protests herself!  "I thought about that" she said. "I guess we will just have to see. First we have to win the gold to get that 15 minutes of fame. If we get that we’ll have to see."

Paul Hamm, my own personal favorite male gymnast from the US team and 2004 Olympic all-around champion added "The Olympics are about bringing people together. It’s not about making the Olympics something you can use as a political tool. What’s going on is important. We should pay attention to it. If you want to bring politics into the Olympics, let politicians do that. We’re athletes. I’m trying to educate myself on the issues, develop an opinion."

The rest of the article is quite lengthy (but very interesting) and can be viewed here. 

I have to say that, although I am in support of bringing the issues and problems in Tibet and Darfur to the public, I’m still not really sure this is the right vehicle.  I’m almost completely positive, however, that protesting at the podiums during the Games is wrong, in my very humble opinion.

I worry that this could get really out of hand and people could get hurt.  I just want protesters to consider the personal safety of the athletes and spectators who have played no role in China’s alleged human rights violations.

image courtesy of NBCUV