The Olympics was one of the original organized and recorded sporting competitions between countries and people in the known world at the time of its inception. This is well before the corporate sponsored, profit driven, Olympics of today, prizes were offered for the winning athletes in the original Olympics, but nothing like the fame and golden trinkets sprinkled on Olympic champions of today.

Modern Olympic athletes travel the globe competing year round during the years between Olympic competitions, competing in a variety of seasonal sports the original Olympic competitors would be shocked and awed to witness. Sponsored through out their athletic careers by corporate and governmental sponsors these individuals have come to represent more than just a well tuned human athlete, they have come to represent the ego and pride of the countries from which they originate.

Politics, life and sport have always co-existed together within societal life as they do in the Olympic world today, but the modern Olympics is far more a corporate, retail, affair then the original Olympics of yesteryears. The Olympic games of today has evolved into a political and social stage upon which to vent long held views on social, political, and ethical questions, best left to another venue.

Welcome to the political arena of the modern Olympics of 2008, an arena that has become a venue for political and social venting on issues of human rights and diplomatic issues of human importance.
These issues are so important to many that they are willing to sacrifice the greatest gift any human has received, their life, in an attempt to draw attention to issues of human suffering and abuse.

Sunday a North Korean defector by the name of Son Jong Hoon, a 45 year old Korean man trying to bring to light the pathetic and sad governmental policies of the Chinese government, created by the Chinese governments fear of change, a fear that is about to see the gentlemen’s brother be executed by the Chinese government. The Chinese government accused Son Jong’s brother of spying after it found out the brothers had met secretly in China, something you might expect two separated brothers to do. Mr. Hoon attempted suicide Sunday by pouring gasoline on himself and lighting himself on fire, his conviction is amazing, and his love for his brother must be great.

Fortunately, the gentlemen was detained by Chinese officials before he could make this mistake, the Chinese government has never shown they care about human life before, and if it wasn’t for the political and economic ramifications of Mr. Hoon being successful at his suicide, they would probably just let him go ahead, uncaring. If an act of conviction isn’t going to have the desired affect upon the target audience, then it’s probably a waste of time. Certainly, a percentage of people outside the Olympics will be concerned and maybe even raise a vocal note or two about the situation, but the powers that be will certainly have their ear plugs in place.
The games will go on, no matter what you and me say, or do.