Olympics and Human Rights
The Olympics are not just a place for athletes to explore the limits of human physicality, they are also a multibillion dollar entertainment industry. The ‘purity’ of the games — ensured through amateur requirements, drug testing — can’t hide the fact that it’s still entertainment content streaming through our media.
I have played sports my entire life and enjoy the thrill of a good contest. And I’ll admit that I love watching the Olympics, especially the sports that require totally bizarre training and skills.
But what is the human rights cost of such an event? It is clear that the human right to housing has been consistently violated for the past several Olympic Games and is currently being violated in Vancouver. Another sobering fact: no Olympic city has EVER turned a profit.
Check out this fantastic, well researched article by the Christian Science Monitor here.
–Deji Olukotun
Photo by tpower1978 on a Creative Commons License.
