China repeatedly insists that the Olympics should not be politicised. It should not; it is a sporting contest between nations. Its origin lies in periods of truce between warring Grecian states when weapons were put aside for the sake of sport. The Olympic spirit is associated with the values of those early Grecian states: good governance and humanism.
In 2001, when Beijing was awarded the Games, unprecedented dancing and partying erupted in the streets. However, from that moment on, the 2008 Olympics has been politicised.
Awarding the Games to Beijing was a political decision, unanimous among major western nations. They firmly believed that, through the process of hosting the epitome of all international events, China would become more integrated into the global system, more open, more transparent, more media-friendly and more international in outlook; a bit more Grecian.
However, China saw things differently. In one fell swoop, it was being welcomed into the club of rich global nations, finally wiping away the opprobrium of the 19th-century Opium wars, the Japanese invasion during the second world war and the international ostracism after the communists seized power in 1949. Suddenly, Chinese felt all of that historic baggage would disappear. The Olympics symbolised, for both the government and the people, China's emergence as a global power and, more importantly, international recognition of its new status regained from ancient days when it was the 'celestial empire'.
Economics rode on the back of politics, creating a five-year boon for Olympic construction, driving prosperity and, most importantly, galvanising nationalism. An unprecedented nationwide construction boom began.
The assumption was that this would be required for the massive influx of tourists. Every Chinese believed they would make money from this, one way or another. But none of that has happened. On the eve of the Olympic celebrations, most hotels in the capital are empty, never mind those in other areas. Visas are hard to obtain. Security paranoia is making China a less desirable destination than expected.
