I think what the Chinese should do is say, "We're holding the Olympic Games, if you want to come, fine, and if you don't, that's fine too. We're not forcing you to come. If you're willing to overlook everything the West has done to the Third Word over the past 400 years, we can't help that".

China should not listen to anything the West says, since it was the same West that tried to carve up China in the latter part of the 19th Century and early 20th Century. If that had happened, China would be like India today, still 3rd world and illiterate. Nothing anyone in the West says will prevent China from becoming a Superpower in 20-30 years, despite communism. The West is racist against the "yellow" race, and nothing can change that. The only solution is to become a super power and dominate everything.

Phillip Wong, Ashburn, USA/VA

To Pfffill from Shanghai

Its a shame that you think so poorly of the Olympic Games. I have good friends who have dedicated their lives to making to an Olympic Games. Controlling every small element to maximise their potential and one day appear on the greatest sporting stage their is.

They made it and said it was even better than they could have imagined - in every way.

That must be the same for everybody who goes there, and that is not just the athletes - medical, support, coaches, family, organisers, local communities etc.

I think all the hassle and all the money, politic and everything else is worth it....the Olympic Games is worth it.

A T, Sydney, Australia

Simon Barnes is lucky to live in a "non repressive" world. Unfortunately for the Aborigines, they could not and cannot say the same. Nor could the Chinese when the British sailed all the across the world to sell them their precious opium. I shall spare you a list of the other peoples in the world.

Frank, Halifax, UK

Sport should not be political but by the same token China's human rights record cannot be ignored. It is my opinion that we should not take part in the Olympics in China. Chinese human rights violations deserve punishment from the international community not glorification.

A Seymour, Peterborough, UK

And what about Iraq? Shouldn't other teams boycott London 2012 because of Iraq war? Oh, those brits with their double standards... Go to your "democratic" heaven in Iraq if you don't like China!

Pc, Moscow,

I quite agree with what Stuart from singapore said, at least it's what i thought whenever i heard American or European talking about China's Human Right, after received all the benefits from all the exploitation they did to Asia and Africa, left all kinds of problmes here and there, now they start turning around to tell us "you can't do it, cuz it's just not right", my first reaction is "Pls shut up, look into the mirror and mind your own business, our Chinese we know what we really want"

Considering the democracy in Iraq, we feel lucky that we don't have it

Chi Zhang, Swindon, UK

i would rewind a bit at this juncture to remind everyone that china was awarded these games...with a closetful of skeletons : t square, tibet, odd missing political dissident, and darfur
it seems to me sport in general has painted itself into a proverbial corner, from all sides Whether it's cheating, doping, money, politics The olympic ideal is buried in the same pit as hippocratic oath, democracy, family values, marriage. Outdated perhaps?

andile, durban, south africa

Simon, you do alright.

Raymond Jurie, melbourne, australia

Stuart from Singapore makes a very pertinent point. Talk of human rights abuse on the part of China is immediately met with the response that the Western world is equally guilty. The PRC publishes a yearly report on human rights abuse in America (extraordinary rendition, guantanamo bay, executions and a foreign policy that results in the death of thousands as well as, at least previously, the tacit support of authoritarian regimes, pinochet etc, not to mention the genocide that Native Americans claim the US committed against its indigenous population - maybe Spielberg should concentrate on the US?).

Shaming China into action is unlikely to work as the CCP does not like kowtowing to international pressure since, to the general public, this would continue the century of humiliation that China suffered at the hands of imperial powers.

It is good to see people taking action over the issue of Darfur, but dont expect a great response from the CCP - economic growth is priority number

Peter, Manchester,

u haha ,oh my god.i spend one hour to read this article.

Mr.WangLiQun, soochow, China

Well, anyone who remembers the Los Angeles Olympics will remember that raising tricky political questions in the Olympics immediately preceding the one you're due to host is an excellent way of improving your medal tally. Look at how well the US did when the USSR stayed away....

"if the Olympic Games had not been awarded to China, these matters would not have come to widespread public attention." Indeed. But does this attest to the failure of journalists to spotlight the pressing issues until Spielberg discovers, conspicuously late in the day, that he has a conscience, or merely to the fickle and random nature of the spotlight, which points where it will?

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Very well worded indeed. Here in Beijing it's not easy to find a local willing to analyse (let alone criticise) any aspect of the Chinese social and political life, least of all an event which is considered a milestone in their history and a chance to show the world their greatness. Anything said or done that would even remotely hamper this image, would have dire consequences for the offender, hence the ongoing clean-sweep of potentially critical voices and well known campaigners. In this case, of course, the Government is happy to mix sport and politics!!

What could slightly change, in case something occurred and was broadcasted live on television, is the perception that Chinese people, especially the younger generations, may have towards certain issues. It’s realistic to say that changes in the common perception of human rights issues will probably take decades, but the Olympics may play somehow a role in this process. How big, that remains to be seen, time will tell.

Luca, Beijing, China

I think people in Europe fail to understand that China, and most other Asian countries, are intent on getting what they see as their fair share of Western culture's "pie" by any means. To do so they are adopting the amoral attitude that we British did at the height of colonial exploitation. Only human nature really!

As for sport, it is nice to see it put to some good use as a contrast to the tiresome financial machine it has become.

Stuart, Singapore,

If you believe that the Olympic games are representative of anything beyond corporate greed, government hubris and the massaging of over-inflated egos, then by all means buy your tickets and show interest.

Personally, I believe pigs can fly.

Pfffill, Shanghai, China

I must be in a minority, but I don't mind.
I had assumed that the modern Olympics were simply intended to bring together the best athletes from around the world to test themselves against each other - and maybe mix - at a venue selected by the IOC, every 4 years.
I have long puzzled how and why the Olympics Committee selected Beijing,with its known air pollution, but they did so choose it, and I had heard no major objections until now.
I presume that a new, posturing, event has been added.

MikeM, St. Albans, England