Security at the Olympics: A Testament to the Security in China and a Look into the Past
The 2008 Olympics Games
I’ll be the first to say that I thought this Olympics had the potential of being a disaster. On July 25th, Yahoo News reported that a group called the Turkistan Islamic Party, led by Commander Seyfullah, threatened the Olympics saying they would bomb buses and announced responsibility for the deadly bombings on Chinese buses earlier that week. I was sure that within the first week of the games, something would go down that shook the world. Now, there was the stabbing of the in-laws of the US Men’s Volleyball coach, as sad as this event was, I thought a major international attack was in store.
My concern mounted when a South Korean reporter was able to breach security while the opening ceremony was being practiced, supposedly under a time of heightened security. I actually think now that the photos released from the incident may have been planned and controlled to raise hype for the truly fantastic and breathtaking, but equally long, opening ceremony.This, luckily, was not a good predictor
of events to come. Not only have there been no attacks through three-quarters of the games, no one is even talking about attacks anymore. It’s really amazing the shift from a month ago, everyday a new article came about the threat posed to China, the Olympics, and Americans competing and in attendance. Now the only news focuses on Michael Phelps and Dara Torres, Usain Bolt and the Jamaican Sprinters, The US Men’s Basketball Team, The US and Chinese Women’s Gymnastics Team, or the Lezak Comback, the way it should be. In the past, the Olympics have been a time of both celebration and sadness, let’s have a quick history lesson.
Miracle on Ice
The 1980 Olympics came in a time of Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. Games the Soviet Union nearly boycotted with the number one hockey team in the world, Lake Placid, New York was a stage set for high tensions. The amateur US hockey team, comprised of all college kids, defied all odds simply by making it to the semi-final match with the Soviets. A month prior to the games, the Soviets slaughtered the US All-Stars of the NHL in a statement match for the upcoming Olympics. They then pounded the same US Olympic team in preliminary play. The whole world watched as the US pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sporting history. The Soviets hadn’t lost in the Olympics in like 12-16 years and the US was no Hockey power, making this “Miracle on Ice” even more unlikely. The outcome of that one hockey game was said to restore confidence in a nation tired of threats, nukes, and satellites.
In contrast, we have the 1972 Munich Games, also known as the Munich Massacre. One fateful day in West Germany, members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by Black September, a group with ties to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah organization. When it was all said and done, the terrorist group had killed eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and one German police officer. Five of the eight members of Black September were killed by police officers during a rescue attempt. The three surviving terrorists were captured, and were later released by West Germany following the hijacking of a Lufthansa airliner. Israel responded to the massacre with a series of air strikes and assassinations of those suspected of planning the killings. The day after the tragedy, the games were suspended for an entire day. This was a first in Olympic history.The following day, a memorial service was held and attended by tens of thousands of people.
As we can see, Olympic Games are always historical; sometimes in tragedy, sometimes in jubilation. I hope that the final week of the Beijing Games stays remembered for Michael Phelps’ 8 Gold Medals, and not for a terrorist attack. This peace all goes to the security in China. A crack down on terrorism in China prior to the Olympics may be the reason for this peace. They saw the threat and alleviated the problem before the world recognized any vulnerability. Congrats to the Chinese for a job well done…I just wish they didn’t use 12 year-olds on their gymnastics team…Go USA!
8 Gold Medals
