Politics
China's sporting success at Tokyo 2020 is tinged with politics – Financial Times
China started the final day of the Tokyo Olympics with a slim lead at the top of the medals table but attempts to whip up nationalist sentiment and use the event as a play for soft power ahead of the Beijing Winter Games next year threaten to undermine the reputational boost provided by its sporting achievements.
The Communist party has built a formidable sports programme around success in the Olympics, which it sees as an important source of national pride and international legitimacy. But China’s success in Tokyo has been accompanied by bursts of nationalism and political displays by its athletes.
China has performed strongly in sports that it traditionally dominates, including table tennis, diving, weightlifting, badminton and shooting. This has been supplemented by breakthrough performances in events where it has not traditionally been strong.
Su Bingtian broke the Asian record in the men’s 100-metre competition with a time of 9.83 seconds, and became the first Chinese national to compete in an Olympics final for the event. In the women’s quadruple sculls rowing event, China won the country’s first gold since the Beijing Games in 2008 and broke the world record by more than a second.
If China finishes the games with the most gold medals, it would beat the US for the first time since 2008, at a time when it is engaged in a tense diplomatic and trade dispute with Washington and its allies.
Political undertones were ‘unavoidable’
Yet analysts said that online nationalism, political displays by Chinese athletes and criticisms of China’s security crackdowns in Xinjiang and Hong Kong risked undermining the team’s sporting performance.
The International Olympic Committee issued a warning to China after Zhong Tianshi and Bao Shanju, who won gold in cycling, wore badges of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong during their medals ceremony in possible contravention of rules. The IOC said it had received assurances that it would not happen again.
The Games have also re-awoken the “spirit of Japanese resistance”, a reference to China’s fight against Japanese invaders during the second world war, according to some online commentators. They were displeased after a near-perfect performance by Xiao Ruoteng in the men’s all-round gymnastics competition was beaten by Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto, with some alleging anti-Chinese bias.
Susan Brownell, an expert on Chinese sport at the University of Missouri-St Louis, said the political undertones of the Games were unavoidable given the convergence of China’s reputational damage from the pandemic and its historic rivalry with Japan.
Some human rights groups have called for countries to boycott the Winter Games because of China’s policies in Xinjiang, where it has detained more than 1m Uyghurs in internment camps, and a clampdown on Hong Kong following pro-democracy protests in 2019. The US has said the question was “on the agenda” for discussions with its allies.
Brownell said officials in Beijing faced a delicate balancing act domestically, where Chinese sporting programmes have long been criticised for a single-minded focus on medals and political gains while ignoring physical activities for the masses.
“They have to be careful about anger at losses and nationalism but there is also a problem if there is too much attention on winning medals,” she said.
China prepares for Beijing 2022
Beijing was determined to become a successful Olympics host after a failed bid to host the Summer Games in the wake of the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters in June 1989.
When it held the Summer Games in 2008, much of the city was rebuilt and everyone from taxi drivers to residents were given lessons in civility. China topped the medal table for the first time that year.
As the party leadership prepares for Beijing to become the first location to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, it has struggled to ensure that enthusiasm for the Games drowns out calls for a boycott.
Minky Worden, a campaigner at Human Rights Watch and editor of China’s Great Leap, a book on the 2008 Games, said the pressure could lead Beijing to release political prisoners.
“There can’t be a double standard where China gets to violate human rights, crushes press freedom and still hosts the Olympics as if it was business as usual,” she said.
Chinese state media has emphasised the displays of camaraderie between its athletes and their international competitors.
One such moment was a joyous hug between Chinese gymnasts Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing after they won gold and silver in the balance beam and were cheered on by the US team’s Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee.
Despite their success, some Chinese athletes have been hit by nationalist attacks if they have been seen as disloyal.
Yang Qian, champion in the women’s 10m air rifle, was criticised ahead of the event after posting pictures of Nike shoes. Nationalists have targeted the US sports company over its statements about forced labour in Xinjiang.
But when Yang was asked what winning meant to her after the competition, she noted that 2021 was the centenary of the Chinese Communist party and added: “I’m so happy that this golden medal is a gift to my country.”
Additional reporting by Emma Zhou in Beijing
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
-
More than 20 tornadoes reported as tens of millions face severe weather threat
00:57
-
Shoe cobbler becomes unlikely TikTok star
01:48
-
First jurors selected to serve in Trump hush money trial
03:07
-
Israel’s military vows response to Iranian attack
01:31
-
DOJ reportedly set to sue Live Nation in antitrust challenge
00:52
-
Boeing whistleblower says 787 Dreamliner has production flaw
03:25
-
USC cancels commencement speech by class valedictorian
01:36
-
House delivers articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to Senate
01:49
-
Boeing engineer says worldwide 787 fleet ‘needs attention’
00:20
-
Two bodies found in Oklahoma are believed to be missing Kansas women
01:42
-
Video shows men damaging ancient rocks in national park
01:46
-
White House tries to prevent a wider war in the Mideast
02:01
-
Israel’s military vows military response after Iran attack
02:59
-
Caitlin Clark talks about her WNBA dream
01:52
-
Now Playing
Trump faces political risks as trial begins
00:53
-
UP NEXT
Jury selection begins in Trump’s hush money trial
02:54
-
Arrests made in connection to disappearance of two Kansas moms
01:30
-
President Biden urges restraint after Iran’s attack on Israel
03:19
-
UP NEXT
More than 20 tornadoes reported as tens of millions face severe weather threat
00:57
-
Shoe cobbler becomes unlikely TikTok star
01:48
-
First jurors selected to serve in Trump hush money trial
03:07
-
Israel’s military vows response to Iranian attack
01:31
-
DOJ reportedly set to sue Live Nation in antitrust challenge
00:52
-
Boeing whistleblower says 787 Dreamliner has production flaw
03:25
Politics
Florida's Bob Graham dead at 87: A leader who looked beyond politics, served ordinary folks – Toronto Star
/* OOVVUU Targeting */
const path = ‘/news/world/united-states’;
const siteName = ‘thestar.com’;
let domain = ‘thestar.com’;
if (siteName === ‘thestar.com’)
domain = ‘thestar.com’;
else if (siteName === ‘niagarafallsreview.ca’)
domain = ‘niagara_falls_review’;
else if (siteName === ‘stcatharinesstandard.ca’)
domain = ‘st_catharines_standard’;
else if (siteName === ‘thepeterboroughexaminer.com’)
domain = ‘the_peterborough_examiner’;
else if (siteName === ‘therecord.com’)
domain = ‘the_record’;
else if (siteName === ‘thespec.com’)
domain = ‘the_spec’;
else if (siteName === ‘wellandtribune.ca’)
domain = ‘welland_tribune’;
else if (siteName === ‘bramptonguardian.com’)
domain = ‘brampton_guardian’;
else if (siteName === ‘caledonenterprise.com’)
domain = ‘caledon_enterprise’;
else if (siteName === ‘cambridgetimes.ca’)
domain = ‘cambridge_times’;
else if (siteName === ‘durhamregion.com’)
domain = ‘durham_region’;
else if (siteName === ‘guelphmercury.com’)
domain = ‘guelph_mercury’;
else if (siteName === ‘insidehalton.com’)
domain = ‘inside_halton’;
else if (siteName === ‘insideottawavalley.com’)
domain = ‘inside_ottawa_valley’;
else if (siteName === ‘mississauga.com’)
domain = ‘mississauga’;
else if (siteName === ‘muskokaregion.com’)
domain = ‘muskoka_region’;
else if (siteName === ‘newhamburgindependent.ca’)
domain = ‘new_hamburg_independent’;
else if (siteName === ‘niagarathisweek.com’)
domain = ‘niagara_this_week’;
else if (siteName === ‘northbaynipissing.com’)
domain = ‘north_bay_nipissing’;
else if (siteName === ‘northumberlandnews.com’)
domain = ‘northumberland_news’;
else if (siteName === ‘orangeville.com’)
domain = ‘orangeville’;
else if (siteName === ‘ourwindsor.ca’)
domain = ‘our_windsor’;
else if (siteName === ‘parrysound.com’)
domain = ‘parrysound’;
else if (siteName === ‘simcoe.com’)
domain = ‘simcoe’;
else if (siteName === ‘theifp.ca’)
domain = ‘the_ifp’;
else if (siteName === ‘waterloochronicle.ca’)
domain = ‘waterloo_chronicle’;
else if (siteName === ‘yorkregion.com’)
domain = ‘york_region’;
let sectionTag = ”;
try
if (domain === ‘thestar.com’ && path.indexOf(‘wires/’) = 0)
sectionTag = ‘/business’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/autos’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/autos’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/entertainment’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/entertainment’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/life’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/life’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/news’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/news’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/politics’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/politics’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/sports’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/sports’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/opinion’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/opinion’;
} catch (ex)
const descriptionUrl = ‘window.location.href’;
const vid = ‘mediainfo.reference_id’;
const cmsId = ‘2665777’;
let url = `https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/58580620/$domain/video/oovvuu$sectionTag&description_url=$descriptionUrl&vid=$vid&cmsid=$cmsId&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640×480&ad_rule=0&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=`;
url = url.split(‘ ‘).join(”);
window.oovvuuReplacementAdServerURL = url;
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A leader like Bob Graham would be a unicorn in the hyper-partisan politics of today.
The former Florida governor and U.S. senator wasn’t a slick, slogan-spouting politician. He didn’t have an us-against-them mentality. Sometimes, he even came across as more of a kind-hearted professor just trying to make the world a better place.
function buildUserSwitchAccountsForm()
var form = document.getElementById(‘user-local-logout-form-switch-accounts’);
if (form) return;
// build form with javascript since having a form element here breaks the payment modal.
var switchForm = document.createElement(‘form’);
switchForm.setAttribute(‘id’,’user-local-logout-form-switch-accounts’);
switchForm.setAttribute(‘method’,’post’);
switchForm.setAttribute(‘action’,’https://www.thestar.com/tncms/auth/logout/?return=https://www.thestar.com/users/login/?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestar.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Funited-states%2Ffloridas-bob-graham-dead-at-87-a-leader-who-looked-beyond-politics-served-ordinary-folks%2Farticle_0920ca6f-2233-5d7e-b2c9-82330901a187.html’);
switchForm.setAttribute(‘style’,’display:none;’);
var refUrl = document.createElement(‘input’); //input element, text
refUrl.setAttribute(‘type’,’hidden’);
refUrl.setAttribute(‘name’,’referer_url’);
refUrl.setAttribute(‘value’,’https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/floridas-bob-graham-dead-at-87-a-leader-who-looked-beyond-politics-served-ordinary-folks/article_0920ca6f-2233-5d7e-b2c9-82330901a187.html’);
var submit = document.createElement(‘input’);
submit.setAttribute(‘type’,’submit’);
submit.setAttribute(‘name’,’logout’);
submit.setAttribute(‘value’,’Logout’);
switchForm.appendChild(refUrl);
switchForm.appendChild(submit);
document.getElementsByTagName(‘body’)[0].appendChild(switchForm);
function handleUserSwitchAccounts()
window.sessionStorage.removeItem(‘bd-viafoura-oidc’); // clear viafoura JWT token
// logout user before sending them to login page via return url
document.getElementById(‘user-local-logout-form-switch-accounts’).submit();
return false;
buildUserSwitchAccountsForm();
console.log(‘=====> bRemoveLastParagraph: ‘,0);
|
|
Six months from now Kevin Falcon is going to be staggering toward a catastrophic defeat for the remnants of the BC Liberals.
But what that will mean for the province’s political future is still up in the air, with the uncertainty increased by two shocking polls that show the Conservatives far ahead of BC United and only a few percentage points behind the NDP.
BC United is already toast, done in by self-inflicted wounds and the arrival of John Rustad and the Conservative Party of BC.
Falcon’s party has stumbled since the decision to abandon the BC Liberal brand in favour of BC United. The change, promoted by Falcon and approved by party members, took place a year ago this week. It was an immediate disaster.
That was made much worse when Rustad relaunched the B.C. Conservatives after Falcon kicked him out of caucus for doubting the basic science of climate change.
Falcon’s party had fallen from 33 per cent support to 19 per cent, trailing the Conservatives at 25 per cent. (The NDP has 42 per cent support.) That’s despite his repeated assurances that voters would quickly become familiar with the BC United brand.
BC United is left with almost no safe seats in this election based on the current polling.
Take Abbotsford West, where Mike de Jong is quitting after 30 years in the legislature to seek a federal Conservative nomination. It’s been a BC Liberal/United stronghold. In 2020 de Jong captured 46 per cent of the votes to the New Democrats’ 37 per cent and the Conservatives’ nine per cent.
But that was when the Conservatives were at about eight per cent in the polls, not 25 per cent.
Double their vote in this October’s election at the expense of the Liberals — a cautious estimate — and the NDP wins.
United’s prospects are even worse in ridings that were close in the 2020 election, like Skeena. Ellis Ross took it for the BC Liberals in 2020 with 52 per cent of the vote to the NDP’s 45 per cent.
But there was no Conservative candidate. Rustad has committed to running a candidate in every riding and the NDP can count on an easy win in Skeena.
It’s the same story across the province. The Conservatives and BC United will split the centre-right vote, handing the NDP easy wins and a big majority. And BC United will be fighting to avoid being beaten by the Conservatives in the ridings that are in play.
United’s situation became even more dire last week. A Liaison Strategies poll found the NDP at 38 per cent support, Conservatives at 34 per cent, United at 16 per cent and Greens at 11 per cent. That’s similar to a March poll from Mainstreet Research.
If those polls are accurate, BC United could end up with no seats. Voters who don’t want an NDP government will consider strategic voting based on which party has a chance of winning in their ridings.
Based on the Liaison poll, that would be the Conservatives. That’s especially true outside Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where the poll shows the Conservatives at 39 per cent, the NDP at 30 per cent and United lagging at 19 per cent. (The caveat about the polls’ accuracy is important. Curtis Fric and Philippe J. Fournier offer a useful analysis of possible factors affecting the results on Substack.)
And contributors will also be making some hard choices about which party gets their money. Until now BC United was far ahead of the Conservatives, thanks to its strong fundraising structure and the perception that it was the front-runner on the right. That’s under threat.
The polls also mark a big change in the NDP’s situation. This election looked like a cakewalk, with a divided centre-right splitting the vote and a big majority almost guaranteed. Most polls this year gave the New Democrats at least a 17 per cent lead over the Conservatives.
Aaron Sluchinski adds Kyle Doering to lineup for next season – The Grand Slam of Curling
Paleontologists unearth what may be the largest known marine reptile – Science Daily
Jacobs takes over rink previously skipped by Bottcher – TSN
Silver investment demand jumped 12% in 2019
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
Global Media Markets, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F – TV and Radio Broadcasting, Film and Music, Information Services, Web Content, Search Portals And Social Media, Print Media, & Cable – GlobeNewswire
-
Business23 hours ago
Firefighters battle wildfire near Edson, Alta., after natural gas line rupture – CBC.ca
-
Tech16 hours ago
iPhone 15 Pro Desperado Mafia model launched at over ₹6.5 lakh- All details about this luxury iPhone from Caviar – HT Tech
-
Sports16 hours ago
Lululemon unveils Canada's official Olympic kit for the Paris games – National Post
-
Politics22 hours ago
Trump gave MAGA politicians permission to move left on abortion. Some are taking it. – Semafor
-
Politics23 hours ago
Anti-Trump Republican Larry Hogan navigates dangerous political terrain in pivotal Senate contest – Toronto Star
-
Science19 hours ago
Astronomers discover Milky Way's heaviest known black hole – Xinhua
-
Business21 hours ago
Traders Place Bets On $250 Oil – OilPrice.com
-
News23 hours ago
'Terrific news': Chief economist reacts to latest inflation data – BNN Bloomberg
