Nasty outbursts against a Japanese sports team in China have raised worrisome questions about Beijing's fitness to host the 2008 Olympic Games, which China's rulers intend to be a showcase for the progress of their nation, much as did Japan in 1964 and South Korea in 1988.
The Japanese team, in China for the Asia Cup tournament, was treated to hooliganism beyond that which seems to erupt in many places during matches in what the Americans call soccer, but almost everyone else calls football.
From southwestern Chongqing to eastern Jinan to Beijing, Chinese fans drowned out the Japanese national anthem with jeers, shouting "kill, kill, kill" at the visiting team, and harassing Japanese fans. Japanese flags were burned outside the stadiums and a Japanese diplomat's car was damaged.
The demonstrations reached a crescendo in Beijing, where the Japanese team defeated the Chinese, 3-1, to win the cup, while 10,000 policemen were alerted in an effort to control the riots. Japanese fans were held inside the stadium for two hours after the match, forced to wait until they could be herded to safety.
A sign referring to the Japanese invasion of China from 1937 to 1945 summed up the Chinese animosity: "This time, Chinese get to be the bullies." There is little evidence that the Chinese government instigated the acrimony directly but it has long conducted an anti-Japanese campaign through the government-controlled press that evidently has had a lasting effect.
Japan's ambassador to China, Koreshige Anami, protested to the Chinese government, which downplayed the hostility and accused the Japanese press of exaggerating. Ironically, the ambassador is the son of the late General Korechika Anami, who commanded a division during the assault on China and was later minister of war.
The general secretary of the Asian Football Confederations, Peter Velappan of Malaysia, raised the issue of the 2008 Olympics in a searing criticism of Chinese manners. "This is not sportsmanship," he said. "Chinese people have great culture, education and history, but the behavior here today ... well, I'm not so sure that Beijing can host a good Olympics."
Velappan also criticized the coach of the Chinese team, Arie Haan of the Netherlands, for refusing to attend the ceremony in which the second place medals were awarded.
"He should demonstrate a more sporting spirit and be a sporting loser," he said. "Not to receive this medal is an act of disrespect towards the Chinese and Japanese teams and the fans at the stadium," Velappan said.
Editorials in Japanese newspapers echoed Velappan as did several in Taiwan. Even a few voices in China expressed concern although the Chinese press largely ignored the incidents. Xinhua, the national news agency said: "Come on. It was just a game of soccer."
The concern is that the Chinese will hassle the Japanese again, and possibly the Americans, Vietnamese, Indians, Russians and others with whom they have political differences. A key question: Will China permit Taiwan to send a team?
China and Taiwan have clashed in Athens at the Olympics, which opened last Friday. The Taiwanese bought advertising space on airport carts and roads leading to athletic sites. China protested to the Greek government, which ordered the signs taken down. Taiwan accused the Greeks of appeasement.
On the athletic field, Chinese and Japanese football teams may meet again if each survives the elimination rounds. Women's softball and field hockey teams from China and Japan are scheduled to meet early in the games.
Despite the pleas of athletes, politics have long plagued the Olympics. Adolf Hitler, used the 1936 games to flaunt his Nazi supremacism. An African-American sprinter, Jesse Owens, the grandson of slaves, stole Hitler's thunder by winning four gold medals.
China boycotted the 1956 games in Melbourne after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized Taiwan and stayed out until the winter Olympics of 1980. The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland sat out to condemn the Soviet Union's oppression in Hungary, while Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt withdrew to protest Israel's incursion into the Sinai Peninsula.
In 1972, Muslim terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes in Munich. To demonstrate against South Africa's racial apartheid, 26 nations boycotted the 1976 Montreal games. The US boycotted the 1980 games in Moscow after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
The Soviets retaliated in 1984 by staying away from Los Angeles.
Given the conduct of the Chinese during the Asia Cup, it seems fair to ask whether they will organize an apolitical Olympics four years hence.
Richard Halloran is a freelance writer based in Honolulu.
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