The period before and during the Beijing Olympics saw an unprecedented level of media and political focus on China and Tibet. Beginning in March, the raised voices of thousands of Tibetans protesting inside Tibet was the lead story in almost every news bulletin and made headlines in papers around the world. The Chinese government’s heavy handed response to the protests was echoed in their extraordinary undemocratic ‘protection’ of the Olympic torch relay against Tibet supporters determined to exercise the freedom of speech denied to the six million Tibetans inside Tibet.

As the opening of the Olympics drew closer, the calls from human rights advocates on China to keep its Olympic promises – and for the IOC to ensure that Olympic ideals were maintained – grew louder. One by one each promise was blatantly broken or watered down until it was almost meaningless. Guarantees of unrestricted media reporting on every aspect of life in China became no more than a statement that the media would be ‘free to report on the Olympics’.

At the closing ceremony, the games were described as “truly exceptional” by IOC President Jacques Rogge, however, the translation controversially given for the hundreds of millions of TV viewers throughout China was “best-ever” – the same compliment given to the Sydney Olympics in 2000. This was not the only controversy during the games. Show stopping fireworks were faked and promised permits for ‘protest zones’ proved impossible to obtain. A little girl deemed “not cute enough” was replaced and Han Chinese actors pretended to be Tibetan during the opening ceremony. Each incident revealed the Chinese government’s focus on keeping up appearances – the appearance of a perfect games, the appearance of a harmonious society. It is a focus designed to present a ‘smiling, happy face’ to the world, instead of acting to resolve its internal problems.

One of the most telling moments of the Olympics was not Stephanie Rice’s triple gold medal haul, Usain Bolts world record in the 100m sprint, or even Michael Phelps efforts in the pool. It was a simple question during a press conference - “Is the IOC in any way embarrassed about the manifest failure on the behalf of the Chinese government to keep their promises?”

That there was little more than misdirection and long silences as an answer was telling. That Chinese officials cancelled their daily press conferences from that day on was even more telling.

As we take a look back at some of the images and events that helped make this such an extraordinary period in the Tibetan struggle, we remember the thousands of Tibetans who have lost their life, been injured or imprisoned while standing up for their rights and freedoms.

Dr. Simon Bradshaw
Campaign Coordinator
Australia Tibet Council

14 July
Three weeks before the opening of the Olympics, ATC reached out to Australia athletes by producing the Beijing 2008: Tibet Resource Pack. Olympic swimmer Michelle Engelsman joined ATC for the launch of the pack, which provided up-to-date information on the Tibetan situation and advice for those wishing to speak out in Beijing.



8 August
Of the day of the Olympic’s Opening Ceremony, ATC and GetUp launched the first of two specially produced TV advertisements to air during the Olympics. Mr. Rudd was among one of around 80 world leaders who attended the opening of the Beijing Olympics despite the worsening crackdown in Tibet. The ad was a heartfelt plea to Mr. Rudd to use his trip to Beijing to help progress the Tibet issue.



Beijing During the Olympics
Beginning in dramatic fashion on 6th August with a banner hang outside the Bird’s Nest stadium, Tibet activists staged a series of daring protests in Beijing during the Olympics, ensuring international attention on Tibet during the Games.

In one of the most high profile demonstrations, four activists including Australian-Canadian Nicole Rycroft hung a ‘Free Tibet’ banner beneath the new China Central Television headquarters, one of the most prominent and iconic buildings in Beijing’s new downtown and home of a major arm of the Communist Party’s propaganda machine.

In total, at least 47 Tibet activists, mostly members of Students for a Free Tibet, were arrested and deported for boldly standing up for Tibet in Beijing.

25 August
Just hours after the Closing Ceremony, ATC’s Victorian Branch took to the skies above Melbourne in a hot air balloon emblazed with a Tibetan flag and the message ‘Save Tibet”. The balloon will fly daily above Melbourne for the next few weeks.

The Future
Amidst the many challenges facing the Tibetan people and the international Tibet support movement post-Beijing Olympics, two key priorities have emerged: upgrading the current, grossly inadequate Tibet-China dialogue to substantive negotiations on the future of Tibet and building empathy and trust between the Tibetan and Han Chinese communities.

Towards the first of these priorities, ATC is organising an exciting pilot project, scheduled for later this year, to build common understanding among young Tibetans and Chinese. Sydney’s Tibetan community has taken a lead with the formation of the Tibetan-Han Friendship Group, an initiative strongly encouraged by the Dalai Lama during his visit earlier this year.

In October the Dalai Lama’s envoys will attempt to progress negotiations by tabling a detailed plan for Tibetan autonomy during the expected eighth round of the Tibet-China dialogue. The international community must help move negotiations onto a firmer footing, by encouraging China’s President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to take responsibility for the Tibet issue and begin direct negotiations with the Dalai Lama. The current six-year-old dialogue process must be transformed into substantive, results-orientated and time-bound negotiations. ATC will be working hard to make sure Australia plays its part in the international diplomatic efforts required to make this happen.

Events this year, from the widespread uprisings across Tibet which began in March, to the Olympic torch relay and the Beijing Games have brought awareness and interest in the Tibet issue to a new height. With continued effort, the momentum achieved in 2008 could be the turning point that leads to a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.