Olympic Boycott: Day One

[rusty_armour]

So today is the first official day of my Beijing Olympics boycott. It's probably not even worth writing about as it's not going to have a major impact on the world or anything. Hell, it's not even going to have that big an impact on me. Usually, I'm doing well if I watch the Olympic opening ceremonies and some events on the first day. After that, my attention wanders, I get bored, and then I stop watching. This time around, I just won't tune in at all. Tonight, I'll probably catch up on a couple of shows I've taped over the last few days (like the eighth episode of Life on Mars). Oh, and Torchwood is premiering on SPACE. For some reason I can't fathom, SPACE is starting with the second series instead of the first. However, I'll probably tune in anyway. I'm hoping I might manage to scribble something at the same time. It's awful but sometimes I write in front of the TV. This is usually when I can't be motivated to write at all and think I can fool my brain into believing that I'm not actually writing but just watching TV.

Uh...maybe the second day of the boycott will be a little more exciting. *g*

Comments

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

I'm not really into sports and if I bother to watch any Olympic stuff it's usually winter events, however, I just learned that this gender-testing they've implemented in China is being applied to athletes competing in female events only and I have to say, that sits all kind of bad with me.

So I won't be watching regardless, but now I might have an extra reason not to bother. ;-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm usually more interested in the winter events too, so missing the Summer Olympics isn't too big a deal. I hadn't heard about the gender-testing, though somehow I'm not surprised given China's views on women. My main reason for boycotting the Olympics is because of China's atrocious record when it comes to human rights. If that hadn't been enough then the whole censorship issue would have been enough to convince me. I hate censorship of any kind and I think it's terrible that the IOC has caved into China and is allowing them to restrict internet access when China promised unrestricted internet access when it first made its Olympic bid.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

I just find it astounding that female athletes are being held to a genetic standard that male athletes aren't. Lots of people aren't XX or XY, but the only the people competing as females may end up with their personal medical issues 'outed' to the world at large. Very not impressive, IMO.

Then again, I recently learned that female ski-jumping in the winter Olympics weren't merely not being bothered to be covered by the media -- the event simply doesn't exist. It does exist as a sport at competition levels, but TPTB have decided that wimmfolk just don't belong in Olympic ski jumping.

*scratches head at all the WTF-ery abounding*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I just find it astounding that female athletes are being held to a genetic standard that male athletes aren't. Lots of people aren't XX or XY, but the only the people competing as females may end up with their personal medical issues 'outed' to the world at large. Very not impressive, IMO.

No, it's not impressive. Not impressive at all. I can understand testing for steroids and other drugs, but I don't understand gender-testing. If (and only if) such a test has to be conducted then it's only fair that both sexes be examined.

Then again, I recently learned that female ski-jumping in the winter Olympics weren't merely not being bothered to be covered by the media -- the event simply doesn't exist. It does exist as a sport at competition levels, but TPTB have decided that wimmfolk just don't belong in Olympic ski jumping.

*scratches head at all the WTF-ery abounding*

I remember hearing about female ski-jumping not being allowed a while ago (possibly during the last Winter Olympics) and feeling even more disenchanted with the IOC and TPTB. I had been naive enough to think that the days when women were banned from certain events had passed, but obviously it hasn't. I don't blame you scratching your head at all the WTF-ery abounding.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

PS: BTW, I just adore this icon. I keep thinking about Rodney jogging alongside an elderly Swede. *snerks at Canadiana of no great import*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! It's always great when someone gets the reference! :-) I wish I could have worked in the elderly Swede somehow. As it was, I had to go with Ronon instead. *g*

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Joining the discussion...

In the 1940s/50s, there were two female dutch athletes and one of them was banned for life after tests "revealed" she was a male. Currently it is thought (but not proven) that the main reason for her being expelled was the threat she may have been to Fanny Blankers-Koen, then the Golden Girl of Dutch athletics. In 2008, a DNA-test at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam found that she had been a Genetic Mosaic, and they concluded that Foekje Dillema was female. This means that she would have been allowed to race, if she would have competed today.
As for the fact they're only testing the women - I have to admit that with some of the female athletes I too sometimes wonder what gender they are. Some of those women are bulky!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hey, join away! :-) I have to confess that I didn't know the story of Foekje Dillema. It's horrible that her dreams were shattered because she was a Genetic Mosaic. I know they wouldn't have been able to conduct DNA tests in the forties and fifties, but still...

I can see your point about some women athletes looking more masculine than feminine -- either because of their bulk or because they're too thin and toned to reveal typically female characteristics like breasts and hips. However, who's to say that a male athlete who's slight and a bit androgynous couldn't pretend to be female? I honestly believe that if such tests have to be carried out, that they be carried out on both sexes.

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

However, who's to say that a male athlete who's slight and a bit androgynous couldn't pretend to be female? I honestly believe that if such tests have to be carried out, that they be carried out on both sexes.

But... if a man were to do that and they only test female athletes wouldn't he get caught while pretending to be a female? :S
I recently saw a documentary about female athletes from former East Germany who, at the time, were given a lot of hormones and other nasty stuff. One of them actually decided to become a man when her athletic career was over while others look very masculine these days. So it makes sense to me that they'd only test the women.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

But... if a man were to do that and they only test female athletes wouldn't he get caught while pretending to be a female? :S

Well that's just it ... there are plenty of 'men' who aren't XY males. If those genetic differences give them an advantage in whatever sport they specialise in, why should they not also be disqualified? (... If the games are in fact about only including XX or XY athletes).

I tried to find a succinct non-bloggish summary of these sorts of issues but didn't (lots of info avail, none of it succinct *g*), so I'll link you to an excellent blog post. The commentaries get into more details regarding some of the genetic profiles. Bottom line: human 'sex' is far broader than what we're taught in school and testing one 'apparent' sex for abnormalities is absolutely inequal, no ifs, ands, or buts. (Erm, is my NSHO showing? *g*)

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/gender_testing_and_the_art_of_war.php



And for what would have been a then-famous example of this situation occuring with an Olympic-class athlete, look at the case of Erik Schinegger (then known as "Erika").
http://www.ftmaustralia.org/library/05/erik.html

I think there's a world of difference between someone who deliberately takes hormones or other substances for the purposes of performance enhancement and deception versus someone who has a genetic condition that makes them a little different than the other girls or boys.

Obviously for Erik, and any others like him, this is a profoundly private matter that does not need to be exposed on the public stage. Or, if so, then all athletes should be equally at-risk for having their private medical matters exposed in this manner.

*shakes head sadly*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the fabulous links, inkscribe! :-) I'm looking forward to reading more about gender-tending. It's something I knew very little about up till now, so the extra information is much appreciated.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! It's a fascinating area of study, and involves many tangly-sciencey-things that I am still learning how to decipher.

:-)

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

I can see your point about some women athletes looking more masculine than feminine -- either because of their bulk or because they're too thin and toned to reveal typically female characteristics like breasts and hips.

My part of Canada is very multicultural/multinational. The 'average' differences between a woman of Ukrainian descent versus a woman of Chinese descent don't make either of them inherently less female.

Of course, what is accepted as 'male' or 'female' changes over time with both fashion and culture -- remember when kings wore hose and had hair down almost to their arses? And if the hair wasn't real, then they wore wigs? *g*

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Very sensible of SPACE if you ask me, the second series is far superior. And has James Marsters.

Good luck with the boycott!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Very sensible of SPACE if you ask me, the second series is far superior. And has James Marsters.

I actually prefer the first series, but then I only saw a handful of episodes from the second series so that's probably affecting my judgment. It will be nice to see the whole thing as opposed to random episodes on YouTube. *g*

Good luck with the boycott!

Thanks. It's not going to accomplish anything other than to make me feel better. Still, it's always good to take a stand on something you believe in.

[sorne.livejournal.com]

Well done to you for your boycott!! Unsurprisingly China has a very poor record on animal welfare too, of which the issue of wild turtles is of course very close to my heart.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly! :-) I'm sorry to hear that China has such a poor record when it comes to animal welfare, though, unfortunately, I'm not surprised. I'm glad that the issue of wild turtles is still so close to your heart. How is your own collection of animals doing? I hope Sundance and the tortoises are doing well.

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Regarding the boycott: you go girl! I probably won't watch any of the Olympics anyway. Being from The Great White North makes me more interested in the winter games.

Writing in front of the television is not bad. At least you are getting something down.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Regarding the boycott: you go girl! I probably won't watch any of the Olympics anyway. Being from The Great White North makes me more interested in the winter games.

Yeah, I think it would be a little more challenging if I were boycotting the Winter Olympics because I actually do enjoy watching some of those events. It's hard to be a Canadian and not take some interest in the Winter Olympics, even if you aren't into sports.

Writing in front of the television is not bad. At least you are getting something down.

That's how I try to look at it. And, incredibly enough, I did get some writing done. In fact, I found myself doing a bit more writing after I'd turned off the TV. I swear that sometimes I'll call it a night, and put down my notebook, and that's when my brain suddenly decides to cooperate and ideas start flowing. *g* I'm happy to say that this morning's little writing session was a little more productive and hopefully I'll get some writing done tomorrow aussi.

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

"I swear that sometimes I'll call it a night, and put down my notebook, and that's when my brain suddenly decides to cooperate and ideas start flowing."

I hear ya. My brain decides to start working on writing ideas when my head hits the pillow.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I've had that happen too! In fact, I've occasionally gotten up in the middle of the night to write down a line or two that's popped into my head. *g* In any case, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. :-)