Is China Fit To Host The Olympics?

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday April 25, 2008

Anna Patty

THE torch has come and gone, but the argument rages on - is China fit to host the Olympics?

In keeping with its commitment to tackling the hottest of issues, the Herald's next IQ2 debate will discuss that very issue next month.

Two expert panels, and then the audience, will decide on a negative proposition: that because of its human rights record and other flaws, China is not fit to host the Olympics.

The panels boast a very diverse line-up. The case against Beijing will be argued by a politician, an elite Australian athlete and an outspoken advocate of Chinese democracy.

The case for China will be put by a former intelligence analyst, an International Olympics Committee adviser and the Herald's Asia-Pacific editor

The audience will be asked to vote on the issue before the debate begins, and reconsider their position at the conclusion.

The first debate, on the proposition Islam is incompatible with democracy, attracted a passionate audience of 1200. The post-debate vote ended in a win to the negative side, 52 per cent to 48per cent.

Intelligence2 is presented by the St James Ethics Centre in partnership with The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio National and the City of Sydney.

GREAT DEBATE: China is not fit to host the Olympics

Affirmative

* Senator Bob Brown Tasmanian Green Senator

* Michael Milton Olympic gold medallist and Australia's fastest skier.

* Chin Jin chair of the Australian Federation For A Democratic China.

Negative

* Paul Monk author and Asian specialist.

* Simon Balderstone adviser to the International Olympics Committee and chairman of the Australian-Himalayan Foundation.

* Hamish McDonald the Herald's Asia-Pacific editor.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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