Year in Review: The Olympics, pros and cons

By Megan Helgeson, Assistant Campus Life Editor

June 10, 2008 | 3 p.m.

While Ohio University students look to the summer as a time to relax, athletes around the world anticipate something else. The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, is where athletes of various sports will test their abilities.

The Olympics will be held from August 8 to 24 in Beijing, China. With the slogan "One World, One Dream," the spirit of the Olympics "expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind," according to the Games's Web site.

Despite this vision of hope, harsh realities in the world bring controversy to the Games. The Chinese occupation of Tibet has led to protests from groups such as Students for a Free Tibet. The poor air quality of Beijing also poses a problem to the athletes, with the belief that their performance and health could be greatly affected. In spite of the recent earthquake, China continues to prepare the Olympic stadiums while providing quake relief to victims.

---

For more information, check out Speakeasy's original article.