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Originally Posted by flameswin
Well, that's what Polak is claiming, it's not necessarily true. Canada is a small country, but this is the winter Olympics, and Mens hockey will be one of, if not, the biggest draws. The excitement will be surrounding the Canada/Russia rivalry.
Canada is the reigning Olympic hockey champions, Russia wants to take that back on home soil. If people think Canada pulling out of these Olympics wouldn't be a blip on the radar, they're absolutely kidding themselves. We were first in Gold medals and third in overall medals last Olympics. We're not Latvia, here.
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While what you say about the hockey is true, a lot of European countries don't see it as intensely as we do. You're right that Canada would probably cause more of blip than I said. I didn't really think about the implications of no Canadian hockey, but I don't think the Europeans would take it as harshly as we think. We all know that Canada has the best group, but the US, Swedish, Finnish, Slovakian, Czech, and even Swiss teams are not exactly chopped liver and the hockey would still be great.
Also Euros take a lot more interest in the other sports than we as Canadians tend to do I think. We love the hockey, everything else is just there. Euros go crazy for the skiing and the ski jumping and the other, less sexy sports.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Itse
Again, boycotts are not only about causing change in the target.
They are about showing that you have a principle that you're willing to hold on to.
If western countries would more consistently hold on to their human rights ideals, human rights problems in the world would decrease rapidly. Because everyone wants to do business with us.
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I get this and you're definitely right about the last part. I just don't know if the Olympics is the proper setting for it as it is hurting people that really have nothing to do with it.
I know if I was going to the Olympics and they backed out for gay rights I would be pissed. Not because I am against gay rights, I am very much for them, but because what do gay rights have to do with the Olympic games? What do they have to do with me playing hockey, or biathlon or whatever?
The types of boycotts your talking about should be done on a diplomatic and socioeconomic scale like through trade embargos for example. Things that will actually hinder the country from operating if they don't comply. One country staying home from the Olympics doesn't accomplish close to that. Not many Canadians are going to be travelling to Sochi for the games. Not many Canadians are going to be tuning into their live broadcasts due to the time difference. I think they are probably more focused on bringing in tourism and such from closer neighbors, most of whom have similar issues.