World Reaction Mixed on China's Victorious Bid to Host the Olympics

Voice of America, July 14, 2001

World reaction to China's victorious bid to host the 2008 Olympics has been mixed, ranging from jubilation to anger.

Politicians in Paris, which was competing for the honor, reacted in shock, criticizing China's human rights record and the International Olympic Committee for choosing the Communist nation.

In Toronto, which came in second in the bidding, a planned victory party turned into a wake as news that Beijing had won stunned Canadians.

The Asian Olympic Council agreed wholeheartedly with the result, saying that the choice of Beijing was a victory for Asia.

In Washington, lawmakers lined up to say that Beijing's human rights record should have disqualified the city. But the White house maintained a neutral tone. A presidential spokesman said that President Bush believes the Olympics are a sporting event, not a political event. He added that the Olympics are an opportunity for China to showcase itself as a modern nation.

President Jiang Zemin joined the massive celebration in China, where millions of people rejoiced at Friday's decision.

With fireworks bursting overhead, President Jiang joined revelers at Beijing's Millennium Monument. Thousands of thousands of joyous Chinese flooded into Tiananmen Square and surrounding streets, many waving and cheering from honking cars.

The International Olympic Committee meeting in Moscow announced after two rounds of voting that Beijing had won the honor. Beijing won the competition as host city over Toronto, Istanbul, Paris and Osaka.

This is the first Olympic selection for China, the world's most populous country. Beijing was the leading contender throughout the competition, despite criticism of its human rights record.

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