As Olympics End, China Criticism Gets Louder

↵NBC didn’t exactly avoid all criticism of China during the Olympics, but the concerns were certainly (and rightfully) overshadowed by the athletic performances (and the standard fluff segments).
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↵Likewise, excepting President Bush’s pre-Olympic criticism, most international bodies avoided direct engagement with China on human rights issues ... despite evidence China wasn’t keeping its promise for unfettered media/internet access and allowable protesting.
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↵Things changed this weekend, however. The U.S. embassy demanded freedom for foreign activists jailed by Chinese authorities during the Games. The Associated Press reports 10 Western activists, including eight Americans, are locked up for attempting to pull off demonstrations in China. The American ambassador to China released a statement critical of China for breaking its word on providing a more tolerant place for free speech during the Olympics.
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↵In a similar vein, NBC lead anchor Bob Costas relentlessly dogged IOC chair Jacques Rogge on China’s failure during a tense interview which aired during halftime of the men’s basketball final between the United States and Spain. Some observers think Rogge handled Costas deftly; that’s probably right. Rogge is good at deflecting criticism.
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↵But from my seat, Costas hit the most damning notes of these Games, and ably pegged the IOC has a part of the problem for lacking the resolve to hold China to its word. On Joey Cheek, on the refusal of all protest appeals: China stands on the wrong side of practical judgment and modern expectations, and the IOC enabled it. Good to see a major player like NBC (through the Costas proxy) call them out ... even if it is a bit late.↵