US President Bush must be congratulated for defending his decision to attend next month's Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing. Speaking in Japan where he arrived to attend the G8 Summit, President said boycott "would be an affront to the Chinese people".

Bush said he did not need to skip the ceremony to show his position on religious freedom and human rights in China. He said if he failed to attend the Games it would "make it more difficult to be able to speak more frankly with the Chinese leadership".

Since the Olympic torch relay began, the Beijing Games have come under a cloud because of China's Tibet policy and human rights issue. Human rights bodies the world over have been calling for the boycott of the Games and many world leaders have opted out by sending low-ranking officials at the opening ceremony.

The question here is not about China's human rights record or Tibet policy, but of a great sporting event which brings together people from across the world despite their differences and difficulties. The Olympic Games reflect the pinnacle of human achievement in many fields. It gives an opportunity for sportsmen and women from different parts of the world to showcase their talent, to challenge themselves and others.

Of course, one cannot deny that politics is a part of every society, but sports and especially Olympic Games should be kept away from it. Sports should be used as a cohesive force rather than a divisive one. We have already seen how sports have improved ties between nations. Remember ping pong diplomacy which broke the ice between the US and China, or how Indian and Pakistan leaders used cricket as a platform for better political ties?

The Olympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime event for any nation and its people, but unfortunately they have been used time and again to grind political axe against the host nation.

In 1980, the US boycotted the Moscow Olympics because of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Japan, West Germany, China, the Philippines and Canada also joined the US boycott call. In fact, a parallel Olympic Boycott Games were held in Philadelphia. The then Soviet Union paid back the US in the same coin when it boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games that took place in Los Angeles. Thirteen Soviet allies also joined the boycott.

But we must remember here that in this tit-for-tat boycott it was some of the world's greatest athletes who suffered and were deprived of their moment of glory after putting in years of hard work. Boycott of Olympic Games has never achieved anything, and human rights and other political issues should be discussed and raised at other forums, not at a sporting event like Olympics.

Besides, China is not the only country in this world which has been accused of human rights violations. This phenomenon has spread worldwide. So why just penalise China, and why now? Why people did not oppose the allotment of Games to China by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)? At that time no one raised their voice.

When Indian film star Aamir Khan was asked to boycott the Olympic torch relay to express his solidarity with the Tibetan cause, he spurned the boycott call by saying he would still run because the Olympic Games did not belong to China but to the entire human race.

The theme of the Beijing Games - One World One Dream - also reflects the spirit of unity, harmony and brotherhood. One must remember that fair play and sportsmanship are the essence of any sports and that there is no place for foul play at this greatest sporting event on the planet.

The Brunei Times