Guide Note

Protests aimed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, have concerned a wide range of human-rights issues, including official censorship in China, Tibetan Independence, and China's role in the Darfur conflict.

Fast Facts

1. Director Steven Spielberg withdrew the offer of his services over objections to China's involvement in Darfur
2. Prince Charles plans to boycott the games based on his admiration of the Dalai Lama¹
3. Artist Ai Weiwei, who helped design the Bird's Nest Stadium, has withdrawn from the project and announced a boycott²
4. Many Chinese citizens have protested government land seizures for Olympic projects³
5. The International Olympic Committee declared that the Olympics are no place for political statements⁴
6. Some foreign governments and international organizations believe the Olympics will have a positive influence on China⁵

1. Tibetan Independence
2. Reactions to the Tibet Protests 2008
3. China's Censorship Policy
4. China's Human Rights Record
5. China-Sudan Relations

As the opening ceremony began on August 8, 2008, thousands of demonstrators around the world were protesting. Residents in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Chicago, among others, publicly protested citing several Chinese issues.

Roughly one hour before the opening of the games, three demonstrators were able to pass through the tight Olympic security near Beijing National Stadium, where they staged a short protest against China's occupation of Tibet.

Director Steven Spielberg drew publicity in early February of 2008 when he withdrew as an artistic adviser of the event's opening and closing ceremonies. He cited objections to China's policy in Darfur as the reasoning behind his withdrawl. Spielberg said in a press release, "[M]y conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual."⁶

As the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics drew closer, protests increased in both frequency and intensity. As a signal case, the eruption on March 10 of anti-Chinese demonstrations and street violence in and near Lhasa, Tibet, raised the profile of that country's half-century-old independence movement. The rapid spread of the demonstrations outside Tibet to China's Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces increased official fears of conflict during the games, and inspired numerous boycotts and protests around the world. Events in Tibet caused China to reconsider plans for a Tibetan leg of the Olympic torch relay. On April 7, the opening ceremony of the torch relay, in Paris, was interrupted by the human-rights organization, Reporters Without Borders.⁷