Coach Michael Sanders alerted me to photos of young children training in China.
As Michael says, they “sure don’t look too happy”.
Why were these pics chosen for a Reuters slideshow rather than some of the smiling, cute photos they undoubtedly captured the same day?
One of the “themes” of upcoming media coverage of China leading up to the Olympics will be the cruel treatment of young athletes in the supposedly-Godless, supposedly-Communist host country.
On the other hand, my Chinese friends who trained under that system have told me horror stories. The scrutiny of Western media will, I hope, have a positive influence on coaches in China.
… a training session at the gymnastics hall of the Shanghai University of Sports October 10, 2007.
Students of the gymnastics class of Yangpu District Youth Sports School are all aged between 5 to 9.
China’s future Olympic hopefuls train at one of the thousands of provincial sports schools around the country. Even though these athletes might be too young to make the 2008 Beijing Games, they harbour dreams of winning Olympic gold in London 2012 or beyond.
REUTERS/Nir Elias – slideshow
4 comments ↓
You Chinese people can’t be called humans. You are criminals!!! You are using in this century torture in order to form your gymnasts. You are not a nation with a respectful history no more for us, the rest of the world, you are just a bunch of sadistic creeps destroying the lives of the future of your country. God help you all!
I posted your comment, Mel, though I disagree.
I’ve spent many months in China and most of the people there are very nice. Same as where you live.
But totalitarian governments result in some bad things happening some places. You should direct your rage at that regime, not “Chinese people”. You come across sounding racist putting it in those words.
yeah, thanks Mel. It’s nice to know that people hate us. Gives me a great reminder on how we are all sadistic _____ Without us, you wouldn’t have gunpowder, paper, printing press, and no more made in china products. wouldn’t it be great if we stopped making stuff for you, and you lazy bastards have to get off your own obese ____ and do your own work.
(editor removed profanity)
Rick you make a good poing but J. Liu makes a better one!
Leave a Comment