- Home
- Crowd goes wild for Blair at Beijing Olympics warm-up
- All Contents of Site – Index
- Blair gets it right on China – why doesn’t the USA?
- Blair at Home & in the World
- Blair speeches & articles from June 2007, from his official website
26th August, 2008
NOBODY SAYS IT BETTER
At Beijing and in press reports following we happily forgot the man who got us the 2012 Olympics; the man whose government over ten years increased sports funding by 700%; the man who has started his own Sports Foundation in the North of England; the man who has taken a long term interest in China.
Airbrushed? Maybe. But there’s no keeping a good man down.
Today at the Wall Street Journal, he says this:
We Can Help China Embrace the Future
August 26, 2008; Page A21
The Beijing Olympic Games were a powerful spectacle, stunning in sight and sound. But the moment that made the biggest impression on me came during an informal visit just before the Games to one of the new Chinese Internet companies, and in conversation with some of the younger Chinese entrepreneurs.
These people, men and women, were smart, sharp, forthright, unafraid to express their views about China and its future. Above all, there was a confidence, an optimism, a lack of the cynical, and a presence of the spirit of get up and go, that reminded me greatly of the U.S. at its best and any country on its way forward.
These people weren’t living in fear, but looking forward in hope. And for all the millions still in poverty in China, for all the sweep of issues — political, social and economic — still to be addressed, that was the spirit of China during this festival of sport, and that is the spirit that will define its future.
During my 10 years as British leader, I could see the accelerating pace of China’s continued emergence as a major power. I gave speeches about China, I understood it analytically. But I did not feel it emotionally and therefore did not fully understand it politically.
Since leaving office I have visited four times and will shortly return again. People ask what is the legacy of these Olympics for China? It is that they mark a new epoch — an opening up of China that can never be reversed. It also means that ignorance and fear of China will steadily decline as the reality of modern China becomes more apparent.
Power and influence is shifting to the East. In time will come India, too. Some see all this as a threat. I see it as an enormous opportunity. But we have to exercise a lot of imagination and eliminate any vestiges of historic arrogance.
The volunteer force that staged the Games was interested, friendly and helpful. The whole feel of the city was a world away from the China I remember on my first visit 20 years ago. And the people are proud, really and honestly proud, of their country and its progress.
No sensible Chinese person — including the country’s leadership — doubts there remain issues of human rights and political and religious freedom to be resolved. But neither do the sensible people — including the most Western-orientated Chinese — doubt the huge change, for the better, there has been. China is on a journey. It is moving forward quickly. But it knows perfectly well the journey is not complete. Observers should illuminate the distance to go, by all means, but recognize the distance traveled.
The Chinese leadership is understandably preoccupied with internal development. Beijing and Shanghai no more paint for you the complete picture of China than New York and Washington do of the U.S. Understanding the internal challenge is fundamental to understanding China, its politics and its psyche. We in Europe have roughly 5% of our population employed in agriculture. China has almost 60%. Over the coming years it will seek to move hundreds of millions of its people from a rural to an urban economy. Of course India will seek to do the same, and the scale of this transformation will create huge challenges and opportunities in the economy, the environment and politically.
For China, this economic and social transformation has to come with political stability. It is in all our interests that it does. The policy of One China is not a piece of indulgent nationalism. It is an existential issue if China is to hold together in a peaceful and stable manner as it modernizes. This is why Tibet is not simply a religious issue for China but a profoundly political one — Tibet being roughly a quarter of China’s land mass albeit with a small population.
So we should continue to engage in a dialogue over the issues that rightly concern people, but we should conduct it with at least some sensitivity to the way China sees them.
This means that the West needs a strong partnership with China, one that goes deep, not just economically but politically and culturally. The truth is that nothing in the 21st century will work well without China’s full engagement. The challenges we face today are global. China is now a major global player. So whether the issue is climate change, Africa, world trade or the myriad of security questions, we need China to be constructive; we need it to be using its power in partnership with us. None of this means we shouldn’t continue to raise the issues of human rights, religious freedoms and democratic reforms as European and American leaders have done in recent weeks.
It is possible to hyperbolize about the rise of China. For example, Europe’s economies are still major and combined outreach those of China and India combined. But, as the Olympics and its medal tables show, it is not going to stay that way. This is a historic moment of change. Fast forward 10 years and everyone will know it.
For centuries, the power has resided in the West, with various European powers including the British Empire and then, in the 20th century, the U.S. Now we will have to come to terms with a world in which the power is shared with the Far East. I wonder if we quite understand what that means, we whose culture (not just our politics and economies) has dominated for so long. It will be a rather strange, possibly unnerving experience. Personally, I think it will be incredibly enriching. New experiences; new ways of thinking liberate creative energy. But in any event, it will be a fact we have to come to terms with. For the next U.S. president, this will be or should be at the very top of the agenda, and as a result of the strength of the Sino-U.S. relationship under President Bush, there is a sound platform to build upon.
The Olympics is now the biggest sporting event in the world, and because of the popularity of sport it is therefore one of the events that makes a genuine impact on real people. These Games have given people a glimpse of modern China in a way that no amount of political speeches could do.
London 2012 gives Britain a tremendous chance to explore some of these changes and explain to the East what the modern West is about. One thing is for certain: Hosting the Olympics is now a fantastic opportunity for any nation. My thoughts after the Beijing Games are that we shouldn’t try to emulate the wonder of the opening ceremony. It was the spectacular to end all spectaculars and probably can never be bettered. We should instead do something different, drawing maybe on the ideals and spirit of the Olympic movement. We should do it our way, like they did it theirs. And we should learn from and respect each other. That is the way of the 21st century.
Mr. Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain, is teaching a course on faith and globalization at the Yale Schools of Management and Divinity.
Comments on Blair’s speech:
- From a British political watch site: “This will infuriate the Free Tibetans”
- This “ethnic Chinese” site is critical of Mr Blair’s “sanctimonious words”. WHY? He’s on YOUR side!
- And a Telegraph blogger falls back on the “money, money, money” argument. Puerile. How many millions does one man need? This stuff always appeal to envious Blair haters, and always will. He can afford to ignore them, in every way!
- A Tory Councillor’s petty observations? Robert Burns had some words for the councillor’s type.
- Tessa Jowell, Sports Minister, making a ‘Splash’. More sports funding “to keep kids away from crime”
- ‘Blogging for China’ praises Blair (the usual British suspects comment … er … moan, of course
BLAIR IN THE WORLD – Sports Foundation, Advising Philippines
Tony Blair Sports Foundation Sprint Trophy
Young Tyneside athletes are in final preparations as they get ready for the chance to rub shoulders with their Olympic heroes in an inaugural event at Gateshead International Stadium.
As a warm up to the AVIVA British Grand Prix, 12 young runners from three Gateshead Athletics clubs, will battle it out for the Tony Blair Sports Foundation Sprint Trophy.
This is set to be the first of three planned events to co-incide with Gateshead’s staging of the AVIVA British Grand Prix every year until 2010.
The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, Gateshead Council and England Athletics North East have invited the under 15’s from Birtley, Gateshead and Blaydon Athletics clubs to compete in four sprints over 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres.
The runners will then watch a host of top name athletes competing in the UK’s first major event following the Beijing Olympic Games.
Commenting on the event, Tony Blair said: “This is a terrific chance for these young athletes to sample the excitement of performing in front of a large crowd. The North East is home to some of the greatest athletes to grace the world of track and field and I hope this first event will inspire a new generation of stars.”
Gateshead Council is also marking the event as Gateshead Year of the Volunteer 2008, a year-long initiative aimed at encouraging people to make a positive contribution to the community by doing something for free.
Local volunteers will join several volunteer coaches, who are currently being helped through their coaching courses by the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, to help co-ordinate the event.
Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Councillor Linda Green said: “Whilst there’s every reason to be excited that the very best athletes in the world such as Tyson Gray and Asafa Powell are coming to Gateshead, it’s vital that we give just as much support to our local athletics clubs and the excellent work that they do to foster the stars of the future. This event is a great opportunity to do just that.”
Jeanette Pickard, Chief Executive, Tony Blair Sports Foundation said: “This is a chance for our coaches, who have successfully completed their Level 1 coaching, with the help of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, to get hands on experience of organizing young people and working alongside experienced coaches.”
If you would like more information on how to become a coach or would like to offer your services to the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, please call 01429 881 260. Or email info@tonyblairsportsfoundation.org.
MANILA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The Philippine government is seeking help from Sweden and the United Kingdom through former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in its peace negotiation with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), reports said on Tuesday.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told reporters Monday night that the recent attacks by some radical MILF fighters in the southern provinces of North Cotabato, Saranggani and Lanao del Norte have highlighted the need to further consult with various sectors, including the international community, the Philippine News Agency reported.
Violence escalated in the southern Philippines, allegedly, as a result of the fact that the government failed to sign a territorial pact with the separatists after the country’s Supreme Court issued a restraint order on Aug. 4. More than one hundred people, including 53 civilians, have died in the clashes over the past weeks.
She said both Sweden and the United Kingdom, through Blair, have wide experiences in negotiations with rebel groups.
“Actually Tony Blair is willing to come to help us because he played a very strong part in the negotiations with Northern Ireland,” she said.
Sweden, on the other hand, is helping the Philippines in its disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation (DDR) efforts, she added.
More on this from the Sun Star Manila website here
Excerpt:
“Actually Blair is willing to come to help us because he (played) a very strong part in the negotiations of Northern Ireland, although Sweden is helping us on the DDR side,” she said.
Sweden in 2005 came up with the initiative on DDR which aims to “contribute to a secure and stable environment in which an overall peace process and transition can be sustained.”
The President said an invitation to Blair, whom she personally met during her visit to London in December 2007, still has to be extended to enable him to come to the country.
BLAIR VIDEO - LAST DAY IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
Alan Williams MP, Leader of the House on Blair’s last appearance in parliament:
“He is one of the outstanding prime ministers of my political lifetime and without doubt the most politically effective prime minister this party has ever had.”
Tony Blair’s last words in Parliament, June 26th 2007:
“Some may belittle politics but we know who are engaged in it that it is where people stand tall. And although I know it has its many harsh contentions it is still the arena that sets the heart beating a little faster. And if it is on occasions the place of low skulduggery it is more often the place for the pursuit of noble causes. And I wish everyone, friend or foe well …
And that is that, the end”
BEAT THAT – OBAMA or McCAIN!
Tags: 1. Tony Blair, beijing olympics, china reminds me of america at its best, former Prime Minister, london 2012, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, philippines, Wall Street Journal - China
August 26, 2008 at 4:21 pm |
now gb has managed to upset the scottish welsh and northern irish, after blair pacifed them with devolution, by trampling all over their wishes. does gb want a war because he is going the right way about it. he just isn’t as tactful and conciliatory as blair who would have got a gb football team for the olympics by being more persuasive than demanding and bullying tactics that brown employs
August 26, 2008 at 5:03 pm |
Exactly, Margaret.
It’s obviously a good idea to get a British football team together for the London Olympics, but with the Scots & Welsh and Northern Irish so precious these days with everything concerning THEIR parts of the country you have to think ahead! You need to lay their worries to rest BEFORE they raise them.
Blair would have done this.
And you’d expect Brown to be aware of Scottish sensibilities in this area. Of course it doesn’t help that the SNP crowd of separatists are (presently) in power.