Meh Olympics Side Story: Meh Hong Kong Torch Bearers

The selection process of Hong Kong Olympic torch bearers didn't really push me any further away from the Olympics. Instead, it added to my disappointment in the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, and the Hong Kong government. Yet, perhaps I really shouldn't be so surprised.

It is a direct reflection of how the Hong Kong government operates: behind closed doors. There was speculation that the torch bearers were hand-picked by the Central Government. There was speculation that government officials picked all their buddies: ultra rich folk in Hong Kong. Of course, the 120 person list was kept secret from the public until two days before the event. When it was leaked that 2/3 of the runners were non-athletes and they were mostly from the business sector, the public frowned.

Again, after warning people not to politicize the Olympic torch relay (aimed at protesters), the government goes and makes the event very political. The list was very pro wealthy, and very pro China. Politicians who weren't "China friendly", were kept out of the relay. Though it is arguable that the list can never be perfect, it just seemed that the runners did not represent the Hong Kong people.

The relay came and went. So how could the government have done a better job? I have a couple ideas.

Have a little vote.
The US votes for minor yet somewhat important nationwide events that take place every year: All-Star games. For baseball, the players are picked online. For basketball, the players used to be picked at McDonalds. Make it a casual vote like the NBA All-Star game. Maybe even let McDonald's or 7-11 handle it for some free publicity. If the vote had to be fair, perhaps set up a simple web vote where people key in their HKID card number.

My suggestion is to allow citizens to vote for one or two people from their district to carry the torch. These runners would make up maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of the total runners. The rest would be athletes, and the government could still throw in a dozen or so politicians in the mix to please China. The main idea is that everyone stays happy. Even if the list isn't perfect, at least the people had a say in it.

Let the little people run.
Why not make it a competition? Fifty people who do the most community service within one year get to be in the relay. How's that for a good cause. Perhaps reward kids who have done good deeds or have gotten good grades in school. I mean, who can argue with these selections? Who would not want kids, or good citizens to run?

The problem with the list was that it was just way too skewed towards big business. Unfortunately, that is also a reflection of Hong Kong: the people who build their fortune off the blood and sweat of others reap all the benefits in the end.