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The Olympics, like no other event in history, can bring together the best of each country into one venue, for a marked moment of history, whether through the glory of victories or the heartbreak of defeats. Around the world people gather in front of televisions, radios and computers awaiting the event results of their countrymen and women; quite often even uniting people from other lands to cheer for a competitor from a world far from their own. The Olympics also, like no other event in history, can bring together, above and beyond the sports, the politics and business of the world, for better and worse. Because of the monetary sponsorships it requires for these governments to host or participate in the greatest sporting event gathering in the world, there is no way to avoid the business of politics affecting the politics of business, especially in Communist China. This China ranks in economic status at fourth in the world, right after the United States, Japan, and Germany.(1) Olympic sponsorship for Beijing has meant corporate giants such as Kodak, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and General Electric. Their sponsorship is not just about the ability to finance a grand show but to radically change international perceptions of China, establishing its new place in the world as a contender economically and politically.(5) China hopes with the sponsorship of these companies that somehow we will assume the legitimizing of China, despite its very public issues with human rights and dangerous business practices.

The calls to boycott the Olympics as well as its sponsors because of these political and business practices are uniting and resounding worldwide.(3) Even our own United States Congress has asked President Bush to skip the Olympics like Britain's Prince Charles, in a show of protest over the horrendous human rights issues in China. (4) China, the land of over one billion people (2), seems to have as many controversial political and business issues as residents. This China, the repressors of even basic freedoms, have been entrusted with these ancient games. This China has shown us in business that it can easily subject the world's children to high doses of lead paint in their toys and in politics displace millions of their own citizens to make room for the same Olympics we are speaking about.(3) Animals and humans have been affected in the last year by the suspicious business practices of China. In 2007, dog food and toothpaste products were recalled due to the presence

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