Bhutia’s Olympic Torch Controversy

Recently, the captain of India’s national football team refused to carry the Olympic torch in protest over China’s handling of recent unrest in Tibet. He became one of the first athletes in the world who had refused to carry the torch. His actions had won him praise from the Tibetan community and its supporters in India. But his action also came in for criticism from some sections of society.

Now the question is…should he have or shouldn’t he have declined to carry the torch? It is surely a difficult decision for Bhutia who is a Buddhist from the north-eastern state of Sikkim, which borders Tibet, so is very close to Tibetians, geographically, emotionally as well as culturally, due to which he chose not to carry the Olympic torch. But if you ask me whether I agree with his decision or not, then my answer will certainly be No!

According to me, he should have carried the torch, as he is one of the finest sportsmen of India, and he also should have taken into consideration that he was among the chosen few who were offered this unique honour to carry the torch by the Indian Olympic Association on behalf of India and not China. Other thing is that Olympic torch relay was organised by IOA, not by China, which was held in Delhi, so refusing it didn’t make any sense even though he justified his step by saying that this is his way of standing by the people of Tibet and their struggle.

And secondly, participating in the relay means you are representing the sports community of India and the country as a whole in the world. He should also have appreciated the fact that Olympic is the platform of conveying message to the masses. Keeping this in mind, rather than refusing it, he should have carried the torch to support Tibet cause alike Amir Khan, which could have helped him in giving positive message to its supporters and Tibetians.

Instead of refusing, if he could have chosen to wear a black attire or band, as a mark of protest against the Olympic being held in China, could have proved more effective measure in creating mass awareness against China, the country which is violating the Human rights of Tibetians. Also, by doing this, his stand could have definitely given a fillip to anti-Chinese protest that flared across Tibet.