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CNN Live At Daybreak

Beijing Campaigns as Host for 2008 Olympics

Aired July 11, 2001 - 08:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Just two more days until we find out the city that will host the 2008 Olympic Games.

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Here are the contenders for you, in case you don't know: It's Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris and Toronto. Many people say that Beijing, Paris and Toronto are the running favorites.

LIN: Well, one of the major issues facing Beijing is human rights. A group in Tibet held a protest yesterday, opposing the Chinese capital and its bid to win the favor of the International Olympic Committee. Some say, the country's past record may hurt its chances to host the Games. Beijing lost out to Sydney for the 2000 Games.

MCEDWARDS: And today, we examine Beijing and its campaign to be the host city -- more now from CNN's Mike Chinoy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a sports stadium in Southern China, a large crowd watches as a group of drug smugglers are sentenced to death. According to Amnesty International, in the last three months, China has executed more people than the rest of the world has executed in the past three years.

(on-camera): As its drive to win the 2008 Olympics nears the climax, holding the world record for most executions is not something the government in Beijing is boasting about. But that fact underscores how much the issue of human right has become inextricably linked with the China's Olympic ambitions.

MINKY WORDEN, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: The Chinese system does not provide for fair trial. There are terrible problems with the way the death penalty is executed. There are, also, real concerns about political repression that is ongoing and the crackdown on everyone from journalists to Internet entrepreneurs to Falun Gong members.

CHINOY (voice-over): Among those caught up in the crackdown, several Chinese scholars with American connections, also targeted, Internet cafes, potential sources of uncensored information and some of China's most independent-minded newspapers and journalists. The crackdown comes as the Chinese Communist Party faces a host of complex challenges -- rising unemployment, a growing gap between rich and poor, ramping corruption, all the result of the dislocations of market-style reform and a struggle over the success of the President Jiang Zemin, who is due to step down next year.

WORDEN: The leadership transition, which is coming in the next year, certainly is leading to a sense of instability. And there does -- that does seem to be a factor in the general chill.

CHINOY: The Chinese government has urged the International Olympic Committee not to mix sports and politics. But even as the decision on the 2008 Games approaches, the Communist Party seems determined to do whatever it feels is necessary to maintain its grip on power.

Mike Chinoy, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCEDWARDS: And for complete coverage of the Olympic Committee's choice for a host city, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/olympics. And once there, you'll find an in-depth history of the selection process and great Olympics trivia. And then tomorrow, right here, we'll take a look at, well, one of my favorite cities and a contender to host the Olympics. That's Toronto. Look for that report from our Bill Delaney right here on "CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK."

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