I like sports but I am not an armchair athlete except when it comes to figure skating. As a resident of Vancouver who will be hosting the 2010 Olympics, I can tell you that my property taxes have sky rocketed, construction is booming and many people have been displaced. There is a critical shortage of rental accomodations and the condos that are being built are way out of the price range for most folks. The city is becoming home for the elite only.

Now the mayor says he wants the city to be open 24/7 so that it will be one continuous party during the Olympics. I'm selling my house and moving. I do not want to be here for the Olympics.

As to China - Their human rights record is deplorable. Read about the number of people in China who have been displaced (with little or no help from the govt.) by the Three Gorges Dam. The Chinese govt. treats those poor farmers like disposable human beings. People have no worth in China.

If anything, lets hope the Tibet/Olympics controversy, forces China to the table with Tibet. Its time for China to wake up and realize that human beings have rights. If China wants respect, the brutality must stop.