China is bristling at American opposition to its bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, citing China's human rights record, approved a resolution Wednesday opposing the effort. A similar measure has been introduced in the Senate.The opposition has drawn a sharp rebuke from international and Chinese athletic officials, who say it smacks of political interference akin to the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
"It's an infringement of the Olympic principles and it's unacceptable," said He Zhenliang, vice president of the International Olympic Committee and a member of the Beijing bid committee.
China's human rights record appears to be one of the main stumbling blocks to its bid to host the games in Beijing.
People are still imprisoned for their political beliefs, torture is said to be widespread, and memories of the government's bloody military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement are still vivid.
He, speaking to foreign journalists, acknowledged that "we still have many things to improve and we will improve them." But he refused to include human rights and defended the government's record.
In Beijing, there are countless billboards and pennants bearing the slogan, "A more open China awaits the 2000 Olympics."
In addition, if Beijing gets the nod, all IOC members will get their names inscribed on a monument to be erected at the Great Wall "to mark their contribution to the success of the Games," He said.
Sydney, Australia is considered the leading candidate for the games. The other cities are Berlin; Manchester, Britain; Istanbul, Turkey; and Brasilia, Brazil. The vote on the site will take place in September.