Online Forensic Proof: China’s Olympics Age Blunder
August 22nd, 2008 . by JetmanThings are heating up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and they’ve reopened the inquiry into the Chinese Gymnastics Team:
Earlier this month, the AP found registration lists previously posted on the Web site of the General Administration of Sport of China that showed both He and Yang were too young to compete. He was born Jan. 1, 1994, according to the 2005, 2006 and 2007 registration lists. Yang was born Aug. 26, 1993, according to the 2004, 2005 and 2006 registration lists. In the 2007 registration list, however, her birthday has changed to Aug. 26, 1992.
So why is this age issue such a big deal? The minimum age for female gymnasts was increased from 14 to 15 in 1981, and up to 16 in 1997, to protect the physical and mental health of young athletes.
According to today’s FoxNews.com story:
Age falsification has been a problem in gymnastics since the 1980s after the minimum age was raised from 14 to 15 to protect young athletes from serious injuries. The minimum age was raised to its current 16 in 1997. Younger gymnasts are considered to have an advantage because they are more flexible and are likely to have an easier time doing the tough skills the sport requires. They also aren’t as likely to have a history of injuries or fear of failure.
If you’ve got an advantage, that’s cheating. Can you imagine the pressure on the young girl holding the medal, her family? Here’s a teen girl stuck in the middle of either a complete fabrication or being assailed by the world unfairly.
We take it for granted that He Kexin won’t be on the box of Wheaties or doing any other US-based promotional work but the lifestyle she will live in China if she’s discredited for the gold concerns me. Living with shame is intolerable at best, having no way to escape it pushes people over the edge.
As in the 2007 lead paint toy fiasco this much global attention on a problem usually ends up with someone hanging themselves quite literally as the scapegoat.
