EV71 Outbreak In China Sparks Fears For Olympics 199
OMNIpotusCOM writes "CNN is reporting an outbreak of Enterovirus 71 (or EV71), that has affected more than 3700 children and killed over 20, is creating concern for the visitors and athletes expected for the Beijing Olympics in August. The virus can cause 'poliolike paralysis,' according to the article."
What could go wrong (Score:4, Interesting)
John Titor... (Score:3, Interesting)
Torino was the last (summer) olympics of human history.
But this is EV71's merit, not Tibet's merit!
Let's cancel the olympics (Score:5, Interesting)
No, seriously.
The Olympics exists for two purposes - to allow athletes to compete against others around the world for sport and to promote the idea of international competition taking the form of athletic events instead of warfare. To promote sport and to promote peace.
In the case of the former, per-sport international athletics associations can more than supplant the role.
In the case of the latter, no one can take a look at the bloody history of the 20th and early 21st centuries since the modern olympics were founded and believe that the Olympics has been terribly successful at promoting peace.
Instead, what ends up is that every two years (now that they're staggered) there's a massive orgy of corruption and controversy; and from time to time we have to put up with someone like China or Nazi Germany hosting - or sometimes the U.S. will boycott Moscow or Moscow will boycott the U.S...
I think it's time to get rid of the Olympics.
Re:Let's cancel the olympics (Score:4, Interesting)
The Olympic torch run started out like a dog marking its territory.
Re:Conspiracy comments in... (Score:3, Interesting)