Who knew? Anyone with brain cells

Jacques Rogge, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee, tried to defend the decision to select Beijing as the Olympic host the other day. This is what he said — honest:

"It is very easy with hindsight to criticize the decision. It's easy to say now that this was not a wise and sound decision."

Hindsight? Who needs hindsight? It was easy to criticize this decision with foresight, and just a little insight. It was easy to say it was unwise when the decision was made seven years ago. It was easy for fellow columnist Lee Benson to write, on July 30, 2001:

"The Olympics should never be awarded to any place where: They shoot you if you disagree with the government. They shoot planes out of their airspace. They ban books. People aren't free to travel without restrictions. They kidnapped Tibet. ... The Beijing Games will be about as laid back as Al Gore's legal team."

Beijing looked like a bad idea from the start. They could have chosen Paris, where the worst problem would be a snobby waiter or two. They could have chosen Toronto, Canada, a country that already knows both official Olympic languages. They could have chosen Osaka, which hasn't stolen anybody's country since Pearl Harbor.

How did Beijing beat out those guys?

Anyone with a few brain cells could have seen this coming, which explains how the IOC made this decision under the leadership of the grand imperial Poohbah Antonio Samaranch, who made Beijing his parting gift (shot?) to the world days before retiring. (He openly supported Beijing's bid before the vote.)

Thanks for nothing, Tony.

The Games are still months away, and already they're about as fun as a picnic in Baghdad. The traditional torch relay to the Olympic site — dubbed the "Journey of Harmony" — has turned into a game of hide and seek to avoid confrontations and disruptions. The torch is being escorted by Chinese soldiers — or "thugs," as Britain's former Olympic champ Sebastian Coe calls them.

There are threats of boycotts, of the Opening Ceremonies and the Games themselves. Politicians debate the issue daily.

China has because a flashpoint for Darfur and Tibet and human rights. The torch has produced thousands of Richard Geres.

Rogge has felt compelled to reaffirm the right of free speech for athletes in Beijing.