Maybe Beijing 2008 = Berlin 1936. In Hong Kong, Adolf Hitler is a character on washing machine commercials. There is even a Nazi cafe there too. The Chinese don't have the same sensitivity towards the Third Reich like those of us in the West.

China kind of resembles Nazi Germany with a homogeneous population, little regard for minorities and foreigners, limited political freedom, strong support of business and industry, it quite well resembles the Germany of the early 20th Century.

Democracy really does not work well in Asia. Even countries like Japan and India have some very serious human rights issues.

In Athens 2004, Jacques Rogge, head of the IOC, made an indirect jab at the US war in Iraq and President Bush.