By awarding the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing, the International Olympic Committee has taken a small step toward improving China.

The committee chose Beijing to host the games in hopes that this would open up China to the rest of the world and improve its human rights, in addition to boosting social and economic reform in the communist nation.

Hopefully, this decision will motivate the Chinese government to be more tolerant and environment-friendly.

Plans have already been announced to improve China’s environmental policies. It will also benefit the Chinese people by creating new recreational areas in Beijing.

Having the Olympics in Beijing will bring more scrutiny to China, revealing and discouraging repression and the abuse of human rights.

If we aren’t willing to work with China, there will be no change.

Selecting any of the other five cities in the running for the 2008 Games would not have greatly improved or hindered human rights.

It is China’s turn to host the Olympics.

China is the world’s most populous nation, yet it has never hosted the Olympic Games.

It is also a rising sports power that has excelled in many sports. China returned to competition in 1984 after not participating in the Games for 32 years.

In 1993 China lost the 2000 Olympics bid to Sydney because of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

The Olympics have not been held in Asia since Seoul hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics.

This decision will give the Chinese a chance to be proud of their country and its athletes.

Friday, Beijing’s sky was filled with fireworks and red flags.

Chinese president Jiang Zemin made a surprise appearance and spoke to the tens of thousands who gathered to hear the good news.

In the past, when the Olympics were awarded to other American and European cities, this privilege was not as meaningful to citizens who take democracy and many freedoms for granted.

The Olympics have become too centered around politics and money.

President Bush made the right decision by saying that U.S. athletes will participate in the 2008 Games.

Dedicated athletes who have been training faithfully for years should not have to sacrifice their dreams in exchange for political manipulation.

The Olympics are about putting political differences aside to celebrate world diversity and athletic talent.

The International Olympic Committee made the right choice in selecting Beijing to host the 2008 Games.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Hitchcock, Cavan Reagan