New Delhi:
Amitabh Bachchan said he was "stunned into silence and contemplation" in a rather sombre blog post on the "materialism" displayed at the Olympics.
In a rare mood of political philosophy, Mr Bachchan ponders the relative merits of capitalism and socialism before applying them to the Games:
"You build sophisticated computers and cars and electronics. We shall build the same at a quarter price, copyright be damned. If your democratic system gets you the greater Olympic medals tally, our athletes shall beat yours and we shall rule the standings"
Which left us a little puzzled because the last time we looked India had a democratic system too, and not what Mr Bachchan calls "our monarchial descendent dictatorial single leadership, communistical rule."
But he struck a chord with his thoughts on the atmosphere of suspicion that has descended on scandal-hit London:
"Frequent accusations and dishonest competition incidents, shall flourish in London 2012, between competing teams. Episodes of unfair games being played for higher standings, drug abused athletes being brought down from their pedestals, unpleasant umpiring ... the lot. A 16 year old Chinese swimmer, shoots off like a missile in the competition pool and questions and dissenting debates of her achievement do not stop. There is a deathly silence, when she touches the edge for the Gold medallion. There is little doubt that it is disbelief of performance and her talent, there is a lot more belief in finding justifiable questions to 'what drug is she on.'"
Chinese swim star Ye Shiwen, who Mr Bachchan is referring to, sliced a second off the world record to win the women's 400m individual medley gold. Skeptics refused to believe that she could have swum her last 50 metres faster than men's champion Ryan Lochte, hinting at a possible doping scandal. But former Olympic swimmers were quick to defend Ye, calling the allegations "sour grapes."
Will London, then, be remembered for the many controversies it's been riddled by? The eight badminton players disqualified for throwing their matches, the controversial opening round dismissal of Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan, the Swiss footballer expelled for racism, the Uzbek gymnast and Albanian weightlifter suspended for doping. And it's only day eight - halfway through the Games.
Amitabh Bachchan seems to think so, ending his post pessimistically:
"What nations of great historical standing, stature and presence do ... is, what the human does, wrong??"
In a rare mood of political philosophy, Mr Bachchan ponders the relative merits of capitalism and socialism before applying them to the Games:
"You build sophisticated computers and cars and electronics. We shall build the same at a quarter price, copyright be damned. If your democratic system gets you the greater Olympic medals tally, our athletes shall beat yours and we shall rule the standings"
Which left us a little puzzled because the last time we looked India had a democratic system too, and not what Mr Bachchan calls "our monarchial descendent dictatorial single leadership, communistical rule."
But he struck a chord with his thoughts on the atmosphere of suspicion that has descended on scandal-hit London:
"Frequent accusations and dishonest competition incidents, shall flourish in London 2012, between competing teams. Episodes of unfair games being played for higher standings, drug abused athletes being brought down from their pedestals, unpleasant umpiring ... the lot. A 16 year old Chinese swimmer, shoots off like a missile in the competition pool and questions and dissenting debates of her achievement do not stop. There is a deathly silence, when she touches the edge for the Gold medallion. There is little doubt that it is disbelief of performance and her talent, there is a lot more belief in finding justifiable questions to 'what drug is she on.'"
Chinese swim star Ye Shiwen, who Mr Bachchan is referring to, sliced a second off the world record to win the women's 400m individual medley gold. Skeptics refused to believe that she could have swum her last 50 metres faster than men's champion Ryan Lochte, hinting at a possible doping scandal. But former Olympic swimmers were quick to defend Ye, calling the allegations "sour grapes."
Will London, then, be remembered for the many controversies it's been riddled by? The eight badminton players disqualified for throwing their matches, the controversial opening round dismissal of Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan, the Swiss footballer expelled for racism, the Uzbek gymnast and Albanian weightlifter suspended for doping. And it's only day eight - halfway through the Games.
Amitabh Bachchan seems to think so, ending his post pessimistically:
"What nations of great historical standing, stature and presence do ... is, what the human does, wrong??"
