As I’m writing this, the disaster of the Winter Olympics in China is unfolding. Nancy Pelosi has warned American athletes, “Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless.” In effect, she told them to shut up for their own safety. (I wish she’d thought to say that before they got on their flights.) The Chinese government has warned of “grave consequences” for criticizing its human rights abuses. Yang Shu, the deputy director of the event’s International Relations Department, has warned that “any behavior or speeches that are against the Olympic spirit, especially against Chinese laws and regulations, are also subject to certain punishment.”
Athletes in COVID quarantine have reported miserable conditions. Valeria Vasnetsova posted on Instagram, “I want all this to end. I cry every day.” NPR reports, “Her account has since gone private.” Athletes are, on the FBI’s advice, using burner phones to avoid having their every conversation identified by the thought police.
What does this suggest about the World Science Fiction Convention scheduled for 2023 in Chengdu? There are differences, but they could make it even worse for the Worldcon.
The Olympics is not about ideas as such. The participants can participate in their events and say nothing. A Worldcon is all about ideas. Fans don’t know how to shut up. Participants are apt to say things that will antagonize the government without thinking about it.
The Olympics is in the public eye. You’d expect the Chinese government to be on its best behavior. Only a small fraction of the people in the United States or any other country will be aware of the Worldcon. The government will be able to do unpleasant things to Worldcon attendees without getting much attention.
Yet it seems I’m not entirely right when I say fans don’t know how to shut up. There should be massive calls to stay away from a Worldcon that’s held where freedom of speech doesn’t exist, yet I’m not seeing it. Chengdu’s supporters just have to mumble something about “racism,” and no one dares to say anything. The implication is that the only reason anyone would object to such a convention is the rulers’ physical characteristics. Think about what that implies. Is a government that runs concentration camps and stifles dissent obviously all right if it’s run by whites?
WSFS is not the Olympic Committee, of course. The people who run the Olympics make deals with politicians and businesses to tear up cities, pushing people out of the way and leaving ruined areas. I wrote about this when Boston was threatened with the Olympics a few years ago. As I wrote then, “the Games suit an authoritarian state.” With the Olympics, the organizers and the hosts are jointly to blame. With the Worldcon, we have to sympathize with the organizers while opposing the event.
The best answer would be a really good NASFIC in 2023. The site selection will come at the 2022 Worldcon. I just interrupted writing this post to presupport the Orlando bid. Winnipeg reportedly is planning a bid, but I don’t see an option to presupport at this time. I plan to presupport other serious NASFIC bids as constructive alternatives to Chengdu.