China and human rights are words that when spoken or written together usually denote concern. The Olympics begin today in Beijing and the China Games will not be without cries for closer examination of human rights, along with other concerns such as smog, steroids and politics. Boycotts, even protests, are a possibility.

The original Greek Olympic Games began in 776 BC but the first modern international Games were held in 1859, and the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) Games were held in 1896. The Beijing Games will have 302 events in 28 sports.

Traditionally, the Olympics have not been free of controversy.

One of the most referenced and remembered situations came in the 1936 Olympics in Germany where the Nazi government carefully planned the event to showcase the ideology of Aryan supremacy. American Jesse Owens, a Black man, spoiled Hitler's party with four gold medals.

Then in 1972, the Olympics returned to Germany and brought along tragedy. Arab terrorists killed two Israeli athletes and took nine others hostage. After negotiations failed, German sharpshooters killed three Palestinians at the airport and the nine hostages, two additional terrorists and a policeman were later killed in a gun battle.

The Moscow Olympics in 1980 saw 62 countries boycott because of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And in 1984 in Los Angeles, the Soviet Union and 14 other mostly eastern bloc countries got back at America by boycotting.

Despite all that, the Olympics have special meaning for many Americans as we are proud of our country and our athletic representatives.

It isn't likely the Olympics will ever be without controversy, but it is a lofty goal for all nations to work toward less conflict not only at the Olympics a good place to start but in all things.

The five interlocking rings represent the five continents encompassed by Olympism and ready to compete against each other, and the six colors (including the white background) represent the colors of the flags of all nations.

And the Beijing them "One World One Dream" is meant to reflect the Olympic spirit of unity, friendship, progress, harmony, participation and dreams.

China claims the "One World, One Dream" expression conveys the lofty ideal of sharing "the global community and civilization and to create a bright future hand in hand with the people from the rest of the world."

We hope China, a powerful nation and the Olympics host, is serious. We hope the Olympics go off with a hitch.

But most of all we pray the spirit of the Games can carry over more prominently and regularly into the world.