April 11, 2008 – Top Stories from Issue No. 27(878).

Read these articles in Russian here.

Beijing and a Boycott?
The 29th Olympiad, planned for this year, has the specter of a possible boycott, due to questions over Chinese human rights and foreign policies. Which politicians, groups, and celebrities support this stance? 

Olympic Politics
How did the modern Olympic Games evolve from the relatively small Athens Olympiad of 1896 to the massive inter-continental Games of today?

Sport and Controversy
Since the opening ceremony under national flags during the 1908 Olympics, the event has endured much turmoil -- and two world wars -- over the past 100 years.

The Ancient Games Enter Modernity
The Olympic Games of today are much changed from the Games of antiquity.  A look at how the sporting event has evolved. 

The Art of the Boycott
How did boycotts become such a feared method of pressuring governments, business interests and other targets? What have been the consequences of some famous protests of this kind?

Interview: Russian Messianism Yesterday and Today
Dr. Peter Duncan, Senior Lecturer at University College London, discusses the existence of a messianic character in the national culture of Russia and explains to what extent it has influenced the direction of Russian foreign policy.