Protest againts Beijing Olympics-It is simply not Cricket

Now that the Beijing Olympics is almost upon us the protests have started against the same. First Tibet and now the protest at Olympic Torch Rally. It is really funny that for the last 4 years nobody thought of raising the issue of Tibet and suddenly now they all want to bring the spotlight on China.
Granted China's human rights record is not all that great, but I wonder whether the protests should really interfere with the holding of Olympics.
If bad human rights is the only criteria, then protests should now start against holding the 2012 Olympics in London, because Tony Blair and his British Government lent blind support to the invasion of Iraq on false and misleading grounds which has resulted in mass killing of Iraqi civilians which is continuing even now. Or how about stopping USA from holding any Olympic Games, given its role in invading many countries in the past and its illegal occupation of Iraq.
Compared to that China atleast is improving its record gradually after its integration with the Global Economy and its economic development in the last few decades. Millions of Chinese have lifted their standard of living and the freedoms are increasing too. The World should applaud the progress being made and should encourage the same, not by protesting against or boycotting the Olympics but by more contact and engagement with China. New Zealand has gone a great step ahead by signing the Free Trade Agreement with China. Constructive Engagement will make life easy for the Chinese Civilians in the years ahead.
And who knows China may review its role in Tibet and grant more autonomy, freedom etc. And even get out of Tibet. But the world cannot expect this to happen soon just as the World is not expecting the USA to end its occupation of Iraq soon.
The point is, no country has a perfect record on Human Rights and almost in all Nations, at some point or other including the present, human rights of some sections of the populace is being violated to some degree. It is not possible to find an ideal venue to hold the Olympics.
Olympics is an International Event and should be used to promote integration and cross-pollination of ideas and culture in a sporty atmosphere. A valuable opportunity to engage China will be lost if protests and threats of boycott continue.
Olympics is not like Cricket which is played by a few nations only. For example, there was effective pressure on South Africa in the past by excluding it from International Cricket Events to apply pressure on it to relax apartheid. But it is ridiculous to organise a protest or boycott of Olympics because the spirit of Olympics is different and far more Noble.