While anyone with knowledge of the world realized that the Olympic Games in Beijing would be met with political protests over human rights and Tibet, I’m not sure there were many people who thought the games would get off to such a violent start. We weren’t even a day into the event before U.S. Mens Volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon’s in-laws were attacked by a Chinese man while visiting the Drum Tower.

Barbara Bachman survived the attack, but her husband Todd Bachman did not.

Unfortunately, this heinous act wasn’t the only attack in the first few days, as a New Zealand television commentator was attacked outside of his hotel while returning from dinner.

From the NEW ZEALAND HERALD:

Steve Robilliard, an Australian ABC commentator working for TVNZ, was returning to the hotel from dinner when he was set upon by a youth who had been urinating against a wall.

Robilliard says the man grabbed a broken chair and threw it at him, causing cuts to his wrist and arm. While shaken by the incident, Robilliard did not require medical attention.

Obviously, this story is no where near the tragedy of Bachman’s murder, but it’s still pretty alarming. We’re only two days into the Games and we’ve already had two attacks. Though when you think about it, if it hadn’t been for the murder, this story would be pretty funny. I mean, Robilliard was attacked by some Chinese kid who had just finished peeing on a wall. There are all sorts of sword fight jokes I can make right there.

Unfortunately the attack on the Bachman’s has taken all the fun out of these games already. I fear that instead of the feats performed in all areas of the games-Michael Phelps‘ chase for eight medals, the Redeem Team’s attempt to restore American basketball to glory-being what we remember Beijing for, that we’ll end up remembering the tragedy and violence that took place outside the events.

I don’t think that’s what China was looking for when they invested around $60 billion into it.