That’s because everyone’s boycotting it. China said they’re not going so then Russia said if China’s not going they’re not going and obviously if Russia’s not going Kazakhstan’s not going either. Now Iran, Iraq and Vietnam joined a growing number of countries that refuse to attend the western world’s award ceremony run by “clowns” who are “interfering in China’s judicial affairs.” Where is the love?

What’s pissing everyone in the east off is the fact that this year’s award is going to Liu Xiaobo – a Chinese dissident serving 11 years for subversion. Yes, in China subversion is a crime especially if your subversive tendencies call for the end of one-party rule. Liu should have known better.

This just in – Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Serbia, Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and the Philippines will also not be attending.

So ja, it looks like Friday’s glittering event will be a cosy get together of a couple of friends from the free world to hand over an award to a portrait of a guy wasting away in a Chinese prison. Just the way you like it.