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Not ready for the Olympics
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Yesterday marked the 100th day of the countdown to the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. A large display in Tiananmen Square reminds Beijing citizens, and the world, that the games are drawing near. But even as the unofficial theme song of the games, “We Are Ready,” rung out through the square, many are asking if they actually are.
Though the jury is still out on Chinese promises to loosen foreign media restrictions and improve human rights, the latest concern is the athletes’ ability to do something vital: breathe. As smog continues to hover, world record-holding marathoner, Haile Gebrselassie, has decided not to compete in the games due to fears that the pollution may risk a health effect. The IOC has said that some distance events may be delayed unless the situation changes. Wang Wei, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee says, “We’re quite confident that by August the air quality will be good and appropriate for competition.”
As the 100-day celebration commenced, the plane carrying the Olympic flame landed in Hong Kong yesterday. A relay of the flame will take place throughout the city on Friday.
Despite controversy, the Olympic flame continues to travel. But the heated international tour may have solidified this event as a “been there, done that” idea. Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, has recently said there is a good chance that future Olympic torches may not take international tours.
Hong Kong authorities have banned many activists from entering the city. However, demonstrations are still expected as the death count in Tibet due to Chinese crackdown reaches a reported 200. The Chinese government still insists the number is only 20.
Following Hong Kong, the torch will travel throughout China, including Tibet and the Muslim region of Xinjiang. As China tries to put its best foot forward the last 100 days, the sharpest controversy may be still on the horizon.
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Topic: Front Page, The World |  |
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Keywords: International Olympic Committee, olympics, pollution |  |
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Soul searching
I wonder how they’re going to clean the air up enough to have track events without bankrupting the economy.
Not to sound too cynical, but have we ever had an olympics in a country where you can’t drink the tap water?
I heard they were going to put everyone on national holiday starting the week before the games to shut everything down and get the air clean at every venue. Only the Chinese could pull off something like that.
Pollution eh? In some of China’s villages, pollution is extremely toxic because electronics are “recycled” by smelting them down to reclaim the metals.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/11/20/2003388743
Yeah, it’s my understanding that a lot of times if you turn something like that in to be “properly” disposed of, it’s just sent to a landfill in a country that has laxer toxicity standards.
I read elsewhere that they want internet service restricted at the hotels.
I will be in Tianamen Square a week from Sunday and am bringing a filter mask with me on the suggestion of too many people.
The only reason we’re going to Beijing is my brother, who has done business in China for 20 years, wants to see how it is doing in preparation for the Olympics.
I’ll let you know
Don’t forget to smuggle in some Mandarin Bibles Michelle. You’ll have to be smart and careful, but the need for them is so great. I just had a friend get back from a Bible smuggling trip and one bag of Bibles got caught 3 times in one day, he got them in the fourth time. If you do get caught, and they give you a hard time about it, just smile and say, “sorry, it’s all Joanne’s fault!”