How China can promote Beijing Olympic

[Crocodile]

Thanks for the link pin - That is an interesting article. With a very interesting line:
"About 100,000 anti-terrorism officers will be deployed during the 16-day event."

Whichever way you slice it, that is alot of officers! I think the Chinese Government have wanted to open the world up a little to China, but are now sh!t-scared that they won't be able to control everyone. This is only going to get more interesting over the next six weeks as the government will be dodging questions, etc regarding pollution, freedom of olympics coverage, etc.

[Sleuth]

Don't forget about the locusts that could be headed for Beijing.
Wouldn't that be something? The sky would either be polluted dark or "locusted" dark.
Throw in some of this non-stop rain and you have all the ingredients for a mess.

[Claire ex-ax]

The Beijing Olympic Games will be a total success - the best ever!

The sun will shine every day and the sky will be the bluest of blues.

Should any foreign devil, er tourist remark about wet stuff failing from the sky, they should be told that it's not rain, it is the tears of joy of the Chinese people.

Should any tourist complain about the air being dirty, they should be told that it's not pollution but a remarkable new Chinese invention which reduces damaging UV light, thus protecting overly delicate white skin.

Should any tourist complain about internet access, they should be told there's no problem with it. If they persist in complaining about this or anything, they should be given a free tour the city from the back of a public security van.

The Olympics. It's not about the sport!

[Boris]

Should any tourist complain about internet access, they should be told there's no problem with it.

Great segment on last nights news about the new international press centre in Beijing.

Yes you have unlimited access to all sites -- it lets you ask the question but blocks the answer. Now that's Chinese logic !!

[pin]

just an afterthought, maybe China should be allowed to host the 2014 football world cup.

one china, one love.

[xxxlionxxx]

Great segment on last nights news about the new international press centre in Beijing.

Yes you have unlimited access to all sites -- it lets you ask the question but blocks the answer. Now that's Chinese logic !!

At least you can ask questions now. That's one great step forward!! Yippee!!

[jonnye]

The Beijing Olympic Games will be a total success - the best ever!

I have no doubt they will be a total success. If we've learned anything over the past 6 years it's that Beijing are absolutely committed to making the Games a success. It just seems a shame that the biggest international entertainment event doesn't appear to be welcoming to international spectators. (I should stress the appear of that sentence)

I'm pretty sure Claire was posting with tongue lodged in cheek, but will it be the best ever? That will be interesting to see. Traditionally the head of the IOC will close the Games by saying that they are the best ever - however, it was noted this phrase was not actually used in 1996 (when it was felt the Games were over-commercialised). Will 2008 be described as the best ever?

For what it's worth, I felt the Sydney Games were great (despite being in the UK at the time), although 1988 will always be memorable for me.

[Crocodile]

I have no doubt they will be a total success.

I am not so easily convinced. I think one ugly incident could change the whole thing. I would pay a lot of money to be in the CNN and BBC management rooms when the China authorities start making some (more?) demanding phone calls to them.

Also, I believe the IOC didn't use the phrase "best ever" in Athens 2004. A quick wiki search revealled: "It should be noted that Dr. Rogge had previously declared he would be breaking with tradition in his closing speech as President of the IOC and that he would never use the words of his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch, who used to always say 'these were the best ever games'. Dr. Rogge had described Salt Lake City 2002 as "superb games" and in turn would continue after Athens 2004 and describe Turin 2006 as "truly magnificent games"."

[Sleuth]

All these journalists are being allowed in, some for the first and last time. If you were one of those guys, would you report the Olympics or one of the "officially approved" Olympic feel-good stories or would you try to sneak out and expose something?