I recently read a Chinese media blog that criticized the London 2012 team for placing Leona Lewis with Jimmy Page, alleging that Jimmy Page is simply not famous enough. What?! Jimmy Page founded Led Zepplin. Not famous? And who was that Chinese guy that sang with Sarah Brightman? And how many people in the world knew that the woman singing with Plácido Domingo was the spouse of China's vice premier?
Friday, August 29, 2008
lots of talk about the closing ceremony
Lately I've seen several blogs with commentary about Beijing's closing ceremony. However, America's mainstream television media have discussed the end of the Olympics very little because they've been too obsessed with the Democrats' get-together in Denver, Colorado. But the event was a great spectacle, even though some people are calling it "boring".
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Bird's Nest
taken a few nights ago in front of the famous Bird's Nest . . . on a rainy evening. Very brilliant design! Until again soon, Beijing!!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Closing Ceremony was amazing!
We just got back to the hotel from Beijing's closing ceremony - it was fantastic!!!! I will post more photos and details.
Quick point: lovely music, lights, and even some good Los Angeles representation via David Beckham and Plácido Domingo.
Mihir Bose of the BBC on the Beijing Olympics
Today is the final day of the Olympics in Beijing. Mr. Bose of the BBC offers this essay on his blog:
China delivers an Olympics like no other
Mihir Bose - BBC sports editor
The Beijing Olympics was always going to be different from any other recent Olympics.
None of the usual questions that tend to surround an Olympics mattered here: money, organisation, level of government support and the public's enthusiasm - or indeed lack of it.
Instead, the question China faced was: should a regime like this have the honour of the biggest gathering of people in peaceful sporting competition without agreeing to change its authoritarian ways?
This issue was presented very clearly seven years ago when the International Olympic Committee voted for Beijing.
The leader of the rival Paris bid said China should get the Expo but not the Olympics. China's human rights record, he argued, ruled it out for the Olympics. Even though he himself was one of many businessmen who believed engagement with China was a good thing, giving it the Olympics was held up as an endorsement the country did not yet deserve.
In ignoring that advice, the IOC took the view that the Olympics simply had to come to the home of nearly a quarter of the world's population.
True, it nodded in the direction of human rights with its then director general Francois Carrard saying the IOC would monitor human rights in China.
But, as President Jacques Rogge put it to me, while China has had to open up as a result of hosting the Games, it was unrealistic to expect the Games to go where world leaders had failed.
It was always fanciful to expect that this 17-day festival of sport would completely change China, or that China would change a sporting system invented by a French count and now run by a Belgian count. Not in any fundamental ways at least.
Indeed, as Rogge also points out, the IOC came to China for its own reasons related to the Olympics.
It took the decision in the summer of 2001, when both the organisers for the 2004 Athens summer Games and the 2006 Turin Winter Games were suffering seemingly insurmountable problems.
Athens, having messed up its structure, was so behind schedule that there was real fear it might not be ready.
Turin, whose choice as the 2006 Winter Games was an unintended consequence of the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, did not have adequate facilities, needed more funding and was not certain the Italian government could or would help.
In contrast China simply told the IOC: "Give us the Games and we will do whatever you want."
And that is exactly what has happened.
China has given the IOC great venues - there can be nothing more iconic than the Bird's Nest, a true "object for the world" exactly as Ai Weiwei, its Chinese architect, intended.
The infrastructure development has been amazing, as anyone who has used Beijing's new airport will testify. The transport plan has also worked, making Beijing's previously impossible traffic more than manageable.
And the venues have provided some of the most memorable sports seen in many an Olympics.
We had a first week so dominated by Michael Phelps that we had to scurry through the record books to ask if he was a greater Olympian than Carl Lewis or Jesse Owens.
Then Usain Bolt stole the show in the second week, making the 100 metres once again magical and worthy of a race to decide the fastest man on earth.
And alongside all this, Team GB has broken free from the rather depressing British history of failing to deliver by enjoying its best Games for a century. In doing so, athletes have created some truly great sporting moments, which have been surprising and stunning in equal measure.
Many other countries have also had Beijing highlights to treasure. India, the world's most underachieving sporting nation, won its first ever individual gold, as did Panama and Bahrain, while Mongolia, Afghanistan, Togo, all won their first medals.
The Beijing Olympics will also have an impact on the United States. Since the collapse of the Wall and of the old Soviet Union, its dominance of the Games has not been challenged.
But China will top the gold tally this time round. And that has prompted Americans to ask whether their athletes should get government funding - the US is the only nation that does not provide it.
Indeed, as China and Asia continue to grow as world economic powers, America's sway over Olympic finances may also come under pressure.
Many in the Olympic movement feel that if the 20th century was Europe and America's great century of sport, then the 21st century might belong to China and Asia.
While China's presentation at many of the sporting venues was a pale copy of what you might get in the NBA or at a baseball game, the Chinese have been determined throughout the last two weeks to show they can do sport like the West.
And there can be no doubt that the Beijing Olympics have done just that.
China delivers an Olympics like no other
Mihir Bose - BBC sports editor
The Beijing Olympics was always going to be different from any other recent Olympics.
None of the usual questions that tend to surround an Olympics mattered here: money, organisation, level of government support and the public's enthusiasm - or indeed lack of it.
Instead, the question China faced was: should a regime like this have the honour of the biggest gathering of people in peaceful sporting competition without agreeing to change its authoritarian ways?
This issue was presented very clearly seven years ago when the International Olympic Committee voted for Beijing.
The leader of the rival Paris bid said China should get the Expo but not the Olympics. China's human rights record, he argued, ruled it out for the Olympics. Even though he himself was one of many businessmen who believed engagement with China was a good thing, giving it the Olympics was held up as an endorsement the country did not yet deserve.
In ignoring that advice, the IOC took the view that the Olympics simply had to come to the home of nearly a quarter of the world's population.
True, it nodded in the direction of human rights with its then director general Francois Carrard saying the IOC would monitor human rights in China.
But, as President Jacques Rogge put it to me, while China has had to open up as a result of hosting the Games, it was unrealistic to expect the Games to go where world leaders had failed.
It was always fanciful to expect that this 17-day festival of sport would completely change China, or that China would change a sporting system invented by a French count and now run by a Belgian count. Not in any fundamental ways at least.
Indeed, as Rogge also points out, the IOC came to China for its own reasons related to the Olympics.
It took the decision in the summer of 2001, when both the organisers for the 2004 Athens summer Games and the 2006 Turin Winter Games were suffering seemingly insurmountable problems.
Athens, having messed up its structure, was so behind schedule that there was real fear it might not be ready.
Turin, whose choice as the 2006 Winter Games was an unintended consequence of the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, did not have adequate facilities, needed more funding and was not certain the Italian government could or would help.
In contrast China simply told the IOC: "Give us the Games and we will do whatever you want."
And that is exactly what has happened.
China has given the IOC great venues - there can be nothing more iconic than the Bird's Nest, a true "object for the world" exactly as Ai Weiwei, its Chinese architect, intended.
The infrastructure development has been amazing, as anyone who has used Beijing's new airport will testify. The transport plan has also worked, making Beijing's previously impossible traffic more than manageable.
And the venues have provided some of the most memorable sports seen in many an Olympics.
We had a first week so dominated by Michael Phelps that we had to scurry through the record books to ask if he was a greater Olympian than Carl Lewis or Jesse Owens.
Then Usain Bolt stole the show in the second week, making the 100 metres once again magical and worthy of a race to decide the fastest man on earth.
And alongside all this, Team GB has broken free from the rather depressing British history of failing to deliver by enjoying its best Games for a century. In doing so, athletes have created some truly great sporting moments, which have been surprising and stunning in equal measure.
Many other countries have also had Beijing highlights to treasure. India, the world's most underachieving sporting nation, won its first ever individual gold, as did Panama and Bahrain, while Mongolia, Afghanistan, Togo, all won their first medals.
The Beijing Olympics will also have an impact on the United States. Since the collapse of the Wall and of the old Soviet Union, its dominance of the Games has not been challenged.
But China will top the gold tally this time round. And that has prompted Americans to ask whether their athletes should get government funding - the US is the only nation that does not provide it.
Indeed, as China and Asia continue to grow as world economic powers, America's sway over Olympic finances may also come under pressure.
Many in the Olympic movement feel that if the 20th century was Europe and America's great century of sport, then the 21st century might belong to China and Asia.
While China's presentation at many of the sporting venues was a pale copy of what you might get in the NBA or at a baseball game, the Chinese have been determined throughout the last two weeks to show they can do sport like the West.
And there can be no doubt that the Beijing Olympics have done just that.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Gold medals or total medals?
Should the "top" champion of the Olympics be measured by acquired golds, or by TOTAL # of medals, including silver and bronze??
COUNTRY MEDALISTS GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL
United States 36 38 36 110
China 51 21 28 100
Of course, China received more gold medals than the United States, but America received more medals of any color than anyone else.
COUNTRY MEDALISTS GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL
United States 36 38 36 110
China 51 21 28 100
Which is the appropriate means to determine who had the most success at the Olympics?
Any thoughts?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Best thing about this trip
The Toto toilet in our hotel suite in Beijing is one of the best things about this trip. The lid lifts automatically as a person approaches and it provides a very warm seat. It washes, cleans, and blow-dries too.
Out of the country
I am back to this blog after little more than a week outside Beijing. We were in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then South Korea. We had good food and enjoyed watching the Olympics on television. I really enjoyed visiting Hong Kong, Taipei, and Seoul - all very great cities. Now back in Beijing for more Olympic excitement. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
U.S.A's Michael Phelps = greatest Olympic athlete ever
This morning we watched (on CCTV) Michael Phelps receive his 10th (TENTH!!!) gold medal. That makes him #1 in Olympic history in terms of gold medals. Wow and Congrats!!
See this:
Temple of Heaven in Beijing
Another tourist trap that we visited this weekend. 15th century structures... gorgeous!
Beijing and L.A. subways compared
When Beijing won its bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the Chinese capital had about as many --or maybe fewer--subway lines as Los Angeles. Since that time in 2001, Beijing has moved quickly to lay several more subway lines. The public transportation network in Beijing has been improved in a major way. For example, Beijing's new Olympic subway line is beautiful and efficient. Los Angeles' new subway lines and stations are quite well designed, modern, and beautiful, making it so that right now L.A.'s system is nowhere as extensive as Peking's!! Take a look at this interesting article.
But, the bad thing is that some subway lines in Beijing have no signs in English and station names are not romanized.... Scary!
Beijing Games are all about China
.JPG)
China may come out victorious in terms of the number of gold medals won, but the Olympics are much more meaningful than winning athletic events. These Summer Olympics in 2008 are much more about China. It truly is China's great coming out party - a celebration of China's aspirations, people, development, and accomplishments. Sometimes I feel like we hear too much about China this time, and that maybe these Olympics are perhaps far too Sino-centric. But it really is impressive to see everything that China has accomplished and overcome. The development of China's eastern cities has been nothing short of a phenomenon.
As we drive through 2nd Ring Road or the 3rd ring, we are constantly in awe at how Beijing has changed. Not only are there gorgeous potted flowers and new trees lining the avenues and boulevards, the construction projects are breathtaking. A good example is this fab office building complex pictured to the left.
2nd Ring Road is what I call "Century City on steroids". Century City is a gorgeous and revitalized district west of Beverly Hills near Santa Monica Blvd. Well, Beijing's 2nd Ring Road feels very similar, just on a much bigger scale. As Paris Hilton would say, "Loves it!" And at least Beijing was smart enough to redevelop the area with a nice subway system, while L.A. did not do that.
Greetings from Beijing!
Boxing match, fans, international fun!!
Last night following the lightweight boxing preliminaries at the Workers' Stadium, we wanted to get a shot with these Chinese kids who were cheering. While we took the picture, we had them chanting "Meiguo Zhayou" (Chinese for "Let's go U.S.A.!!"). Lots of fun!! We love the Olympics!!!! I would love to be back at every Olympiad in the future too.
royalty at the Games
Spanish Prince Felipe and wife Letizia supporting Spanish athletes in the Olympic Village in Beijing.
singing girl in opening ceremony a fake
Apparently, that very cute girl who sang the patriotic song during the opening ceremony was actually lip-syncing. The voice belongs to the original performer who was pulled for her buck teeth and replaced by the cuter 7-year old. Read article here.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
America's new embassy in Beijing/新建美国使馆在北京
新建美国使馆在北京
America's new embassy is gorgeous, state-of-the-art, and the largest embassy in Beijing. We drove to it a couple of days ago to check it out. On our way we saw the embassies of Germany, Canada, Israel, India, Australia, Spain, the EU, etc. All are very nice buildings... then we arrived at the mammoth American mission. Much larger than the others... and a much more impenetrable wall surrounding the embassy!
America's new embassy is gorgeous, state-of-the-art, and the largest embassy in Beijing. We drove to it a couple of days ago to check it out. On our way we saw the embassies of Germany, Canada, Israel, India, Australia, Spain, the EU, etc. All are very nice buildings... then we arrived at the mammoth American mission. Much larger than the others... and a much more impenetrable wall surrounding the embassy! When we tried to take pictures, security guards freaked out. So, no photos. Anyway, it was fun to see. President Bush was there on Friday morning to officially open the Embassy, but the guard told us it still is not "open". Ambassador Randt, the current U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, declared on Tuesday that the opening of this large embassy (the second largest embassy building in the world - the first is America's embassy in Iraq) underscores the serious nature of the world's most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century: the U.S.-China relationship.
It is also interesting to note that Washington's largest embassy will soon be China's new facility.
heavy rain . . . is the rain safe?
It rained heavily yesterday because the government fired rain-inducing chemical "seeds" into the clouds above the city. And it poured.
Also, we have been relieved temporarily of the extreme heat.
The battle of the superpowers?
It is interesting to following the medals count.
As of right now, the U.S. has 11 medals, while China has 12. In third place is Russia with 6, then Korea with 5. Clearly, there is some rivalry between the U.S. and China . . . a kind of a microcosm of a future struggle of power and influence, perhaps?
Brazilian TV press in Beijing
Last night while walking on Dengshikou street in central Beijing, I saw a van painted with the logo above. I stopped to chat with the driver, a Chinese man. He told me that he is working with a group of Brazilian journalists from Rede Globo, Brazil's largest media network.
Safety issues in Beijing
With the tragic homicide and suicide here in Beijing on Saturday morning, people are wondering if it's safe to be spending time at Beijing's tourist locations. Well, of course it is.
Beijing may actually be the safest city of its size in the world. Public safety has never really been an issue of major concern in the Chinese capital. And especially during the Olympics, the Chinese authorities have deployed literally hundreds of thousands of police and military forces to Beijing.
Obviously, some petty theft occurs in Beijing, but violent crime is really quite rare in Beijing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the American family who lost their father this weekend in the brutal attack in central Beijing.
Monday: Clear skies in Beijing
This morning we are seeing clearer skies than we've been seeing in the last week. Pictures to come soon. Sunday we had heavy rainfall and winds. That always helps clean out the gunk in the air!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Tiananmen Square on the first full day of official Olympic activity
crowds were all over Tiananmen Square this afternoon. Very hot and humid!
BOC put up gorgeous gardens all over the city - and lots of fancy exhibits on Tiananmen Square.Russia launches attack on Georgia during the first day of the Olympics
As the Olympics begin, war breaks out in Eurasia.On a day meant to mark international friendship and peace, Russian and Georgian forces clashed over the disputed region, South Ossetia. More on that development here. While visiting Beijing for the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told press that Georgian forces would pay.
This is really disappointing news, and I could go on for a while about this, but I will not here in this blog about the Olympics, Beijing, and related topics.
Friendly spectators in Beijing's streets
Yesterday while walking down Wangfujing Avenue, we were stopped by several Chinese Olympics enthusiasts.... sporting patriotic headbands, PRC flags, and painted faces. They stopped to warmly welcome us to China, and asked to get a photo with us.
This is what the Olympics are all about! Despite political and cultural differences, the Olympic spirit is meant to unite people from everywhere!
Great experience to be a part of the Olympics here.
Beautiful Opening Ceremony
Attended by 91,000 people (including 80+ world leaders), the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics showcased a magnificent cultural show that exhibited Chinese history, innovation, dance, and story. The artistic creativity of the show was fantastic.
As I watched the show, I kept thinking about how much the program underscored China's destiny to become an even greater power and influence in the world. The Chinese people are excited to boast their history and cultural heritage. China's ambitions are clearly visible everywhere here in Beijing: at any of the Olympic venues or modern buildings throughout the city.
A large portion of the performances were dedicated to showing off Chinese achievements during the last few millenia. They covered important Chinese inventions like paper and tai chi. I wondered if they would showcase China's contemporary history: 20th century war and the Communist revolution... they didn't. All in all, it was a nice glimpse of some of Chinese cultural and historical highlights.
Liu Huan's duet with Sarah Brightman was one of the highlights for me - a beautiful piece that embodied the Olympic spirit.
China invested over $100 million to make this show a spectacle to be remembered, and I believe that they were successful . . . it truly was a magnificent show.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Good Morning, Beijing!
View from the hotel suite . . . beautiful morning air!
CNN showing the National Stadium (a.k.a. the Bird's Nest), where we'll be tonight for the Opening Ceremony.L.A. 2020: The Los Angeles 2020 Summer Olympics
Being here in Beijing has got me on this Olympic cities kick. I am looking into Olympic bids, candidate cities, etc. It's kind of exciting. So here are some thoughts:
If Chicago loses its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics (very possible because right now both Madrid and Tokyo have higher "scores", and Rio de Janeiro poses a serious challenge as the first serious South American contender in Olympic history), the IOC will be looking for an American host for the following year (2020). By then, it will have been over 24 years since an American city hosted the Summer Games (Atlanta in 1996).
Los Angeles will be an excellent candidate city for the 2020 Games. Because L.A. did seek to host the 2016 Games, the Southern California bid committee may be a little burned out. The City of Angeles came awfully close to getting the USOC's nomination for the 2016 international bid, losing by a slim margin to Chicago. San Francisco and Houston were also seeking the USOC's approval, but S.F. withdrew and Houston was rejected. Anyway, despite its recent efforts and failure, I think Los Angeles should definitely explore the option of bidding for the 2020 Games!
Los Angeles has an extensive history with the Olympics. L.A. already hosted the Olympic Games twice: 1932, and in 1984. Some cool trivia: L.A. was the first city to open an Olympic Village (1932). John Williams wrote the acclaimed Olympic theme song for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Also, L.A.'s 1984 Games have been recorded as the most profitable in modern Olympic history. The 1984 Olympics are often cited as a model of how to plan and organize an Olympiad. It was a huge boost to the regional economy.
Los Angeles boasts more mountains, beaches, and sports venues than any other city in America, and is the most diverse place in the world. It could keep the visitors and participants busy and entertained as it is the entertainment capital of the world. Also, for selfish reasons, Los Angeles' infrastructure needs could be better addressed with the Olympics as a goal/objective/reason. L.A. could certainly serve as an excellent host for the world's greatest sporting event in 2020.
Plus, I like the ring of it: L.A. 2020 !!!
Any thoughts?
Arrival in Beijing
We got to Beijing at about 2am on 8/8/08 (local time). Heavy heat and humidity upon exiting the aircraft. As we taxied in, we couldn't see much at all because of the thick fog-like sand/dust/smog! Thick air, heavy heat...
Beijing has put up lots of beautiful banners and flags along major roads in the city.
Another interesting feature on the freeways is the new "Olympic lane" - the far left lane on the freeways is reserved exclusively for vehicles with an Olympic pass - cars on official Olympic business, etc.
In hotel now . . . looking forward to this adventure.
Obama's airplane
We were in Minneapolis for a few minutes and actually parked next to Senator Obama's aircraft (B-757) . . . pretty cool. Here is a picture of the plane as seen from our plane:
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Olympic pin trading in Beijing
I was obsessed with pin trading during the 1996, 2000, and 2002 Olympics. This year in Beijing there will be plenty of pin trading going on:
Monday, August 4, 2008
soon departing
leaving in just a couple of days for China . . .
can't wait to see the air quality, the traffic flow, the millions of visitors, the new Olympic facilities, and the top knotch security.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
some secrets revealed about the opening ceremony
By ANITA CHANG
BEIJING (AP) — The secret's out about next week's Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Be ready for a dramatic countdown, giant whales, an illuminated globe and performers flying through the air like Peter Pan.
A South Korean television crew filmed a rehearsal of the show earlier this week at the massive Bird's Nest national stadium, leaking the first video from a show so closely guarded that practice sessions have been protected by three rings of checkpoints. Cast and crew were required to sign confidentiality agreements.
A Beijing Olympics official said Thursday the report by South Korean broadcaster SBS, which was then circulated online, was "disappointing." Sun Weide, spokesman for Beijing's Olympic organizing committee, would not say whether SBS would be punished, only that officials were "checking into the situation."
"But the fragments cannot demonstrate the full picture of the spectacular opening ceremony," Sun said in a statement.
There were no huge surprises from the footage shot in the darkened stadium, though it gave a glimpse of the lavishness of the 3 1/2-hour opening ceremony next Friday with an expected cast of 10,000.
China's most famous film director, Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lantern," "House of Flying Daggers"), spent the last three years designing the spectacle, trying to boil 5,000 years of Chinese history into a 50-minute show.
Undulating white columns apparently simulated a waterfall, and giant blue whales were projected onto the strips of roof bordering the opening of the top of the stadium. The video showed a giant blue-and-green illuminated globe on the floor of the stadium at one point.
The rehearsal included contemporary dancers dressed in black and others twirling ribbons, dozens of drummers, martial arts experts, and several colorfully dressed performers suspended by wires and floating above the audience.
One segment featured a half-dozen actors on a raised platform surrounded by hundreds of other performers, while cymbals clanged noisily in the tradition of Beijing opera.
The most impressive part of the show was a countdown accompanied by drums, the SBS report said. Footage showed rows of hundreds of people, flashing cards to form the number two, then one, while chanting lustily in Chinese. Strobe lights flashed.
An SBS crew filmed the rehearsal without having to sneak in, a network official said. SBS, one of South Korea's major TV networks, shares Olympic broadcasting rights in Korea with two other networks.
"Nobody stopped us when we entered the main stadium on Monday. Chinese officials let us in after we showed our ID cards and we shot the rehearsal," the official from SBS told The Associated Press from Beijing by telephone. He asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to media.
SBS spokesman Park Jae-man said it was regrettable if Beijing Olympics organizers felt offended by the broadcast.
"The purpose of the broadcast was aimed at heightening enthusiasm toward the Beijing Olympics by showing South Korean viewers the magnificence of the opening ceremony, there was no other intention," Park said, adding that his company didn't secretly tape it.
Unconfirmed media reports have said that anyone who violates the opening ceremony confidentiality agreement was subject to jail time. However, Zhang laughed off questions about such a punishment during a news conference earlier this year, saying "Who is going to deliver such a judgment?"
The video of the rehearsal was circulating on Chinese message boards up until Thursday morning, but no working versions could easily be found in China by early afternoon.
A few details about the ceremony had been trickling out since rehearsals began at the Bird's Nest earlier this month.
Organizers have not been able to hide the enormous bursts of fireworks exploding around the stadium at night. The show will include dozens of smiley face bursts and is expected to feature fireworks in the shape of a yellow dragon with red peony flowers in the background.
The main artistic director of the fireworks show has said fireworks will be launched from more than 1,800 sites around the city, including major urban areas from Tiananmen Square to the Bird's Nest stadium.
Like many aspects of the Beijing Games, the opening ceremony has become a political issue. Steven Spielberg sparked controversy in February when he withdrew as an artistic adviser to protest what he saw as China's refusal to do more to help end the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.
While President Bush has said he would attend the opening ceremony, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have said they plan to stay away. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to attend, after first threatening to skip it.
One part of the opening ceremony still remains top secret. It is not known how the Olympic cauldron will be lit, and who will be the final torchbearer.
Chinese media reports have speculated that the cauldron will be lit by a fire-breathing dragon or phoenix.
80+ Heads of State to Attend the Opening Ceremony
The 80+ heads of state include:- USA: George W. Bush*
- France: Nicolas Sarkozy
- Japan : Fukuda (pictured above)
- Australia: Kevin Rudd
- South Korea: Lee Myung-bak
- Russia: Vladimir Putin
- Monaco: Prince Albert II
- Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf
- Samoa: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi
- Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri Albert Gabriel Felix Marie Guillaume
- Hong Kong: Donald Tsang
- Israel: Shimon Peres
- Turkmenistan: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
Other notable political and business leaders in attendance:
- George H.W. Bush, former president of USA
- Gerhard Shröder, former chancellor of Germany
- Mayor of Tokyo (one of 4 finalist contenders for the 2016 summer Olympics)
- Bill Gates
- Drs. Chen of Sunrider International
- Rupert Murdoch
- Jerry Yang
- Princess Haya of Jordan
Big shots who have decided to NOT attend the ceremony:
- Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
- Gordon Brown, P.M. of Great Britain
- Stephen Harper, P.M. of Canada
VIP treatment in Beijing
The Wall Street Journal ran this article a few weeks ago about the VIPs at the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
They pose the question: how do you treat VIPs in a setting in which (almost) everyone in a VIP?
There will be at least 80 heads of state attending the opening ceremony on Friday evening.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Beijing has blue skies almost daily!
(is this one of the "blue sky" days??)- In July 2008, there were 26 blue sky days (i.e., only 5 days were "somewhat polluted" or above.)
Anyway, check out the website linked above. The photographer has taken daily shots of the view outside his window for hundreds of days. He also provides Beijing's government-issued pollution ranking for each particular day. Please check it out. You will now excuse me while I go to Costco to buy a gas mask for next week's trip to China.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
203 countries to participate in 2008 Games
In Beijing, over 10,000 athletes from 203 countries will participate in the over 300 events of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.
PEK: Beijing International Airport's newest terminal
Yes, surely most people have heard of Beijing's amazing new airport terminal, but I really want to put up a brief post on it. Well, it is quite impressive. Its ultra-modern design certainly makes those of us who use LAX and JFK jealous!
Beijing's makeover
My last trip to old Peking was about two months ago. During that trip I was astonished that Beijing's evolution had been so extensive. When I compare what I saw in May/June 2008 to what I saw during a prior stay in July 2007, I am amazed at the makeover the city had gone through in less than a year! Beijing's roads are now lined with potted flowers and plants. Sidewalks are cleaner, buildings are shining with new decorations, and even the people of Beijing look happier. Wangfujing Avenue is sparkling with modern façades, bright billboards, and brand new sidewalk tiles! Beijing in May/June 2008 felt like a completely different place.
Vanity Fair did this article on Beijing's new look.
I am excited to get back to Beijing next week to see what they've done in the past 9 weeks! (I'm hoping to see blue skies.) I'll post plenty of photos.
Vanity Fair did this article on Beijing's new look.
I am excited to get back to Beijing next week to see what they've done in the past 9 weeks! (I'm hoping to see blue skies.) I'll post plenty of photos.
in and out of Beijing
so we'll be in and out of Beijing . . . not staying for the full 3 weeks in the Chinese capital. We'll spend some time in the city of the equestrian events: Hong Kong. Also, we'll take quickies to Taipei and Seoul.
staying in beijing?
just found this at Danwei.org:
Will you stay in Beijing during the Olympics?
by Yuan YueAt last the Olympics have arrived. We all hope that the Olympics will be an untroubled success, but as a professional who spends a lot of time living and working in Beijing, should I remain in the city during the Olympics, or should I hide out elsewhere? Below, allow me present five reasons to stay in Beijing and five reasons to leave.
Five reasons to stay in Beijing: (1) This is a once-in-a-century opportunity that we ought to personally experience. When your grandchildren ask you about it, you should be able to say that you personally witnessed the spectacle, or else they might look down on you. (2) Lots of friends are coming to see the Olympics, so if you run off to avoid them, they'll think that you're not welcoming. I've even got some foreign classmates who are set to watch the Olympics. (3) There'll be swarms of celebrities at the Olympics, and for many people, this will be their only chance to see them. And you'll be able to see lots of superstars all at once, so you can really satisfy your hunger. (4) Many people will be able to employ their skills, to some degree. For example, there'll be even more foreign reporters than athletes, so those of us who know English can go around giving interviews so they'll have a more well-rounded understanding of China. We're always going off to far-off countries to promote China, but this time they've come here, so why not make a contribution? (5) The Olympics are the Olympics, and work is work. Athletes fight for the glory of the country in the arena, so we should continue to work steadily at our jobs so we don't fall behind. We should do what we need to here in Beijing, rather than let the Olympics delay the work at hand.
Five reasons to leave Beijing: (1) The Olympics don't need us. We have a huge, dedicated team, and the on-site volunteers are all set. Competitions on TV are clearer than in the stadiums, so let's not add to the mess by staying in Beijing and crowding out the international guests. (2) Everything will be inconvenient during the Olympics: cars use the even-odd system, roadways come under frequent control, and many places aren't easily accessible because of the need to look after foreign guests. Even many familiar bathhouses, massage parlors, and KTV joints have been closed. So with convenience and practicality in mind, we should go elsewhere for our activities. (3) During the Olympics, Beijing has substantially fewer meetings and professional, many of which have been moved to other places. Some international guests are even hoping to host events outside the country after being unable to obtain a visa for this period, so we ought to go where we're needed rather than remaining here idle. (4) During the Olympics, everything will be done for the service of the games and everyone will be focusing on the Olympics. But in fact, the things that people focus on are not necessarily the most important, and it is precisely during this period that many other thing require our attention. The victims in the Sichuan disaster areas, for example: we need to take this time right now to conduct another round of surveys of the needs of those victims. (5) The company's headquarters is located in Beijing, and I typically use that as a reason to spend most of my time here. Now there's finally a good reason to check up on my colleagues, clients, and partners in other areas.
So I've decided to spend half the time - particularly the beginning - in Beijing, especially to take care of friends and special guests who have come to watch the Olympics and to do what I can to contribute as needed. But the other half of the time I'll go elsewhere rather than postpone my work, both revolutionary and otherwise. So what's your choice?
concerns over security, rights, privacy, etc. during Olympics
Many foreigners are becoming quite concerned about the major security programs being implemented in Beijing and around China for the Olympics. I don't anticipate any major problems . . . it won't be worse than security at Salt Lake City, Athens, or Torino! Right?
Aviation in China
We hope that China can handle the major increases in air passengers during the next few weeks! This story is quite frightening:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080729105124.fz8pp5h0&show_article=1
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080729105124.fz8pp5h0&show_article=1
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Beijing's new Olympic Village
The Olympic Village in Beijing is another remarkable example of the country's growth and excitement to host the world.
In 2002, I worked at the Olympic Village in Salt Lake City. Those have since become student housing units at the city's University of Utah.
This Sunday the BOC has just unveiled its gorgeous and expensive Olympic Village (partially pictured above).
The new facilities at the Olympic Village will provide the over 10,000 athletes with Lenovo computer lounges, extravagant eateries, comfortable suites, free haircuts, free Mandarin classes and tutors, as well as beautifully manicured gardens and parks. It even has a large library and its own fire department.
By the end of 2008, the apartments in the Olympic Village will become available for rent, sale, or lease. If you're looking to live in Beijing, these are great lofts!
Security issues at the Games in Beijing
There has been a lot of discussion about the security and safety regulations implemented and enforced by Chinese law enforcement and military during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. They have a very ambitious security plan -- something that causes great concern for millions around the world. Many ask if the Games will be "fun" with so many security precautions and regulations.
Safety departments at various work units and even drivers of subway trains, buses and taxis will be involved, said Qiang Wei, Beijing's deputy Party secretary.
He said Beijing would also work with the security organs of other countries - such as the United State, Germany, Britain, France and Russia - to enhance its defence against riots or terrorist attacks.
Qiang, also head of the co-ordination team organizing Olympic security that was established last December, made the remarks at a rally yesterday, which marked the implementation of the city's Olympic security masterplan.
But he did not reveal the budget for running the security scheme, which contains all-round protection in the air, on land and at sea for the Games.
Athens, which hosted the Olympic Games last year, spent more than 1 billion euros (US$1.3 billion) on security.
China's security programme could include security features similar to those used in Athens, which had a vast computer surveillance network with thousands of hidden cameras and microphones that analyzed dozens of languages.
"We should learn from Athens, which had an advanced security management system and high-tech equipment in order to ensure a safe environment for the Games," said Qiang.
The city has already dispatched five groups, involving a total of 39 people, to Athens to learn about its experiences.
"We do not want to turn Beijing into a fortress, but a place with an auspicious and peaceful atmosphere that will make athletes, coaches and visitors feel relaxed and safe," Qiang said.
Ma Zhenchuan, director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said apart from safety protection, providing a good service to participants was another priority task.
Ma said his bureau would carry out a seven-year language training programme, which started in 2001 when Beijing was picked to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
He said Beijing police will encounter thousands of people who do not speak any Chinese during the 2008 Olympics.
"We have published a textbook of 'Olympic Security English' which mainly focuses on the handling of every possible problem that may happen during our security work for the Games," said Ma, who is a deputy head of the co-ordination team organizing Olympic security.
Ma said his team would set up two branches - the Olympic security command centre and the intelligence centre - by June this year.
He said Beijing would also work with the security organs of other countries - such as the United State, Germany, Britain, France and Russia - to enhance its defence against riots or terrorist attacks.
Qiang, also head of the co-ordination team organizing Olympic security that was established last December, made the remarks at a rally yesterday, which marked the implementation of the city's Olympic security masterplan.
But he did not reveal the budget for running the security scheme, which contains all-round protection in the air, on land and at sea for the Games.
Athens, which hosted the Olympic Games last year, spent more than 1 billion euros (US$1.3 billion) on security.
China's security programme could include security features similar to those used in Athens, which had a vast computer surveillance network with thousands of hidden cameras and microphones that analyzed dozens of languages.
"We should learn from Athens, which had an advanced security management system and high-tech equipment in order to ensure a safe environment for the Games," said Qiang.
The city has already dispatched five groups, involving a total of 39 people, to Athens to learn about its experiences.
"We do not want to turn Beijing into a fortress, but a place with an auspicious and peaceful atmosphere that will make athletes, coaches and visitors feel relaxed and safe," Qiang said.
Ma Zhenchuan, director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said apart from safety protection, providing a good service to participants was another priority task.
Ma said his bureau would carry out a seven-year language training programme, which started in 2001 when Beijing was picked to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
He said Beijing police will encounter thousands of people who do not speak any Chinese during the 2008 Olympics.
"We have published a textbook of 'Olympic Security English' which mainly focuses on the handling of every possible problem that may happen during our security work for the Games," said Ma, who is a deputy head of the co-ordination team organizing Olympic security.
Ma said his team would set up two branches - the Olympic security command centre and the intelligence centre - by June this year.
Mormon attorneys leading the BOC legal team
Two LDS attorneys are leading the Beijing Olympic Committee's legal operations with offices in both Beijing and Los Angeles. the full article is available here.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Terrorist attack in Kunming
Chinese officials and military are tightening security in an almost frightening way. Some journalists have called the Olympics the "no-fun" Games because of the high levels of security expected in Beijing and throughout China.
I will be posting lots of info about security once I get to China in August.
I will be posting lots of info about security once I get to China in August.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Israeli Olympic Team sponsored by Sunrider International
Sunrider's products are kosher, and have allowed Sunrider to become Israel's Olympic Team's sole dietary supplement provider/sponsor for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Bush? Sarkozy? Merkel? Hu? Who??
I wonder which world leaders I'll see at the Opening Ceremonies on 8/8/08 at 8:08pm???
I'm still in Los Angeles
I am in Los Angeles, California. In August I will be attending the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Please return. I intend to do live blogging, post pictures, and share my experiences first-hand.
Please return. I intend to do live blogging, post pictures, and share my experiences first-hand.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
