The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest", will host the track and field competitions for the 2008 Summer Olympics beginning August 8th.
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China’s Chance to Shine... or Not
Controversy surrounds the 2008 Olympic Games while the world watches
By Giselle Portuondo
For the first time in Olympic history, China is hosting the Olympic Games. But the dream they pursued for decades has the potential to turn into a media disaster while the world watches.
Between a devastating earthquake and the violent riots over China’s abuse of Tibet’s rights that resulted in protests worldwide, China is juggling "crisis and controversy. And now swarms of locusts might head to the Games - 33,000 exterminators were dispatched to head them off.
In 2001, China gave assurances to the International Olympic Committee that if it allowed China to host the Games, the country would grant the media freedom of access, work to improve its record on Human Rights abuses, and reduce pollution in Beijing, where the Games would be held.
The I.O.C. hopes the media exposure will "open China further to the world. Keep in mind that the I.O.C. is a sports organization, not a political one; however the Games can bring about social change because the world is watching.
The Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the "Water Cube", will host the diving and swimming events for the 2008 Summer Olympics beginning August 8.
China is certainly not the first controversial hosting nation. The I.O.C. awarded the 1939 Olympics to Nazi Berlin and the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City erupted in violent protests and world demonstrations.
Over the last seven years, the hosting gig has allowed Beijing to become a statement of how China wants the world to see and experience not just the Games but China too. Some of China’s structures, such as Tychng or the Bird’s Nest and the "Water Cube, have the media buzzing and with good reason - they are spectacular designs that ignite the imagination.
Beijing has 36 new sports facilities, which includes an egg-shaped National Stadium, the Bird’s Nest, with seating for 91,000, where the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games will take place.
Another eye catcher is the National Aquatic Center recognized for the visually dramatic "Water Cube," designed to resemble soap bubbles with the building skin requiring inflation. It's a green building with solar energy heating the pools and interiors.
In addition concerns about the high pollution levels in Beijing are being addressed. "Blue Sky" days in Beijing have steadily increased and the pollution levels have reduced over the past few years with a goal of having 245 of those Blue Sky days by Game Time. Partof the strategy was to plant 200 million trees in Beijing starting in 2002 and to move polluting factories outside the city if possible or to shut them down prior to and during the Games.
Additionally, they will remove about 1.5 million cars from the streets of Beijing during the Games again to cut emissions and reduce gridlock.
In an attempt to be the perfect host and make the visitors feel welcome, China has required the taxi drivers in Beijing to learn English and pass a test in English to keep their license. Also, as a matter of Western etiquette, the Beijing citizens are being trained to refrain from spitting on the streets, which is their custom.
As Game Day gets closer, the media networks get a bit more anxious about access. The biggest question is, "If some of the athletes during the opening ceremonies protest by carrying the Tibetan flag, will the media be allowed to film it?"
Protests should also be expected around the city, as it would be ludicrous to miss a worldwide media op like the Olympic Games. Whether those protests escalate into violent riots is another issue.
A pivotal point of the I.O.C.'s argument for awarding China the Games was that the country represented 25 percent of the of the world's population, and additionally it won 28 gold medals in the 2004 Games in Sydney to finish third in total medal count. However the I.O.C. is hopeful that China will use the Games to improve its position on human rights and lead the way for other countries while the "world-iswatching"
This much China can control, however the swarms of locusts headed for the Games might be another's domain.
Let us know what you think, email us at: outloud@outloud.com.