The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

The now famous Beijing Olympics wall is located in the Xuanwu District, with thousands of people going past it. . The entire wall is 300 meters long and displays pictures and well-wishes for the Olympic Games, making a great little sister for the colossus live sized Great Wall of China. More pictures of the wall here.

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In the photo next to me, the world famous Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, is featured carrying the Olympics Relay Torch, in Beijing August 6, 2008.

In the photo he’s been captured, right in the moment Yao entered Tiananmen Square, with a picture of Chairman Mao above his head.

It’s really impressive, and at the same time shocking, how well the contrast as been captured between Yao and the rest of his country mens’ height, as well as the seemingly calm, chilled Yao, in a bath of enthusiasm and motion.

Photo by: Joe Chan, Reuters (China)

A lot of people have been waiting for these, but with just a few days before the opening ceremony, the Olympics officials have finally released the official posters for the event.

There are, basically, over 30 posters depicting all the sports present at the games, as well as cultural representations from the Chinese life, like a poster pairing the Temple of Heaven and the futuristic Aquatics Center, You can view all the posters here.

In a new Chinese government program, 600 Beijing families have been chosen as hosts to the forthcoming swarm of foreign tourists, ready to hit the city for the nearby Olympics. The reason for this is to provide some more housing, as hotels and motels grow ever busier, and to provide a different perspective and view upon the Chinese way of life, and what better way in doing so then by leaving for a few days with a genuine Beijing family. Cultural exchange between tourists and Chinese residents is encouraged. Here’s just a statement from one of the program appliers:

“I didn’t decorate the rooms to look like hotel rooms, but I did paint the walls and cleaned them up. I want my guests to both feel at home and taste real Beijing life.”

An estimate of 2.5 million visitors will attend the Games, with 500,000 foreigners flooding the capital. However, an issue of great importance is not the lack of housing as many of us would think, but rather the over vacancy. As of Tuesday, less than half of Beijing’s hotels with four-star ratings or lower were booked through the Games. Five-star hotels fared somewhat better in occupancy rate, with rooms reserved primarily by Olympic officials and delegations. This leaves the Chinese families, ready to welcome the foreign visitors, in a big predicament and a lot of empty rooms. The main reason behind this is probably caused by China’s increased VISA restrictions. Talk about timing…

At least 1,000 visitors can be provided with rooms under the Homestay program, according to the Beijing Tourism Administration. And families are permitted to charge their guests a modest fee, the recommended rate being about $60-$80 (US) per night.

The British Olympics committee has recently announced that all of it’s team of 1500 athletes, heading for the Beijing Olympics, will be tested for any devious substances, that might alter their sporting performances, as reported by today’s edition of The Guardian.

“Every British athlete that goes into the Olympic Village from July 27 will have been tested, educated and there can be no excuse,” Andy Parkinson, acting director of the drug-testing arm of UK Sport, told The Guardian. “We are being tougher than ever and we are saying to every athlete in his country that you are going to be tested.”

UK Sport officials said that testing of the athletes will be administered unannounced and out of competition, when most doping occurs. British sport authorities have declared a goal of having a 100 percent drug-free team at the Beijing Olympics before the Games are staged in London in 2012.

In other related news, Song Hongjuan, a Chinese racer-walker was found positive on a recent doping test. in an out-of-competiton test in Beijing on Feb. 24. She finished 14th in the 20-kilometer race at the 2004 Athens Games.

Liliana Popescu, part of the Romanian team and the holder of the fastest women’s 1,500 meters time this year was also banned from her national Olympics team, after she was  tested positive for a banned substance. Popescu was scheduled to run both the 1,500 and 800 meters at Beijing next month.

The latest official word from the Chinese officials is a bit unexpected and above all weird. Apparently after a recent Chinese campaign against canine-based cuisine, Beijing has called on local hotels and restaurants to stop serving dog meat during the Olympic Games next month.

Why? It’s not like the Beijingers have realized the canines make better pets, then dishes, but rather an imagine move from the government officials, who feel Westerners visiting the country during the Olympics might feel offended or even disgusted. Soon after the decision was made, the catering industry was ordered to “boycot” the unusual dish until further notice.

Restaurants and hotels were particularly targeted by the Beijing officials, as they’ll be places most frequented by westerner tourists, being placed in “key control areas” such as those along the routes to be used by the Olympic flame relay.

Though not a very popular kind of food in China, dog has long been served as a delicacy in South Korea, where it’s highly consumed. Speaking of Korea, a similar decision was made, concerning the consumption of dog meat, during the 1988 Seoul Olympics after fierce criticism from western animal rights groups.

Maoxianglou, a restaurant serving food from south-western Guizhou province, said on Thursday it had been ordered not to sell its signature “Huajiang Dog”, a dish reputedly good for people suffering from high blood pressure or frequent night-time urination. For those who don’t respect the official order, there’s no clear form of punishment present, but apparently the decision is being respected unanimously.

“We are not allowed to sell it during the Olympic period – and it’s not clear what will happen afterwards,” said a restaurant employee.

Although the current campaign is backed by Guo Jinlong, Beijing mayor, one industry official suggested there were doubts among the bureaucracy about how to enforce it and concerns that visitors from South Korea might be disappointed at not being able to eat dog. Still, it appears that dedicated dog devourers will not be denied the dish completely during the games, which open on August 8. A manager at Gourou Dawang, a restaurant in southern Beijing whose name translates as “Dog Meat King”, said it was trading as normal.

In honor of the Beijing Olympics and of course, out of a keen sense of marketing, the well know shoe retailer Nike, has confectioned a new Olympics mascot themed shoe line. Each shoe is designed with one of the official Olympics mascots and features the official colors. A true fan has to dress accordingly too, right?

Via Beijing Olympics Fan and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

World records are the salt and pepper of every event (in which setting a record is possible). The best of the best make their way into a very small list, where only ‘la creme de la creme’ can get. They are the ones who will be remembered years from now, they are the ones who will inspire new generations and will remain in the history books.

Record(s): Most gold medals in a single Olympic event/Most world records set in an Olympic event
Current Record Holder: Mark Spitz
Challenger: Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is without a doubt today’s greatest swimmer, and might just be the best swimmer all time. Born in 1985, he still has a whole lot of time to win more medals and set more records. In the 2004 Summer Olympics he won 6 gold medals, with 7 being the current record. He also won a silver and bronze medal, which definitely gives hope for more this year. He also has world records in several events.

Record: 100 metres men (9.72)
Current Record Holder: Usain Bolt
Challenger: Usain Bolt

His amazing performance has granted him a worthy nickname: The Lightning Bolt. His amazing form makes him the no. 1 candidate for the Olympic title this year (despite fierce competition), and everybody is watching him to see if he can go under the historic mark of 9.70 - which would be an amazing performance.

Record: The biggest time distance between 2 olympic gold medals won
Challenger: Mark Todd

Mark Todd is a member of New Zeeland’s delegation, participating in the equestrian events. Todd was voted the International Equestrian Federation’s Rider of the 20th Century and won his last gold medal in 1988 (20 years ago). His inclusion in this year’s delegation makes New Zeeland a strong candidate for a gold medal, as they hope the 52 year old will give them the edge they need.

Record: Most people watching

This is really hard to measure, but this year’s advertising seems to be way ahead of the previous editions and more and more people have showed interest aimed at the Olympic games.

Record: Most world records broken

This year sportsmen seem to have outdone themselves, especially in athletic challenges and swimming. If we were naming just Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin we would probably have about 10 world records broken. Coughlin is already considered to be the best American female swimmer ever, and extremely versatile - just as her delegation colleague is. Weightlifters seem to be doing really great too and Yelena Isinbayeva is just on fire. Also, there are more disciplines today than there were say 20 years ago.

Anticipation is growing ever fierce, as day by day flies across, so that we’re just one month away from the much awaited Beijing Olympics Games, a spectacular of life, sportsmanship and honor of which the whole world is set to assist. As we’re closing just 31 days until the Olympics, I think it would only be fit to ask some of China’s countrymen how they feel about the forthcoming, massive competition.

”I didn’t have much interest in the Olympics before the Tibet riots. After that I became to think: All right. If you guys are so keen to make us look bad, we’ll have to get things done even better. After the earthquake, I felt really sad and at one point even thought that it might be good not to hold the Games any more. But the reality is the country has poured in so much manpower, materials and money to prepare for the Games. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘there can be no turning back once the arrow is on the bowstring’.” - Zhao Qian, 26, a public relations officer for a European company

“The Olympic Games is a national glory. I really look forward to it. Beijing has changed a lot in the past few years. The roads have become wider and the city cleaner. Terrorist attacks? I am not worried about that. Our country is strong enough and those who operate in the dark for bad things will be scared.” - Zhang Quanyi, 45, taxi driver

”I am not going to watch the Games in the stadiums and I am not able to. What can I do with the 700 yuan ($102) I make every month? I also have to pay for my daughter’s education.” - A female street cleaner in her 40s on her morning shift to clean a street outside the Chaoyang Park in eastern Beijing, where Olympic beach volleyball matches will be held.

“It might be inconvenient during the Games as I cannot drive my car everyday, but I am happy and excited about the approaching Olympics.”- Zhou Wenjin, 46, a government worker

”Bags must be checked when you take a subway, batteries cannot be sent by express mail. We are excited and extremely happy for the holding of Olympics Games, but it dwindles day by day.” - Jiang Yueming, 28, a graduate student in Renmin Universitymartial.jpg

“I don’t feel the environment is becoming that much better. I’m not sure whether those security checks are efficient, but I’m sure I will cut some of the family’s unnecessary travels during the Games.” - Li Guang, 35, barber

”Security checks and traffic restrictions at that time will certainly affect my commuting, but I understand the government. Safety is after all the most important thing. If there have to be more troubles, then let there be more troubles. My father-in-law’s father-in-law really really wants to watch the matches, so we bought some tickets, mainly to fulfil our filial obligations. Personally I’d rather watch the matches on TV at home.” - Wang Nan, 26, a white-collar worker who already spends nearly three hours commuting every day.

Photo: Reuters

Ok, we’ve got the Chinese acupuncturist who stuck 2008 decorative needles in his head and the Chinese fan who tattooed all his face with the marks of the Olympics, now my latest find includes another dedicated fan. This fellow, from above, just tattooed all of his body with Olympics figures and messages and also cut his hair accordingly. Gosh!