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After all the hype and preparation, the day of reckoning is finally near.
Al Jazeera has a team of reporters, producers and correspondents in Beijing for the duration of the 29th summer Olympics, providing coverage on air and online throughout the games.
In this diary we will be posting notes from the team on the goings-on on and off the track - so keep coming back to read the latest entry. If you would like to ask us a question or send a comment, you can use the "send feedback" button in the top right hand corner.
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Veronica Pedrosa, presenter, Beijing
August 8, 2008
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A case of mistaken celebrity
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| Steiner was mistaken for Bill Gates at Tiananmen Square [EPA] |
Last night, on the eve of the big Olympic opening, Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, agreed to meet us in Tiananmen Square to do a walk-and-talk interview. The square was teeming with people, eager to soak up the atmosphere in the final run up to the games. We quickly drew everyone's attention with Justin the cameraman, walking backwards while shooting the interview.
As we started to wrap up, flashbulbs started popping and when we'd finished Steiner was quickly closely surrounded by dozens of people all asking for his autograph. He was soon tightly packed in the middle of a crowd and they were so enthusiastic that I almost fell over as the crowd pushed to get closer.
None of us could quite work out why the head of the UN Environment Programme was apparently such a celebrity - until our producer explained that they all thought he was Bill Gates! We had been worried that the police would approach us to check that we had permission to film but in the end we had to call them in ourselves to help pull Steiner away from his fans. Under the shadow of Mao, Chinese people were mobbing one of the world's biggest capitalists, or so they thought.
Bill Gates, be warned: you'll need some people to help you out with your admirers here!
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Wayne Hay, Al Jazeera sport correspondent, Beijing
August 8, 2008
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Games fever
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| The Olympic fever was visible everywhere in Beijing [GALLO/GETTY] |
My colleagues will probably clip me around the ears when we sit down for our next dose of duck and deep fried delights for dinner, but generally speaking, journalists are a lazy bunch. Present company very much included.
It's much easier to write a negative story than a positive one. And any reporter who tells you otherwise is lying. So when we slump into town for the latest major sporting event, the first thing we usually think of, "is there any atmosphere building? Has the city been gripped by whatever sporting fever is going around at the time?" More often than not, the answer is no. Or at least, that's what is easier to report.
Well, I'm delighted to say, that the Chinese are making sure all visitors to Beijing know very well what is about to take place. Whether it's flags fluttering in the polluted breeze, people wearing all manner of Olympic and Chinese merchandise, or the security presence, which seems to be growing by the hour, I've been left in no doubt that it's games time. It's China's chance to show the world what it can achieve.
There are the locals who, after a quick exchange of ni haos (hello) are always keen to practise their English, ask where I come from, and whether this the first time I've been to Beijing. After that the conversation tapers off, and usually ends with me complimenting them on their English speaking skills. I'm fairly sure they don't say similar things about my Mandarin. Even if they did, I wouldn't be able to understand them. Which is exactly my point.
The area surrounding the Bird's Nest is a constant hive of activity, with plenty of people snapping away on their cameras, and security staff yelling at motorists who are trying to go where they're not allowed.
The bottom line is, there are a lot of people milling around, which in itself, provides atmosphere. But in a nation of 1.3 billion, I guess you'd be worried if the streets were empty.
So this time, I can't criticise the locals for failing to provide the hype, and I've had to come up with other story ideas - or should I say, I've had to come up with story ideas.
Now that I think about it, maybe it's just me who's lazy.
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Melissa Chan, Beijing correspondent
August 7, 2008
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The 'no fun' Olympics?
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| Has Beijing squeezed all the fun out of the games? [EPA] |
A few months ago, I attended a talk that showcased a panel of sports journalists who have had experience covering the Olympics. At one point, someone proposed that the spirit of the Sydney games came from the fun-loving Australians, who enjoy a good party just about any time. And with the Greeks - well, they rocked with festivities that ran late into the night. The difference between those games and this one in Beijing, this journalist said, is that the "Chinese have been told by authorities they must have fun."
I doubt the Chinese would find the joke very funny - or much of a joke at all. And certainly, from my conversations with people in Beijing and other places on the road, people here are genuinely excited and proud of hosting the games. So it's with a lot of disappointment that I see some of the fun dampened by special Olympic regulations. No sidewalk cafes for example - restaurants that usually lay out the tables and chairs every summer have been told to pack them away.
No live music either - one of the more popular rock venues near the universities have shut down this month. And my favorite place, The Stone Boat Bar - a little place by a lake in a park - will remain open but no musicians will show up to perform on Fridays and Saturdays as they usually do. Certain clubs have mysteriously shut down this August for renovations. Odd, at a time when so many people will presumably be visiting Beijing.
Of course - people watching, live music, and dancing - might not be every person's definition of fun. After all, it'’s about the Olympics. So watching the games on television or at one of the venues, many would argue, would be fun enough.
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Joe Havely, Al Jazeera website, Beijing
August 5, 2008
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Blue sky thinking
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| The view from our Olympic studio on Monday [top] and today |
Three days to go and will the skies be clear? China has promised a "blue sky" Olympics, and Sun Weide, the defiantly optimistic spokesman for the Beijing's games organising committee, on Monday gave his personal guarantee of "quality air".
But as of Tuesday morning the sky above the Chinese capital continued to have something of an orange tinge to it. Local residents assure me this is Beijing's version of blue – I suppose it depends on what you're used to.
Certainly it's an improvement on Monday, when a thick fog descended on the city, casting a soupy cloak over the view from our special studio overlooking the Bird's Nest stadium. Having invested so many billions in such spectacular buildings, you can't help feeling it'll be a pity if Beijing's megabucks disappear into the gloop of suspended particulate matter.
But what of the athletes? They'll have to battle not just the haze, but sweltering temperatures and sultry humidity that make even a brief walk around the Olympic park a brutal chore.
The IOC says it has contingency plans should the pollution become too bad, possibly including the postponement of endurance races such as road cycling and the marathon.
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| Beware the Fuwas: Loitering with intent on every corner |
For the Chinese, who put a great deal of value on the concept of "face", that would be a major embarrassment.
For the time being though the haze has done little to dampen the Olympic fever. Flag sellers on Tiananmen square are doing a roaring trade; rehearsals for the opening ceremony are in full swing; and bouncing giant Fuwas (the Olympic mascot) are eagerly greeting visitors – and possibly freaking some out - at Beijing airport.
It'll take a lot more than a bit of suspended particulate matter to cast a cloud over this city's party.
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Andy Richardson, sports reporter, Beijing
August 4, 2008
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Signs of the times
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| No scratching here please [GALLO/GETTY] |
My name is Andy, and I am a badly translated sign junkie. "The stationary shop has moved" is one of my all time favourites, but it taught me two things. 1) Do not stand alone in front of a sign laughing because people stare at you. 2) Do not start dinner in the company of a brunette with a grammar related gag.
I am very aware that without these signs in foreign lands I would have absolutely no idea as to what was going on. I know that the rest of the world is doing its best to accommodate my ignorant mono-lingual tongue. I respect the fact that people are writing in their second, or in the case of the Swiss, eighth language. And yet my puerile mind still can not help but be amused by it all. In Beijing I am on the brink of an overdose.
The cable car up to the Great Wall of somewhere-or-other got me started. "No scratching inside the cabin" was the request. As my cameraman pointed out, if you have made the effort to take your DJ mixing desks to one the ancient wonders of the world, surely you should be given a bit of leeway. That was followed by our hotel's new security policy. "In order to negotiate the Olympic safely, please walk from the hotel is outside staircase entrance arrived in underground parking, while other channel is sealing. Thank you for your co-operation." I have not dared leave my room since.
And then of course there are the food menus. The concern in China is that the "plate of the steaming of the eel stomach" you read about may actually be an accurate description. But when Beijing's eating houses have such a polite door policy it is difficult to resist them. "Full the fill enjoyment of human service treasury, after you shop for hours (not between the afternoon off business) - it is during this period that refreshments will add a new variety." And indeed they do - more eel stomach anyone?
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Melissa Chan, Beijing correspondent
August 3, 2008
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'Complete freedom'
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| Tight security has led some to label Beijing the "no fun" Olympics [EPA] |
One World, One Dream. But for those of us living in Beijing, we never dreamed that the Olympics would mean so many other things beyond sports and entertainment. Such as heightened security that has brought officers to my apartment several times to check my papers, my passport, my residence card.
The laws have changed, they tell me, because of the Olympics. Now I have to register with authorities every time I leave the country and return. No matter if my visa expires at the end of this year.
And my mother who is staying with me for a few weeks? She was told she needs to register with my apartment's housing management office and show her passport at the entrance every time she comes in.
"We will give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China," said Wang Wei, secretary general of the Beijing Olympic bidding committee, back in 2001.
Well, just two days ago a fellow colleague and I decided to head to the neighbourhood park, Ritan Park, to film the lily pads and pagodas there - some nice footage to play out as part of our Olympics preparation. Within five minutes, park security showed up to stop us from filming. Never mind that we were in a public park, filming flowers and trees.
It will be interesting to see how this park will handle the protestors when they show up. Ritan Park is one of three designated areas for demonstrations. Oh - but you need to apply for a permit to demonstrate in the park, of course. And no one can guarantee how long it will take to process your request.
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Andy Richardson, sports reporter, Beijing
August 3, 2008
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Trainee 8432
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| China has trained an army of eager volunteers to welcome visitors [EPA] |
I have been in Beijing no more than a few hours but already I am being stalked by a mysterious woman. She waits in my hotel corridor, and appears to know exactly when I'll be leaving the safe confines of my room.
"What is your name?" I asked. "Trainee 8432" she replied in perfectly schooled English. So far, so Orwellian.
It would appear that her job is to ensure I do not have to go through the strenuous endeavour of pressing the lift call button, a task that on reflection has become increasingly tiresome over the years.
A similar scenario can be found down in the gym. There an eager troupe of formally dressed men hover like impending danger. Armed with a ready supply of cold towels their task apparently concerns not allowing beads of sweat to gather on your forehead.
In summary, understaffing is not a problem at this hotel.
Beijing as a whole is bending over backwards to make the international press welcome. Olympic volunteers seem to be on hand everywhere and at all times of the day.
The ceaselessly cheerful bunch based in reception were even there to guide me back to my room when I became briefly disorientated on my return from a late working lunch.
That particular evening saw Beijing reveal another of its unique charms - namely the food. The Peking duck was predictably good but the plateful of fried scorpions that arrived with it were slightly more surprising.
Scorpion number one was crunchy and relatively inoffensive. Scorpion number two though was an altogether different experience. This time the crunch was quickly followed by an explosion of bitter liquid, as the inner workings of my eight-legged friend trickled hatefully down my throat.
The poet Sir Arnold Bax said everything in life should be tried once except incest and morris dancing. There is a strong argument for adding scorpion eating to that list.
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