24Jun/082
Fallows on the Olympics
Excellent post by James Fallows articulating his thoughts about China and the Olympic Games.
Like Fallows, I want the Olympics to succeed, and for the most part I think it will. Yet China's public relations problems are largely self-inflicted* because it is trying to have it both ways: gain the respect and admiration of the world while maintaining its airtight control of the media and intolerance of dissent. This relates to a point I made earlier: development means far more than a booming GDP and brand-new skyscrapers. Or even the rights to hold the Games.
*For the record I hold no quarter for the idiotic boycott movement or for comments by Hollywood airheads like Sharon Stone.
June 25th, 2008 - 04:38
I can’t believe Fallows is complaining about “a noticeable increase in security presence around Beijing”. Hello? Has it occurred to him that they will be holding the Olympic Games, something that attracts all sorts of wackos from everywhere?
Foreign (especially western) media will come down hard on China, no question about it. As long as the Chinese learn how to develop a thicker skin they will be fine.
June 26th, 2008 - 10:39
I think the Olympics will be a success regardless of any criticisms that will arise. On on one hand foreign guests will be blown away by The magnitude of the preparations and the enthusiasm and passion of the people here. Especially so for visitors who have never been to China before.
On the other hand people will get ripped off or cheated, hotel reservations will be “lost”, not everything will go to plan for the visitors (such is China) and some visitor’s will venture outside of Beijing to places where not a lot has changed since China won the right to host the games.
If the Chinese can roll with the punches as gracious hosts and take any media criticisms in their stride the Beijing Olympics will pass us by and be remembered as the ground breaking event they are.