Serving dog meat at restaurants and other practices that may offend western tastes are tightly regulated.
Transportation and entertainment is highly restricted and regulated because of security concerns.
I am starting to believe that the high level of security – the police and volunteer security people on every block, the cars that are searched upon entering the hotel near my apartment, ID checks, etc. – are not intended to stamp out terrorists, but rather to stop activists. Any disruptive protest or public criticism of the government would put them in a tough spot.
The government is attempting to manage every little detail to make sure that the Games go of without a hitch, even the weather. And, yes, there is rain in the forecast for Friday evening.
The sports and Olympic training system in China is widely different from that in the United States.
The New Yorker published a thorough discussion of Chinese nationalism and online activism. Several conservative young Chinese are profiled and they express many of their concerns for the rapid changes in Chinese society and the loss of traditional values.
Finally, some insight on what the Olympics mean for China and how it can bring the country closer to the world.
3 comments:
Great links, Sam. You should be the Beijing correspondent for the Daily Cardinal or Badger Herald for the next couple weeks.
As we watch the Olympics on tv, we are wondering if you are catching any part of it, in person. The bird's nest and water cube are so beautiful, and the opening ceremony was fantastic! Much is being made about the air quality. Looks hazy, hope that's mostly mist!
Looking for you in the crowds . . .
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