Opening Day
Some 10,000 performers are taking part in the festivities, being watched on TV by an estimated one billion people.
Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, who has repeatedly defended the decision to let China host the Olympics, said he hoped the Games would help the world to understand China, and China to understand the world.
For very many Chinese, the Games will be their first experience of the outside world. Engaging with a formerly closed society can only encourage greater openness and freedom – and this legacy will not be easily suppressed when the Games are over. Equally, it is sobering – and, to many, thrilling – to realise that in 17 days’ time all talk of the next Olympics will refer to London. Britain would do well to watch, study and learn from Beijing. Who now can tell what fevered talk will fill the air in London four years from now? But for Beijing the long wait is over. Let the Games begin.
“For very many Chinese, the Games will be their first experience of the outside world.”
And the message they will get from that experience is that the whole world thinks the brutality of their rulers is perfectly hunky-dory.
Comment by KipEsquire — 8/8/2008 @ 9:55 am
But that’s pretty much the truth, at least from the point of view that the rest of the world are generally OK with the very slow changes in China (and there may be merit to that; the quick changes in Russia didn’t necessarily end up working out very well).
Comment by Adam — 8/8/2008 @ 10:11 am
Well, I dunno. I’m something of a believer in McDonalds Diplomacy.
I didn’t realize you were going dark during the Olympics. The whole time or just today?
Comment by Brad — 8/8/2008 @ 10:11 am
13,000 currently in attendence at this virtual protest.
Comment by Rojas — 8/8/2008 @ 3:10 pm
I think we oughta start a daily posting of controversies and news that highlights the Problem with China.
What say you, Rojas? I already have a few in the chamber I could go with.
We need a catchy header.
Comment by Brad — 8/8/2008 @ 3:26 pm
Fire away. I’m not sure how I’d go about it, as The Problem With China is a pretty broad, sweeping matter encompassing matters ranging from basic human rights to trade questions to America’s global hegemony.
The header should certainly be as blatantly racist as possible. “Return of the Yellow Peril” or “Our Slant on China” or something along those lines. We have a reputation to uphold.
Comment by Rojas — 8/8/2008 @ 3:43 pm