Olympic games

A month till set-off and this is the watersports area…

Sophie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:20:56 +0200

One of Our Observers in China alerted us to these photos of Qingdao, the town that will host the Olympic sailing events in August. To say the least, it doesn't look promising.

There are already concerns about the quality of air in Beijing, where some of the competitions will take place. Here in Qingdao, however, it's water pollution that's worrying the organisers. A sudden increase in the growth of algae - which indicates high levels of nitrates - has left two thirds of the area covered in dense seaweed. Good luck windsurfers!

Do you speak Chinglish?

Sophie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:13:13 +0200

"Chinglish" is commonly referred to in China where official translations into English have for a long time been done on the cheap. The result? Either highly offensive, hilarious or absolutely incomprehensible.

Chinese translated into foreign languages has been an amusing topic for visitors to China for decades. Far from politically-correct signs such as "Deformed Man Toilet" (meaning toilet for the disabled ) have rarely faced criticism because of their endearing charm. But as the Olympics near, many of these special signs are disappearing from the streets of Beijing as part of campaign to stamp out bad English grammar and style. Lamenting the coming extinction, web users are compiling images of the phrases, and there is even a book available to cherish the memories. Here's our pick of the best.

Carrefour boycott flops

Julien — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:43:41 +0200

Chinese web-users planned to boycott Carrefour from May 1st. But after having firstly added fuel to the fire, the Beijing authorities have finally decided to put a stop to the campaign, with an impressive police effort. See the report.
This report was put together with amateur material compiled by Zhang, our Observer in China. Watch the report.

A Chinese protester campaigns in front of Carrefour in Beijing

Julien — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:09:58 +0200

Chinese web-users angered by disruptions during the Olympic torch's tour through Paris last week are organising a campaign to boycott Carrefour starting May 1st, according to Reuters. Our Observer in China has sent us images of a mini-protest in front of a Carrefour store in Beijing. The police intervened in the affair, but only by asking the protesters to move on.

UPDATE (18 APRIL 08 10am): Protests against Carrefour have sprung up all over China and the demonstrators have extended their crusade to several other French companies including Luis Vuitton, Sephora and Dior. See new pictures at the bottom of the post.

"Putting out the flame is really going to upset the Chinese people"

Julien — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:29:07 +0200

The Olympic flame had to be put out for half an hour during its tour around Paris because of havoc wreaked by mainly pro-Tibetan protesters. ChinaWolf, who set up a YouTube channel to "defend the Chinese reputation", explains to us why he thinks the protests were unacceptable.

“Spielberg’s just poking his nose where it’s not wanted”

Julien — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:26:54 +0100

Since this article was posted our regional editor has informed us that the author has become concerned about his security. We have therefore removed the post.

‘2008, looking forward to the Olympic Games and, even more so, a democratic China’

Julien — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:49:47 +0100

A pair of political activists from Shenzhen (south China) are using the Olympic Games to protest against the authorities despite a crackdown on free speech in the run up to the event. Li Tie and Zou Tao publish newsletters and organise protests, and have even prepared for their seemingly inevitable capture by the police. On Chinese New Year's Eve (6 Feb.) they organised a peaceful protest in Shenzhen City. The pair displayed banners reading ‘2008, looking forward to the Olympic Games and, even more so, a democratic China'.

Blogger put in prison for criticising the Olympic Games

Julien — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:09:00 +0100

The famous blogger and defender of human rights Hu Jia was arrested on Dec. 27 for criticising the organisers of the Olympic Games. Specifically, he compared the Beijing Olympic Games to those organised by Nazi Germany in 1936. Hu Jia, 34, has been under house arrest since May last year. Accused of 'inciting subversion of state power',a criminal charge usually used against political dissidents, he risks more than ten years in prison. His wife Zeng Zinyan, also a blogger, is now unable to leave the house and is denied access to the telephone or internet. The couple have a baby of hardly more than one month old. Zhang, our regional editor for China, says that with eight months to go until the Olympics, the government is already tightening up on online comment.

Olympic mania: post-party blues, already

Julien — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:26:00 +0100

Material compiled by Zhang, our regional editor for China.

The Olympic Games will open in Beijing Aug. 8, 2008. For the Chinese authorities and the public, this is more than just a sporting event. In 2001, when the International Olympic Committee selected China to host the games, it was greeted by genuine and overwhelming jubilation across the country. But six years later, there are subdued, but persistent rumblings of discontent. Beijing residents have faced evictions to make way for Olympic construction or by businesses intent on impressing foreigners. The city's Olympic face-lift has left a lot of people homeless. Bloggers are wondering whether the games are good for the people, or for the ‘People's Party,' as the Communist Party is called.

Post your questions to contributing bloggers: Wang Xiaofeng, Doubleleaf Chen and Zhebao Pavilion.