Japan, Korea, Vietnam: Zone of turbulence.

The Olympic torch is visiting the last countries before entering China. The last hours outside of China were busy.
In Nagano, the host of the 1998 winter Olympics, the route was changed. The Buddhist temple Zenkoji did not want to be part of the route. Japan also refused that the flame would be escorted by the […]

Filed under: Olympic Relay


The Marketing of the Party

China suffers from the image of its party. The western world does not like the totalitarian image of China. Months from the opening ceremony, the marketing machine is on.
Image! That is what the Beijing Olympic bid was based on. The city turned to a XXIst century city by destroying most of what was from the […]

Filed under: 0lympic Games Business


Tibet, truth and lie.

Since the Olympic torch was in Paris, a few anti-French demonstrations have started in China. The French people disrespected China by embracing the free Tibet cause.
Tibet is a part of China. French dissident can not understand why the Chinese government continues to prevent the Tibetan from independence and freedom, not only territorial independence but cultural […]

Filed under: Politics 2008


Adidas, Nike and LiNing : What is at stakes ?

In 4 months, competition will not only be on the field. Equipments brands will represent the best athletes and nations. The two biggest, Nike and Adidas will also face competition from the Chinese giant LiNing.
Europe, the US and Asia, represented by Adidas, Nike and LiNing will try to beat sales record during the Olympics. Nike […]

Filed under: 0lympic Games Business


The Olympic torch in Africa

The Olympic torch was in Tanzania last week. Everything went as planned, no free Tibet demonstrations. Let’s come back on the recent links between China and Africa.
Is China, after Europe and the US, the latest country to steal the African continent? The torch and the way everything was so smooth showed how the Chinese and […]

Filed under: Beijing 2008


“China puts pressure on foreigners”

Two weeks after the Olympic torch relay in Paris and the fiasco we all know it was, China and its people start answering to their European counterparts. Foreign industries and expats are the targets of the Chinese.
Here goes the rumour. Mc Donalds, KFC, LVMH would support the Tibetan regime. None of it is true. Sponsors […]

Filed under: 0lympic Games Business


« Whose BADge ? »

The CNOSF president ruled out yesterday the wear of a badge by French athletes during the Olympics.
The “For a better world” badge, a phrase that takes words from the first sentence of the Olympic chart was revealed a couple of weeks ago by French athletes. It showed how the French were contributing to human rights […]

Filed under: Beijing 2008


One Nation Under CCTV

Many artists were quiet on the Olympic games/Human rights problems. Steven Spielberg recently decided not to supervise the production and the screenplay of the opening ceremony. A famous British street artist, Banksy did an artwork in London on a post office near Oxford Circus. It says “One nation under CCTV”, CCTV being video surveillance and […]

Filed under: Beijing 2008


« Here come the Men in Blue »

Throughout the world, the olympic torch is escorted by some weird people.
Blue tracksuits, Beijing 2008 logos, cap, black sunglasses, headphone, the whole world has seen these people around the flame and the runners. They are called the Men in Blue. Who are they? They are members of the Chinese paramilitary forces. There strength is by […]

Filed under: Beijing 2008