Olympic Games Beijing 2008

A terrible earthquake struck the Sichuan region in China last week.A week later, survivors are scarce. Three days of national mourning were enforced by the Chinese government yesterday. Bars, clubs and karaokes will be closed. The Olympic relay will be suspended. The cities of Shanghai, Ningbo and Jiaxing might not get there stop. Today, China tries to help its people, not to promote any kind of recreation. Lives are worth much more than yuans.

Today, the flame went up the symbol of Tibet.

No information was released by the Chinese authorities, not even the weather forecast for this national event. That had to be protected from Human rights and pro Tibet NGOs. The Everest belongs to Tibet and Tibet is part of China. That had to be clear and it is now clearer in everybody’s eyes. The torch was carried by 36 people, 24 Tibetans, 10 Hans, 1 Tujia and 1 Tu, two other ethnics from China. For 4 days they went up the Everest. The event was “live” on CCTV, the Chinese broadcaster, with a precise countdown. The last relay was a young woman from Tibet. All the members also took their oxygen masks off in order to screan their joy to the Chinese people. Great national event or propaganda? A little bit of both.

The Hongkongese stage of the Olympic torch was the last democratic stage of the torch relay. A week from now, when the torch will enter mainland China, human rights activists will be replaced by a marketing propaganda by the main sponsors. In Hong Kong, some activists and pro Tibet were seen. Many Chinese from mainland China were there due to the holidays in China. The NGO, Dream for Darfur, held an event criticizing the position of China towards Sudan and Darfur. The actress Mia Farrow spoke there. She flew 32 hours to attend the event. Sponsors were criticized, especially Coca Cola; sponsor of the 1936 Games and the 1940 winter Games in Germany that were cancelled. Funny thing to see that Coke is always obeying its thirst. China recently changed it position towards Sudan. Will China ever have exemplary position on the political world stage? One day maybe.

The torch also went through Macao and its 29 casinos. The time spent there was 3 hours at the most. Two Human rights activists from Hong Kong were stopped at the border. No trouble was made. The torch will continue to Hainan, and then will be in Guangzhou and its new stadium. There will be 113 stops in mainland China before entering the Olympic stadium in Beijing on August 8th.

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 Chinese police or BOCOG members. Pro Tibet manifestations were peacefully held. Some garbage was thrown at the flame and at the huge number of Chinese supporters. China and Japan are huge rivals, more since the Japanese occupation and the Nanjing massacre. But here, everything was smooth. China and Japan can keep on doing business.

The South Korean stop was one of the most violent. More than 6000 Chinese students gathered to support the Olympics in Beijing. North Korean demonstrated against how they were sent back to North Korea from China. There brothers from South Korea showed how Human rights were not respected in China. Chinese students reacted by throwing stones and cans at them. Two Americans, wearing a free Tibet t-shirt, were mugged, Koreans were beaten down. Incredible! Chinese students attacking Koreans on their own soil. Relations between these two countries are going to be tense. China’s nationalism is at its paroxysm.

The route through North Korea was the first ever there. It was a huge party for the people who are imprisoned by the government. Only one TV channel, one radio station that you can not turn off. A member of the 1966 football squad lit a vase at the end of the relay. Bright day for the Olympics and for the people.

In 100 days, the games will begin. The torch is in Vietnam today. Two people have already been arrested.