A couple of days ago I took a walk around the Shanghai Stadium and environs with the intention of getting a look at the security presence in light of recent news that the Shanghai police had broken up a terror ring that was planning an attack on the venue during the Games. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to find the atmosphere surrounding the facility to be relatively low-key, ie, no camouflaged soldiers with machine guns, or anti-aircraft batteries (like those surrounding the Bird’s Nest in Beijing). But then, as I was passing by the Huating Hotel, the official hotel for the events to be held at the Shanghai Stadium, I noticed that the relatively thin fencing used to surround it, is electrified.
[Sign reads: Electrified Fencing, Climbing Prohibited"]
For those who don’t know the area, the Huating Hotel and the Shanghai Stadium are located in one of the busiest sections of Shanghai. Densely populated, densely traveled (comparable to surrounding New York City’s Plaza Hotel with electrified fencing, say).
Now, I can’t say that I have any idea as to how much current is running through this fencing (I’ll leave the touch test to the reporters from Outside). And I can’t say that I was even planning to post this photo before yesterday, and the announcement that members of the International Olympic Committee had personally negotiated (that is, accepted) blocks on the internet access provided to foreign journalists at the official Media Centre in Beijing. A happy coincidence, then, that it so perfectly captures the Spirit of the IOC’s complicity in censorship.
IOC, jiayou!
[UPDATE: China Law Blog has a brief, excellent commentary on the IOC's dirty deal. Recommended.]
Something you and China Law Blog miss is that McDonald’s a big Olympic sponsor. These are already the worst Olympics since 1936. China will never get another and the IOC’s image is permanently damaged.
On the contrary, I think this is the best Olimpics ever in the whole history, since it is the first time the Olimpics is held in a developing country which is besieged by historical problems, but still trying its best to host a good game for the world. Just for exposing the deep problems of China, and the real colour of the western powers’ hypocrisy, and for further reflection and improving, this is the perfect occasion.
I’m not sure if it’s the best or the worst – let’s see how the sporting events go. However, I think demin makes a decent point that placing the Games in China has brought to the fore all kinds of issues that wouldn’t have emerged otherwise. That noted, there are times that I really wish that this could just be about sports, and not a proxy for political gripes that would otherwise remain unnoted.
Not a proxy for political gripes? Kind of rich from a blogger that uses the games as a proxy for everything.
Win or Victory, which is more “Olympian” in spirit?
Adam, 1st time here & it’s a decent read, I’ll pop in regularly and watch the weirdness along with you.
I’m picking up, or more accurately splitting hairs, on a piece about selection for the Olympic hostesses. (I’ve more to add on that if you like?)
I was struck by the clumsy language re “Victory Ceremony” beauties Victory? pfft! consulting my dictionary I found ShengLi (??).
I thought China Daily/Xinhua used native English speakers to proof-read? No matter what characters are used in the Mandarin copy that would never have got past me or many others I’ll wager.
Victory, mind you, not Victor’s; the latter suggesting individual achievement; & of course poor old silver & bronze “count for nothing” – just ask Liu Xiang’s coach.
Whilst it’s all just words, and the universal defence of; “it has many meanings in Chinese” will be trotted out, I know just how meticulously people work on semantics here in China. Reflect also on how many feelings have been “hurt” by just words in the past 4 months.
What does ‘The Man’ say on this matter? I decided to start digging. On the IOC site I found 5 references to “Victory Ceremony” and 45 on the more palatable “medal ceremony”. Not much ambiguity there.
Searching English Xinhua…… “medal ceremony” throws back 2 pages of results mostly pertaining to the 2004 Athens Games.
So there’s absolutely no precedence or trend to follow here is there?
With a sarcastic nod to Mattel’s embarrassing situation last year, perhaps it’s the IOC’s fault for not writing out in big purple crayon any clear instruction on what terminology to use?
Whilst contrariness has on occasion characterised statements coming from official organs in China, I’d have thought that if there was one time to ‘unswervingly adhere to the policy of copy & paste from the IOC site’ it would have been right now.
BTW, “Victory ceremony” pulls far fewer results and exclusively for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha – the last time China competed as a nation…and of course we may see it in the name of the Division (military again!) responsible for organising the medals this year.
Rather than accept that as proof that they’re out to get us I thought I’d try reading some Chinese sites for clarification (yeah, right!)
My Mandarin is truly terrible & I don’t write ANY so this was a huge undertaking. On the Beijing2008 site I’ve not seen shenLi printed together with ceremony (yi) or medal (ban jiang) however, I did find ???? (lit. bestow prize courtesy ceremony).
I like that…much nicer, and my eyes were hurting so I stopped there.
So, a refutation; and there they are, 100+ results for that phrase. It’s simply some muppet at China Daily………or so I thought. Just before closing the official site and it’s millions of windows, just out of curiosity I flipped to English & banged in “victory ceremony” …… lo & behold 48 results.
I admit to being a complete dumb-ass & not going straight to the Official English site since I can also find 100+ entries for “medal ceremony”……wtf!
Where will agencies & news desks get their copy from?
If you read only China Daily/Xinhua copy in English you might get prickly at victory or at least roll your eyes in contempt at the Chinglish.
If you do dig around the official site you’ll see rigid consistency in Mandarin and bizarre flip-flopping in English, which is tempting reporters & people like me with nothing to do to scorn either/or/both the amateurish carelessness (finally! 1 Olympian ideal upheld!) & the pompous, militaristic language.
It’s all a deliberate trap* to invite further critique & an evil plot to waste one whole day of my life. And it worked magnificently – curses!
*See the hilarious spoof about the Games over on The Onion. It works on a couple of levels (WMD?). I hope it doesn’t get posted to domestic portals as the satire might elude some at first. Or perhaps I do
Watching the weirdness
Mandarin script doesn’t work here?