Before Guests Arrive, Beijing Hides Some Messes

[teech]

Tourists leaving the west gate of the Temple of Heaven next month will probably not notice Song Wei’s home across the street. Nor are spectators along the Olympic marathon route likely to stop by Sun Ruonan’s restaurant nearby. Mr. Song and Ms. Sun live along Beijing’s central axis in neighborhoods that have been gutted to make the city look clean and orderly for the Olympics. Both have held on despite pressure to move. They will spend the Olympics behind walls or screens erected to keep their property out of public view.
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[Nanette]

I am not going to watch one minute of the Olympics.

[teech]

i decided to--it's kind of like the war--you support the troops but not the politics behind it--just a thought

[rightiswrong]

Two things that really bother me about the Olympics recently; rampant commercialization, over zealous nationalism.

I remember back in the 70's when ABC did the coverage; specifically Jim McKay presented stories of athletes from other countries and the incredible odds they may have overcome just to participate. It was about Humanity coming together, above and beyond political differences to compete in a spirit of camaraderie and kinship. Now it's all "USA, USA, USA", the rest of the world sees us as arrogant assholes and I don't blame them.

[Nanette]

Another thing that turned me away was several years ago when they found the skating judges were paid off. There have been several episodes associated with the Olympics that have totally turned me off. I used to love to watch them, but not anymore.