Light the Torch – Beijing Olympics and Other Olympic News

From a Beijing Blogger’s Point of View…

by Sandy Mitchell on July 18th, 2008

Mike, who writes the Olympic blog: 08:08:08, is an Australian who moved to Beijing this spring specifically to be in the middle of the action leading up to and during the Beijing Games. If that isn’t the true spirit of travel writing, I don’t know what is. He agreed to chat with us about what it’s like in Beijing right now and his thoughts on the up-coming Olympics. Here’s what he had to say:

Torch: Can you tell “Light the Torch” readers a little about your background and why you decided to move to Beijing for the Olympic Games?
I started my blog on a whim in 2005. I was living in Japan at the time. I had been to China several times and spent a year studying Mandarin in Wuhan, China in 1998. During that year I traveled up to Beijing a few times and thought it was a cool and interesting city.

I quit my job in Japan at the end of 2006 and started blogging and making websites full-time, while traveling around South East Asia. Around mid-2007 I thought it would be cool to head up to Beijing and start taking some pictures and writing about what was actually happening. I had started hearing about these fantastic new stadiums being built and wanted to see them for myself. I thought I had a good opportunity to do something with my blog and I could provide a different perspective on the games to the traditional media outlets.

The winter was too cold for me, so I went back to Australia for Christmas and then returned to China in March this year. Having spent a year in China 10 years ago, I was interested in seeing how China has changed in that time and the effect the Olympics would have on the country.

Torch: Is this your first time in Beijing?
The first time I visited the city was in 1998. I spent 3 months here last year and have been here from March this year.

Torch: Beijing seems a flurry of activity right now, before the Games. What is going on there that isn’t being covered by the Western press?
I would say most of the articles and stories I have read are pretty accurate and most of which is happening is being covered. Most of the journalists have a lot of experience living and reporting on China.

The press can sometimes be a little slow to pick up stories though, like the crackdown on visas. The China forums were going crazy for a couple of months before the press wrote anything about it, now there are stories daily on the topic. Something which I have noticed in forums and blogs is that factories and production are now being affected by the Olympics. This could have an affect on the Chinese economy, but it is still probably too early to say. I wouldn’t be surprised to find examples of companies moving production to neighboring countries like Vietnam because of the Olympics.

Torch: Is the smog really as bad as it seems in the pictures?
The pollution has its good and bad days. Most of last month the sky was covered in a thick fog, which you would expect to see in winter, but the weather was actually warm and humid. Beijing has also had a bit of rain recently which helps to clear the pollution. Everything always seems to be covered in dust. If you have a new car, you really need to wash it every second day to keep it nice. I don’t suffer from any breathing problems, but I think if you suffered from asthma you wouldn’t want to stay in Beijing for long.

While gymnastics and swimming events won’t have any trouble, outdoor endurance events such as the marathon and triathlon could be in trouble. When I have ridden my bike around on busy roads, I feel a slight pain in my chest. I much prefer to go to an air-conditioned gym to exercise!

Torch: Are you planning on attending any of the events? If so, which ones? Do you have a favorite Olympic event?
I didn’t apply for tickets as I wasn’t sure if I would stay in Beijing or not. I am also planning to do a lot of blogging while the Olympics are on. The beach volleyball is not far from my house, so I might try and go to that if I can get some tickets. I went to many of the test events this year and last year including: rhythmic gymnastics, boxing, gymnastics, synchronized swimming, basketball, softball, boxing and wushu. The events were cheap and only lightly attended so I had a good chance to see the new stadiums and sit close to the action.

I like martial events like taekwando, boxing and judo. Since I am from Australia, I will be keen to watch the swimming. Many people make fun of the rhythmic gymnastics, but after seeing them live last year I have a greater appreciation for them.

Torch: What, if anything, has surprised you about the Olympic preparations?
I thought it would be difficult to find accommodation(s), but that turned out to be easy. I am surprised at the increase in security and the closing down of anything that might embarrass China, even though they have been written about endlessly in the press. I thought there would be more events and festivals leading up to the games, but any annual festivals have actually been canceled or postponed until after the Olympics. The lead up to the games have been a little boring in that regard. With all the security and police around, it feels more like they are preparing for a war.

Torch: What advice do you have for any readers that are going to Beijing for the Games?
It is important to be aware of the different tourist scams. I have written about them on my blog here and here.

Foreigners are required to carry their passports with them at all times. The police are checking people frequently, so it is a good idea to take your passport with everywhere.

People should visit their doctor and get the necessary vaccinations. People should also take a good hat, sun screen and mosquito repellent. Although, you might need to buy the last two items when you get to China, as many airlines ban people taking liquids on flights.

Thanks, Mike for taking the time to talk with us. You can view Mike’s videos of his experiences in Beijing this spring and summer on his YouTube page.

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POSTED IN: Beijing 2008