Some days (actually most days) I just wonder why I still care about the 2008 Olympics. Very frustrating really, seems all a total waste of time. No wonder I am taking it VERY easy right now.
Foreign companies bug me with the silliest of ideas and inquiries. They want to sell special eggs for athletes to eat (kind of wonder eggs), small toys to make a clicking sound to cheer up the teams (the sample promptly cut Sun’s finger – Chinese like big stuff they can swing around with flashing lights), etc. etc.
They all expect I am going to make their dream happen at once, just a simple phone call. Well, those inquiries demand lots of work and normally don’t even pay for my taxi.
I am also tired of those endless seminars, every year they talk about the same golden opportunities of 2008, the for certain golden post-Olympic future, etc. etc. Experts give advise, nobody really cares once the seminar is over. One year later, the same scenario.
Now, when you need to contact anybody within BOCOG, good luck. Their “general number” does not work, is officially not even listed in the directory (is on their website, for decoration purposes). So, if you don’t know the direct number, you’ll have to pull all strings to find anybody. Furthermore, most of the staff does not bother to answer e-mails or even pick up the phone. Unless you know them well.
You see, all so easy.
Not that all BOCOG staff are a bunch of useless morons. Not at all. They have their own internal nightmares, like a lack of: real efficient management / decision-making power / budget / competent staff.
Wait a moment: not enough good people? But everybody wants to work there. Well, I was all happy to learn that it is tough to get real good people for the reasons I am tired to explain:
Returning Chinese claim to have excellent qualifications. The fact is, the vast majority does seem to speak some good English but fail miserably in writing skills; they also forgot their own language – Chinese – and fail Chinese language tests. Fresh graduates from local language universities end up being much better – but lack experience for other matters. That is the wise and confidential feedback from BOCOG executives, frustrated. I fully sympathize.
The number of “turtles” or “bananas” coming back to China that are pretty bad in English is staggering. They can’t write one sentence without mistakes. Worst, they often think “they made it”. Yeah. Show me.
So, wanna contact the IOC representative in Beijing? Well, forget that too. Telephone never answers (probably the number is intentionally wrong on the business card). E-mails are received, never answered (not even like “sorry, can’t help”, “bug off”). I guess we poor Beijing mortals are way too low in the scale to be dealt with.
So, if I have questions about ambush marketing, I will not ask them anymore. Maybe we should not even care and all use (free) Li Ning T-shirts (or KANGTA or others), attend the Games and parade in front of the cameras.
Sorry folks. Some days really p*** me off.
Gilbert. After having worked with BOCOG last year, I fully agree with you. Most of them are a bunch of “China top universities” graduates, with hands-on experience near zero. They come to your office, showing off their Beijing 2008 shirts and interested with what you’re saying. And then, begin their speech in floppy English.
When you want to help them, switching in Chinese, they start asking questions just to be sure that you didn’t graduate from a better university than they did. This attempt to help was in fact a big mistake, you were nearly making them lose face. And Beijing 2008 can not lose any piece of face.
Anyway, I am still very confident to attend the most wonderful Olympics in history. No doubt about it. Sadly, only a few people are wondering : at what price will they organize them ?
Still need a copy of Wenlin ?
Some of the higher ranking people have a good expertise. Some others are simply there as a “end of the road” career move. As for the “price”, well, depends on the meaning. In an earlier entry I gave MY figures. But there is another “price”… that is more complicated..
Wenlin: I have a demo, no time yet to have a look but could buy the full version, many people tell me its great.