Going to my CCTV9 interview I made these shots of the oh so cute VW cars (the New Beatle) and the dressing up of some buildings.
Call it the Olympic spirit. And the sky was, yes, BLUE.
Month: August 2008
Ticket scalpers and incompetent police
When we went to watch the football game Belgium – Italy in Gongti, we helped to distribute many tickets we had secured from the sports people, and made many people happy. When Sun was handing them out at the entrance, plain-clothes police approached her, asked her what she was doing. She was soon tricked by them, explanations to no avail and she found herself basically locked up in the police station near The Tree in Sanlitun. After patiently trying to explain she really got mad, called some high friends who then forced the police to apologize and let her go. Result, some of the Belgians failed to get their ticket and Sun arrived only during the second half of the game.
The same evening we went back to the police station, for me to take a picture. With their paranoia they also built an iron gate between The Tree and the station. Sun told them again in her very direct way what she thought of their lack of professionalism. And she also called up half of Beijing’s government people to complain. You don’t mess with Sun.
Obviously coordination between the police forces is poor and there is too much incompetence.
We have some good friends in the security forces and they try to do a good job. But there are others who are totally brutal, inept and treat normal Chinese citizens worse than animals. Disgusting really and I despise them, including the totally useless traffic police. They never do anything but make life miserable for taxi drivers and others. They stand in the middle of traffic chaos without even noticing.
Those are the shame of China and as long as the government does not clean up, it will only bring more resentment among Chinese and foreigners alike. They spoil the image of a friendly China.
Ticket scalpers have been very busy doing their work, one day the police completely ignores them and another day they round up everybody without even checking.
A lot is to be said of the disaster ticket sales for the Olympic events. Whole sections of stadiums are empty and authorities sometimes at the last minute bring in buses of “spectators” to fill the seats for TV consumption. And normal people can’t find tickets. In a way, thanks to the scalpers, people find tickets, be it at astronomic prices.
Seems the Beijing Olympics are the worst in this category. Athens tickets were expensive but were available. In the end, Beijing tickets are more expensive – I was offered tickets for Brazil – Argentina on 19 August for 5000 RMB. The ticket I got from the sports people cost me 400 RMB.
19 August and the Olympics
China is in shock with the sudden withdrawal of Liu Xiang, one of the greatest idols. Sad really but our Chinese friends should show understanding, he has been under tremendous pressure. He remains a great athlete and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
Till now the Games are going rather well, the attention being focused on what it is supposed to be: a sports event. Many records are shattered and the performance of Michael Phelps and the whole incredible team of our Jamaican friends are just marvelous.
I am now hooked myself on watching the Games late at night on TV. The coverage is a bit poor at times with the narrow focus on the great great great Chinese. Too little attention for the more modest athletes and countries. Also reflected in the way China counts the ranking: gold medals count, the rest never mind. The USA rather counts the total medals (in their favor) and I think this is fair for the athletes. In China a silver or bronze medal is sometimes regarded as a “loss of face”.
We Belgians are now crossing fingers for the football. Our poor country is not doing so well overall. No medals yet. OK, we are small but I see smaller countries getting medals. What is wrong with us? Where are our cyclists? Are we so crappy?
As for the expectations that China will be more open because of the Olympics, I am not impressed at all. The Internet even today remains censored. Still no way to directly reach Marianne’s blog (see her blog link under my favorites).
The press here remains very muted and nothing “not nice” can be reported. Sad but not a surprise for me.
But things filter out. Like the real bad behavior of the Chinese football team against Belgium – Chinese bloggers called it “The Chinese team just won two red medals” – one being for Tan Wangsong kicking a Belgian player with his foot into his “private parts”. So, as bloggers said, they are confounding martial arts and football.
And the story about the famous dancer hurt during rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony – she is now paralyzed. The media were asked not to report it but eventually the news came out. Press freedom? You must be joking.
OK, we could be worse off. The world is afraid of the “military threat of China”. Better watch the Russians coz those guys really scare the hell out of me.
And the nightlife here, though limited in part is still roaring. Foreigners seem to have a good time.
All under a gorgeous blue sky, no pollution, not steamy hot anymore.
Just as I told you long time ago.
Gilbert on CCTV2, 4 and 9 (updated version 2)
(edited on 21 August, more pics)
Some of you might have seen me…
CCTV2 made a small documentary (15 min) about me and my involvement in the Olympics. For 3 days they followed me around, in the office meeting room, in my private office, near the Watercube, in a Swisscham networking event and, yes, in my gym – California Fitness. We had a good time, even with all the hard work, the heath, the hassle.
See the shooting in the gym, pictures provided by the PR company Edelman.
The documentary was shown on CCTV2 and later several times on CCTV4.
See here also pics from the shooting near the Watercube, with the CCTV9 crew!
Last Saturday (16 August) I was invited by CCTV9 to be part of their “17 Days”, a life program taped in their studios next to the Millennium Monument. The topic is of course … Olympics.
Host was Ms. Tian Wei and I joined the other panelist, Mr. Zhu Yinghuang, Editor in Chief Emeritus of China Daily. We had received a long list of tough questions to discuss but at the end little time was left for us to really discuss in depth. See the CCTV building, the make-up room and the studio.
I enjoyed most the overall experience, the preparations (make-up room…), the intensity of the program with all the news flashes. And the people who were all real nice (which is not exactly always the case with FOREIGN journalists!). Mr. Zhu and me were then invited for a Shanghai lunch where we really discussed in depth…
Gilbert on CCTV2, 4 and 9 (version1)
NOTE: THIS IS FOR TESTING ONLY, SEE VERSION 2!
Some of you might have seen me…
CCTV2 made a small documentary (15 min) about me and my involvement in the Olympics. For 3 days they followed me around, in the office meeting room, in my private office, near the Watercube, in a Swisscham networking event and, yes, in my gym – California Fitness. We had a good time, even with all the hard work, the heath, the hassle.
See the shooting in the gym, pictures provided by the PR company Edelman.
The documentary was shown on CCTV2 and later several times on CCTV4.
Last Saturday (16 August) I was invited by CCTV9 to be part of their “17 Days”, a life program taped in their studios next to the Millennium Monument. The topic is of course … Olympics.
Host was Ms. Tian Wei and I joined the other panelist, Mr. Zhu Yinghuang, Editor in Chief Emeritus of China Daily. We had received a long list of tough questions to discuss but at the end little time was left for us to really discuss in depth. See the CCTV building, the make-up room and the studio.
I enjoyed most the overall experience, the preparations (make-up room…), the intensity of the program with all the news flashes. And the people who were all real nice (which is not exactly always the case with FOREIGN journalists!). Mr. Zhu and me were then invited for a Shanghai lunch where we really discussed in depth…
I enjoyed most the overall experience, the prepations (make-up room…), the intensity of the program with all the news flashes. And the people who were all real nice (which is not exactly always the case with FOREIGN journalists!). Mr. Zhu and me were then invited for a Shanghai lunch where we really discussed in depth…