Friday morning 11am in Beijing, the sky is gray, the World Trade Center Tower 3 is nowhere to be seen. On my balcony it’s sticky, over 30C. But little or no dust. Unlucky Beijing really, pollution levels (API) have been going up and were yesterday around 100. We all hope there will be some rain in the afternoon to cool down the city, wash away the fog.
Yesterday I went to the opening of the Holland Heineken House, a very select crowd so it was not packed and it was great to have a tour of the facilities before they become off limits for people like me. They did a great job really. Hein Verbruggen was there, well hidden from the public. I did not feel I should talk with him as he would probably tell me (again) the air was fine in Beijing. As for the BOIC, nothing much from that corner. Never mind the Belgian team and all those people flocking around. They only contacted in the past to get something solved and then disappeared. Well, to their credit they just offered us tickets for some of the Games and I will be one of the lucky ones. Sunday evening I will join the Aussies. Sunday lunch I will join the French community with all the big shots in town from French countries. I guess Belgium will not be there.
I also had my first ride on Metro Line 10. Great, very modern and pleasant.
In the evening I watched Shanghai TV, a more than 2 hour program on the history of the Olympics, as seen by China. I was the only foreigner interviewed… The producer promised the DVD, hopefully I’ll get it. This follows the 15 min. footage about me last Monday on CCTV2 (will be shown again on Sunday, on CCTV4). Included me running on the treadmill in California Fitness and the usual interviews. They also called me a “party animal”. How they have this impression I don’t know. Maybe because I went to Tango, Suzie Wong, 1949 1/5, China Doll, The Den(mark) and others recently? Well, looks like the nightlife here is still going strong, at least in some discos and bars. Clubbing goes on. No panic.
Today will be a long day (and night). I will join the crew of RTBF (Belgian French TV) as from 4pm till 1am, we will be in two locations next to the Bird’s Nest and Watercube, in TV studios. Life interviews are planned (for the news over there in Belgium) and I should be on air except I fall asleep, I get drunk (unlikely), I did not get a drink to wake up (likely), we are stopped by the dozens of security screenings, or any other Act of God.
So, I might not see much of the Opening Ceremony except the fireworks. As I saw most of it already anyway, no big worry. Anyway it will be shown over and over again.
Wish Beijing luck, as well as all of us here. Sorry for not posting some of the nice pics I have… too busy… Later…