As I say since over a year, the biggest risk Beijing faces for the Olympics is the impression it will leave on the media and on the visitors. In their typical zealous paranoia, the authorities will try to shuffle all the stuff they deem inappropriate under the carpet.
They will even provide Bibles in the hotel rooms during the 2008 Olympics. Of course, after the Games, they will be promptly removed. You see, all to clear up “foreigner’s misunderstandings about religion in China”.
Of course they officially and vehemently deny they will make Beijing a sterile and sanitized city (reminds me here of McCain in Baghdad – rings a bell?). Don’t say I didn’t tell you.
Already now migrants are being told that according to their jobs they will have to “take holiday” during the Olympics. No more massage in private rooms, etc. etc.( ED treatment will be suspended, I guess – so, hurry up guys!). Maybe massage will be allowed only by the same sex (I detect here opportunities for Destination?), easy, they can dust off the old regulations (that were never cancelled). So, many of the staff have been given instructions on the “evacuation plan” – who will stay and who will not. Expect many of the entertainment venues to be simply closed down. “Hair cuts” will be difficult. Interesting question: will Destination and Maggie’s still be open? I guess you can answer that question yourself. That will also be a change for the Gongti Strip.
The risk might be, they will chase away so many of the migrants there will be nobody left in the service sector. Beijing residents are not particularly known to be “good” in providing services.
It’s not going to be a “fun Olympics” as it looks like. Will be a bit like watching CCTV on the Eve of Chinese New Year. Yawn. Yawn. One more beer?