Just very recently I was in one of those meetings where I am supposed to sit with seasoned executives. Oh well. In Brazil we had a famous comedian (Jo Soares) who would say “A ignoráncia desta juventude é um espanto”. Something like “The ignorance of these young people is unbelievable”. Actually untranslatable and difficult to explain if one never saw the program.
Well, for me, many of those executives are the ignorant ones. Or maybe I am just frequenting the wrong crowd.
Many have no clue about a computer, neither about IT in general. They do use their mobiles a lot. (How do they manage that? OK, they do disturb everybody with the loud ringing). They claim to understand China. After 27 years of China I feel I am still in kindergarten myself.
They seem totally clueless about how Beijing will handle the Olympics. They seem well brainwashed by China Daily (not reading well the newspaper). They don’t see the logistical thunderclouds approaching. I just went through days and days of discussions with specialists, foreigners and Chinese and local government and we all agreed we need to “fasten seatbelts”. So, it hurts when my remarks on some risk issues are considered as some silly ideas by those so-called execs. It is actually often unbelievable the amount of rubbish I have to listen to myself.
Well, there is always a lesson somewhere:
– they are execs with probably fatter wallets than me, so what’s the use of my wisdom;
– trying to suggest well-intended plans out of pure idealism is mostly looked up on like “this guy must have a hidden agenda”;
– the wisdom I have, correction, the bits of information I have about the 2008 Olympics & China: I sell myself too cheaply.
As the same famous Brazilian comedian said:
“Cale te boca”.
Read: shut your (big) mouth.
Or another – French – piece of wisdom: “On a tort d’avoir raison” – you are wrong to be right.
With that I need a good whisky.
2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 Olympics: the quest for tickets, hotel, etc.
On 4 Sept 07, Bencham invited Olivier Carteret, CEO of ARISTEIA Sport Communication to explain how they handle the sales of tickets and packages for the Beijing Olympics.
Aristeia has been appointed as the exclusive supplier for tickets in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco. That means, if you live in those countries you must pass through them. Don’t even think of trying to get them here directly.
The turn-out for the presentation was a bit low, a real pity as it was a lively presentation and discussion.
Olivier introduced by Bencham, Rini Quirijns
Again, Bencham members received the electronic copy of the presentation.
Olivier explained that many people, especially working in Beijing, still have some illusions like they will be able to get, for the period of the Olympics, airplane tickets, restaurants and venues for meetings and hospitality, transportation, tickets for their guests, etc.
Some companies tried but had to get back to Aristeia six months later as they had failed to get what they wanted.
Aristeia is working very closely with BOCOG to secure hotel rooms, transportation and of course tickets for the competition events.
One of the issues Aristeia has to deal with is securing competent staff, so they do in-house training.
They have a wide range of packages, for the normal tourist up to the demanding corporate client. But the more you ask for, the more you’ll pay and it won’t come cheap.
You are warned also – better just stick to the officially appointed agencies like Aristeia, don’t trust all those fancy offers.
One of my concerns is that many of the food & beverage outlets as well as entertainment venues will not be open to the public, either because they are not allowed or able to operate or because they will be taken over completely to handle corporate hospitality. Olivier confirmed at least in part my concern.
Another controversial aspect, not discussed in the seminar, are the “National Houses” planned by many countries (and even Chinese provinces). Some of those countries might face some unexpected bureaucratic hurdles I won’t explain here…
“Strebelle in Beijing 2008”: balloons are up
I reported earlier on the artwork that will be in place for the 2008 Olympics, search for “Strebelle” in this blog.
As the groups of sculptures are pretty tall – up to 20 m – it was interesting to have an idea of the actual size within the Olympic Park. Solution: balloons, one for the first group (red), one for the average height (multi-color) and one for the maximum height (green).
The Strebelle technical team made the experiment with its Beijing counterpart on 1 September.
See some of the pics with different views on the balloons, the Olympic Weather Monitoring Station, the technical team and how the trees are coming along in the Park.
Hopefully the weather station will be able to report better API than in the past days.
2008 photo exhibition
On 15 September I was invited to the Opening Ceremony – New Beijing Great Olympics Photo Exhibition Tour, in Capital Tower, Jianguomenwai Dajie (in front of China World Hotel).
See some pics from the opening ceremony in the lobby, with Dr. Mao Da Qing, CapitaLand (China) Investment, Ms. Wang Hui, vice director – BOCOG Media and Communications Department, David Brooks, Coca Cola 2008 Olympics Project Group General Manager, Sun Changtai, Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau, Party Secretary, Chen Gang, Chaoyang Mayor (and me).
Exhibition will be open from 15 to 30 September 2007 on the 26th floor.
The winning picture of our friend Peter Danford (Watercube interior) is part of the exhibit.
The movie on Gilbert is finished!
In June 2006 I got a strange call that worried me a bit at first. It was the State Council, Information Office. Not exactly the people you want to mess with. Was it my vicious blog?
As it turned out, they wanted to make a movie about me, related to the 2008 Olympics.
The shooting took a long time, started I think in August 2006 and ended sometime in early 2007. Then, nothing until August when we received the DVD. Cool. In all, thirty minutes documentary about me as one of the people who have helped Beijing to prepare for the Olympics.
the interview in our meeting room – shooting in my private office
My patience was rewarded, fortunately the crew were all nice people and we got along quite well. And no, I did NOT bribe them though you will sure think so when you watch the movie.
They dug up old footage from CCTV5 and other TV stations, delved in my family pictures. The result is well done.
The documentary will be shown worldwide on Chinese TV channels and also on national stations in China, I guess CCTV5 and others. Time has not been set yet, segments about other foreigners are still waiting to be completed.
For the photo gallery of the shooting, click the following link:
http://homepage.mac.com/bjprc/PhotoAlbum7.html