 Short Takes
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-23 07:27 Beijing World's press now on sale Foreign newspapers and magazines are being sold at eight newsstands near Olympic venues in Beijing and Qingdao, some of them for the first time in China. The publications are from the United States, the UK, Germany, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They have been on sale since Monday, the China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Corp, which imports the publications, told the Xinhua News Agency yesterday. Aid to integration Beijing's hosting of the Olympics will help China better integrate into the world, France's Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous said yesterday. "It has sped up Beijing's modern construction: the fast-developing rail transit network, the improved public facilities, the reduced pollutant emissions and the improvement of air quality." It had also accelerated the country's integration with the world, presenting a more transparent China, he said. Ducks 'safe' to eat Peking duck served to Olympic athletes will be "100 percent" safe, Quanjude, a leading restaurant, said. A manager of the century-old restaurant chain said the famed dish will be put through three tests, including an anti-doping one, before being served at the Olympic Village. The ducks are provided by a special breeding center designated by BOCOG, the manager said. Concerts need approval All concerts during the Olympics need government approval, a Beijing municipal culture bureau spokeswoman told a press conference yesterday. At present, performances at hotels, bars and other venues are only allowed to be given by approved firms and foreign performers with employment visas, Wang Zhu said. "But performers with only tourist visas will be banned from commercial performances," she said. She denied rumors that all musical performances at bars will be banned. "All performances that have been approved by the government are still going on in Beijing. The banned ones are those that have not received approval," Wang said. Sale of last tickets The last batch of tickets for next month's Olympic Games will go on sale from Friday at Olympic venue ticket booths, organizers said yesterday. Of the 820,000 tickets that will go on sale, 250,000 are for the sports events in Beijing, while the rest are for football competitions in Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao. In almost all of 28 sports events there are tickets still available, Beijing Olympics ticketing director Zhu Yan said. Hong Kong You've all done very well Tsang Tak-sing, Hong Kong's secretary for home affairs, yesterday applauded efforts to promote the Olympics in the region's Sha Tin, where the Olympic equestrian events will be held. Tsang officiated at the opening of City Art Square, part of the leisure and cultural services department's beautification project at Sha Tin Town Hall in the New Territories. Sculptures and public art installations designed by 19 foreign and local artists will be exhibited at the square. Wellington Everything is 'wonderful' New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general Barry Maister said yesterday he was confident Beijing will host a "wonderful Olympic Games next month". He said had attended several Olympics, but the facilities in Beijing "are the best". He said the first wave of New Zealand Olympic Team's management has registered at the Olympic Village and are being well looked after. New Zealand will send a record 182 athletes to Beijing, he said. China Daily - Agencies (China Daily 07/23/2008 page6) |
