There'll be life after the Games
Liu Binjie, director of the General Administration of Media and Publication, gave the world his word on the country's openness for the media. He promised that China would open wider to foreign media outlets after the Beijing Olympics. "The policy would not be a flash in the pan." Liu was definite about the scenario that the door should not be shut to foreign journalists. During the Games, Beijing, if not the whole country, will be put under the microscopes of thousands of foreign journalists. The foreign media outlets worried that the freedom to cover the country would be gone with the Games. Now what Liu said should reassure them.
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A feature writer of this newspaper had sensible guesses on what Zhang Yimou would have for the opening ceremony of the Games. The South Korea's SBS tried to ruin our expectations and imaginations on the big show. It is believed to be a surprise for fun and rapture. The SBS's eagerness to broadcast the rehearsal of the opening ceremony, to some extent, deprived us of the big chance for awe and joy. While the TV station apologized for its impatience, it has made itself the public enemy No 1 for sports aficionados.
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Again, the Olympic Games will be a big event for China, Beijing in particular. The feeling of joy aside, the Games has helped make the city more presentable. Beijing will gain much out of it for years to come. A poster on the street reads: "Stay in so as to make space for foreign friends." A display of our hospitality for friends, especially those from the alien lands. We care so much about whether foreign friends are happy with us. On edge, sometimes. The Games is a big fun party for people all over the world. Fun should come before the medals we are going to collect and the recognition of the world community.
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Sunny days? Rainy days? Or foggy days? What would the weather be for the next three weeks? Weather conditions are an area that we have found so hard to mend for our purposes. We do play rain-makers sometimes when moisture levels in the atmosphere are high enough. But we cannot stop rain. This is really worrisome for Beijing that is going to see the Games opening on Friday. Sure, this summer, accompanied with high temperature, humidity and heavy fogs every now and then, is unusual for the city. Guo Wenli, who is in charge of the weather forecast in Beijing, foretold that no foggy days with high temperature and humidity are around the corner. High temperature should not be a problem, at least for the track competitors. It helps keep their muscles warm and their competitive edge. As we can manage the weather only in a small way, the best thing the weather people can do should be to present as accurate forecasts as possible.
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The Ministry of Public Security's pamphlet on the know-how on the fight against terrorism was appreciated by Beijingers. The residents are supposed to help the public security staff spot the terrorist suspects and be protected against terrorist attacks. Handy leaflets. The people have to get prepared. And this is not an issue only for city dwellers. If the brochures were available for every literate individual, they would cost the government dearly. How about one handout for one family?
