Stories about Olympics from July, 2008
China: VPN to beat Olympic internet censorship
Via PandaPassport‘s Rick Martin on Facebook: “For anyone inside China, this is a great way to be able to view whatever content you like. Just a quick software install and you're ready to go…give it a try.
Lithuania: President Abstains from Attending Olympics
Lituanica reports that the Lithuanian president, Valdas Adamkus, has decided not to attend the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.
China: All shook up by the torch relay
It's a double-edged Olympic torch. Veteran sports journalist Guan Jun shares a short sketch on his Beijing Olympics blog of how disruptive preparations for the torch relay proved to be for those living alongside the road chosen for the relay route.
China: Sneak peak at Beijing Games opening ceremony
Danwei.org has been on a very long roll with its Olympics coverage, and now founder Jeremy Goldkorn has found clips of an opening ceremony rehearsal taken covertly by a Korean television crew. (Update: yes, it took a few minutes for the clip to be harmonized. This might work, however.)
China: Beijing Olympics
DANWEI translates two blog posts about how the Olympics affects Beijing people's everyday life.
China: Demonstration Area
Hu yong hopes that the three demonstration areas set up during the Olympics would continue to exist after the international event.
Czech Republic: Fear of the Olympic China
The Czech Daily Word explains why “Czech athletes are a little afraid to go to China.”
China: The Great Mascot Conspiracy
Of all the various interpretations of what the Fuwas could or should represent we've seen recently, ‘The Great Mascot Conspiracy’ from Angry Chinese Blogger has definitely done it better.
China: Beijing on the eve of the Olympics
There's been lots of talk of the ‘leave Beijing for the Olympics’ (避孕) movement, but how's it looking for those who are going to stick it through (受孕)? Danwei.org‘s Joel Martinsen translates two definitive blog posts from the latter camp in ‘Life in Beijing on the eve of the Olympics’.
China: Olympic Internet Access Fee
Andrew is very surprised about the Internet access fee in the media center at Beijing Olympics.
China: Bring your own wifi routers with you!
Re: exorbitant prices for internet access in Beijing's Olympic Media Village, one writer on Andrew Lih's AndrewLih.com: “I just can’t believe that not only do I have to deal with the Great Firewall of China, but also pay through the nose to use it!”
China: Olympic Lie
Zhaomu comments on a recent report claiming that Bill Gate will spend 100 millions to rent a high rise courtyard of one year in Beijing in order to have the best view on Olympics. The blogger anticipates more Olympic lies in the coming months.
Czech Republic, China: Pre-Olympics Scandal
The Czech Daily Word reports on the problems in relationship between the Czech Republic and China on the eve of the Olympics.
China: Unheard of ‘Turkestan Islamic Party’ claims recent bombings
Do not confuse the unknown Turkestan Islamic Party with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, writes the New Dominion blogger in their detailed post today on the news today of a Commander Seyfullah reportedly taking responsibility for recent bombing incidents in China and the video accompanying the claims (update: someone mentions...
China: Olympic blog shutdown continues
One of China's oldest blog service providers, Sohoxiaobao, has been kept shut down for a week already and looks to stay that way until the Beijing Olympics wrap up in late August.
China: Police Olympics guide to stopping “illegal news coverage”
How many times has the BOCOG promised that foreign reporters will be given full reign to interview and report during the Olympics Games? Davesgonechina at Mutant Palm looks at the somewhat different story that Chinese police are—and have been, for at least two years—prepared to tell. This story was linked...
China: (Not) welcoming George Bush to the Olympics
You've probably already heard that American president George W. Bush will be attending next month's Olympic Games in Beijing, but have you checked to see if you'll be sitting next to him? You might want to check again after you've seen this Olympic countdown clock.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Track & Field
Raw Politics…Jamaica Style! writes a detailed post about the Track and Field component of the upcoming Olympic Games.
China: More on the Olympic ‘sealing’ of internet data centers
Following up on the massive IDC server room lockdown, veteran Shanghai blogger Wang Jianshuo has also posted on the new Olympic regulation. For a better idea of how it felt the last time something like this happened, read his post from last year, ‘Yes. I am very frustrated.‘
China: Fuwatron Toy
We've seen vampire Fuwas, life-size Fuwa robots, Fuwa-inspired soft porn, grannies dressed like Fuwas, even a supposed Fuwa curse and, now, a ripoff of the Transformers franchise. h/t @bokane. update: @chinkerfly brings us many more.
China: Olympic protest zones
Jeremy Goldkorn at Danwei.org translates the news that the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games has designated three special demonstration zones for protesters who show up at the Games.
