mshulman
08-06-2008, 10:14 PM
Let's forget all the political/controversal reasons why China wasn't a good choice.
How about the simple fact that the environment there is awful. Have you seen the latest news clips showing the smog? Its ridiculous. Who would want to be there??
The Olympics should only be held in places where people are looking forward to going. Having seen how bad the smog is, China is a place I have no desire to ever visit - great wall or not.
iserum
08-06-2008, 11:03 PM
i think when China was picked for the event (i think 4-8 years ago) the pollution was not that bad, the air quality you are watching on TV is after half of traffic off of streets and almost all industries around Beijing closed for last month. I have seen some documentaries on China air quality and the health problems associated with it, it is much more worse than it is shown now. I do agree that Olympic organizers should have anticipated it and should have defined acceptable conditions for events.
18 is # 1
08-06-2008, 11:44 PM
Also keep in mind as you watch, Beijing is one of the driest places in eastern Asia. They are diverting water from hundreds of miles around (at the expense of peasent farming families) to water all those flowers and fill all those water venues. No rice, but great kyaking.
Cygnus
08-08-2008, 12:05 PM
Aren't they controlling the weather so that it does not rain or something?
mytime
08-08-2008, 07:28 PM
They control everything!
That's right comrade. ;)
Chris Gerhard
08-17-2008, 10:56 AM
The smog is bad in Beijing and it was bad in Mexico City and it was bad in Los Angeles and a lot of other cities in the world that have hosted or might host the Olympics. I am sure that was a consideration but that it was determined that the air quality was not so bad to make it not be acceptable as a sight for the Olympics. Now that we are over a week into the Olympics, I think China has done a great job, with minor issues and I would love to be there personally. China has an amazing history and it is an interesting country, human rights issues are a major concern and hopefully things will improve, I don't know the solution to the issue but communism always seems to eventually crumble so who knows what the future holds for the world's most populated country.
Overall, China gets thumbs up from me based on everything I have seen of the Olympics so far. After it is all over it will be easy to read about how it all went.
Chris
