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Beijing's Olympic Traffic Regulations

Friday, 20th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

New from Danwei: a translation of key points of Beijing's Olympic period traffic policies, to last from July 20 to September 20.

Tags: Danwei, environment, Olympics

Olympic Broadcasters Get Tiananmen Rights

Friday, 20th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (3)

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TV networks with Olympic broadcasting rights seem to have re-secured the right to broadcast live from Tiananmen Square. According to Canada's CBC News, broadcasters held two days of negotiations with BOCOG officials late last month. NBC is declining comment on the story.

Aside from this news, it's been a somewhat rocky period of late for BOCOG's international media relations. Here are some of the things that are frustrating the foreign press here to cover Olympic preparations:

Foreign broadcasters say they are facing more red tape than at previous games, making it difficult for them to get their equipment into the country and begin logistical set-up.

Non-Chinese journalists are saying they were only allowed limited viewing of the actual torch relay in Xinjiang this week. BBC correspondent James Reynolds' blog includes some observations on the relay in Urumqi (Xinjiang's capital), as well as some background on the historical issues in the region. A few foreign journalists have been invited to watch the relay in Lhasa Saturday.

More Beijing-based journalists are complaining about the lack of access they have had to Chinese athletes. Instead of meeting athletes, they are touring venues and watching "mei nu" practice presenting medals.

Tags: BOCOG, foreign media, torch relay

Golf Emerging in China, and an Emerging Chinese Golfer

Friday, 20th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)



This video from Daedalum Films tells the story of Zhou Xunshou, a farmer turned security guard turned pro golfer. His story—he is entirely self-taught and club members laughed at him the first time he asked to hit a tee shot—is an extreme version of a pattern in China's professional golf world, which includes many players who took up the game relatively late in life.

Zhou is currently ranked 14th on China's Omega Order of Merit. He will be featured heavily in "Par for China," an upcoming book by Shanghaiist editor Dan Washburn. Washburn is an American journalist who has been in Shanghai for six years. When the book comes out, it should be the definitive title on the state of golf in China.

Here are links to some of Washburn's other golf stories, all written for ESPN:

Zhou makes remarkable leap into professional golf

Golf in China: All growing, all new, all raw

Golf still an elitist pursuit in China

Tags: golf, Omega China Tour, Washburn, Zhou Xunshou