Beijing Huanying Ni - Beijing welcomes you!

Anyone who has visited China's capital recently will notice the ubiquity of these words. They are everywhere in the streets, the parks, the subway, and even the Olympic mascots BeiBei, JingJing, HuanHuan, YingYing and NiNi carry Beijing's welcoming call in their name. For China and its people, the hosting of the 29th Olympic Games is a unique opportunity to showcase their capital, their development and, most importantly, their culture to the watching world.

Focus on Chinese culture
In the history of the Olympics, there has always been an emphasis on cultural aspects of the host nation, but in the case of China's first Games this focus seems to be stronger than ever. From the paper-scroll design of the Olympic torch to the fact that the positioning of the two landmark sports facilities - Bird's Nest and Water Cube - are strictly in line with Feng Shui principles: Beijing wants to give the millions of spectators on-site and behind television screens around the globe a taste of the country's cultural treasures and traditions. But not only visitors and fans will look forward to that special Chinese touch, athletes can also expect something different. A unique piece of Chinese culture will be awaiting the top three competitors in each discipline. Standing on the rostrum, they will be handed their Olympic medals with an inlay of jade, an ornamental stone typically used in Chinese craftsmanship. Before the world will come to the Middle Kingdom to marvel at sporting excellence, however, China has already brought the Games to the world in what has been the longest torch relay in the history of the Olympics. In order to share the Olympic spirit, the torch has been carried through three continents and visited destinations such as France, Japan or the United States before it will end its journey with lighting the Olympic flame in Beijing's National Stadium (due to its woven, branch-like structure otherwise known as the Bird's Nest) at 8:08:08pm on August 8, 2008. As the number eight is considered to bring good luck and fortune in Chinese culture, this date was of course not chosen coincidentally.

Beijing's National Stadium, otherwise known as the bird's nest, is the landmark of the 29th Olympic Games.

Meticulous planning
As a matter of fact, there doesn't seem to be much room for coincidence at all in the way that China has prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime event. From the moment Beijing was awarded its hosting rights in 2001, every step has been meticulously planned and executed by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). So it comes as no real surprise that the erection of sports facilities, city wide infrastructure and development projects and the launch of new subway lines have all been completed on time. The latter has been part of Beijing's attempt to tackle two of its most notorious problems: traffic and pollution. An additional measure to control congested roads is the limited permission for private cars to alternately use Beijing's roads depending on their (odd or even) number plates. The closure of factories within a 200km radius around the capital during the course of the Olympics is aimed at further reducing pollution and improve air quality for the Games. Whether these actions will have the desired effects of blue skies and clear roads remains to be seen. But China's ambitious plans don't stop here. With region-wide campaigns the local government in Beijing has prepared its citizens for the biggest tourism event in the city's long history. Apart from some rather unexpected issues such as proper line queuing or adequate cheering at sports events, these education initiatives cover common hospitality aspects such as language, hygiene and public behaviour. In the case of taxi drivers, for example, this includes the encouragement to buy English learning tapes, keep their cabs clean and even wear the same 'Olympic' uniforms. The message is clear: Beijing wants all Chinese to be on their best behaviour when the world is on visit.

Inconveniences for the greater good
At the same time, the city also tries to brace itself for the worst case scenario. Metal detectors have been installed in the subway and the number of policemen, armed forces and security guards in the city is at a record high shortly before the Games' official starting shot. Random passport controls and security checks are aimed at keeping the threat of possible violent interruptions at a low. The citizens of Beijing are willing to accept the inconveniences that come with the enhanced security measurements and restricted private traffic for the greater good. Another good reason to comply without complaints and abide by rules that could be considered invasive or at least patronising is the fact that the improved public transportation system and new cityscape are benefits they will be able to enjoy long after the Olympics are gone. However, things are seen a bit differently from a foreign perspective. While international media have mainly focused on negative aspects such as under-booked yet overpriced accommodation or the little number of tickets available to international visitors, foreign businessmen mostly complain about the visa issue (CHINA FOCUS reported in May 2008) and the fact that transportation restrictions around Beijing have a negative effect on their business. And even though Beijing tries to accommodate these complaints to a certain extent, the main emphasis of all actions lies on one goal: smooth and safe Olympic Games. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will be uniquely Chinese: in terms of culture, organisation and security. We look forward to the first Chinese Games in the history of the Olympics and hope to see interesting sporting events and a peaceful get-together of different nationalities and cultures.

Jia you Beijing - Good luck Beijing!

Your CHINA FOCUS team

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