Water Another Concern for the Olympics

LA is a shitload better than China. Athletes weren't having health concerns about the air in LA. Beyond that, terrorist attacks aren't likely. China won't let it happen. They've got waaay to much at stake in these elections. The bigger fear should be Tibetans protesting. I'm not to happy with China hosting the olympics for political reasons, but I cannot wait till I see the US Mens Basketball team take down everyone else, and Michael Phelps prove he's not human and set a record for gold metals.

"whenever the Olympics is hosted in a country not in the US" I did not know that the US had other countries in it. ;)

China is a developing country, feel free to read up on it before you open your mouth... For that matter, FP is right, beijing's air was listed as "unhealthy" whereas LA's was the level below "good"...its just not close...and Beijing actually has visable issues (haze)...

I mean, if you call industrialized second world nations developing, then sure. I think the official definition is a bit misleading, Justin.

Yes, China is a developing country. I've stayed in "5-Star" hotels in China that would turn the stomach of the average, pampered American. Cockroaches crawling out of the shower drain. Neither plumbing nor electricity working properly. Intermittent telephone service.

Did you read the article or immediately dismiss it? The algae is a major concern. The people can't sail in the area allocated for Olympic competition. There is talk of erecting a 30 mile wall in the sea to keep the algae out of the olympic area.

The air cleanliness is a concern. There is talk of closing factories throughout Northern China to ensure clean air. They are moving factories and plan to ban trucks and cars.

There is no agenda to this article. It is merely to inform that even the Chinese are concerned.

By the way, have you ever been to China? You have no idea how dirty the air is there. The air in ChangChun and ShangHai is so dirty, you can't clearly see buildings 6 blocks away because for all the haze.

I have no idea if LA is that dirty, but from what I recall, Mexico City (the dirtiest city in North America) wasn't that dirty.

Yeah I know I blew that statement Gunny, nice catch, I'll be sure to send you a gift.

Fine, if you don't want the Olympics held in China, who should host it?

Did I ever say the olympics shouldn't be held in China?

You're welcome my good SSR.

Wasn't talking to you Cheez, I was talking to FP.

You already said you had no agenda..... ;-)

I haven't been to China, but I have been to both LA and Mexico City. The air in MC is so bad you can actually smell it, like your garage when you start the car in the morning. First day there, I go outside, order this giant cocktail, (margaritas are an American invention) and go sit by the pool. Ten minutes later I had the worst headache of my life, had to go inside. Coming in on the plane, it looked like the city was on fire, the haze is so thick.

It might be hazy in LA, but at least you can stay outside, maybe someone with asthma would have problems, but for the regular person its manageable.

I have a buddy who has been to both Beijing and Mexico City, he said compared to Beijing, Mexico City is like LA, so it has to be really bad.

Let me ask FP something again,

If Beijing won the bid in 2001, why are all the negatives being brought up (coincidentally) at the same time China's political issues with other countries were also brought up in 2008?

I think it's too late now to switch, but I really have had issues politically with China being allowed to host the olympics. I guess a city like New York could pull it together in time if they started over a year ago, but now, I guess Beijing will have to do. No city in the world could put together the necessary stuff to host an olympics in only months

1. That's not really true, SSR There was an article in Time Magazine a couple years back (2 I think) about the dangers of what China was going to do to tibet. 2. Because China's human rights record has been horrific as of late. There wasn't as many issues with China in 01 as there are now. Times have changed, and if it was possible, I'd have liked to see the Olympic committee strip China of its rights to host, or at least see some countries protest it at least a year ago. It's a conversation I'm willing to have SSR, but it probably doesn't belong on a sports site

I knew you would pick a US city......

Who cares what happens politically? South Africa got the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Chinese people are now considered black.

I thought the Olympics separated politics from sport, it's sport, I'll say 500 times for you.

And shall I remind you what happened the last time a US city hosted the Summer Olympics?

That being said, Chicago 2016!

1. I picked NYC because they have the type of resources to put up the facilities seemingly overnight. I don't care if it's a US city, just name another city that has the type of cash that can afford to put up the olympics that quickly.

2. South Africa is MUCH different than it was even 10 years ago. To compare them now to China is rediculous. Plus, doesn't FIFA need to switch continents? Find for me a more developed nation to host the World Cup than South Africa on the Continent (don't say Egypt).

3. That doesn't mean countries should be allowed to commit a cultural genocide over the course of a couple decades to eliminate the tibetan independence movement, and censor literally everything published in the nation, plus arrest people on very sketchy ground, and host the olympics.

4. Re:Previous US hosted olympics - see no. 1

Its true, South Africa's crime rate and murder rate have decreased significantly

that beign said, its still about 50 ppl per day (no lie)

and if you don't think politics have anything to do with the olympics your head has to be in the sand...

While I can understand the reason why Beijing is not a popular choice for the Olympic Games I think it is way worse when countries boycott them. The Montreal games of 1976 were not up to par because many African nations boycotted them. When the US led the boycott of the 1980 Moscow games the only people who lost were the athletes and sports fans. Same thing in 1984 when the Soviet led boycott of the LA games made them less then they could have been.

Bottom line, Olympic boycotts suck.

In hindsight, I think the Israeli's wished they had boycotted in '72.

That wouldn't be a bad idea, however, you need room to make stadiums, have you seen NYC lately?

There wouldn't be enough room to build all of the fancy stadiums and aquatic centers necessary unless you go out of NYC and make East Rutherford a hot bed (Giants Stadium, Continental Airlines Arena, etc.).

That's still a helluva lot better than a lot of Africa, Justin. SSR- That's what happens a lot for the olympics. The games take place all around the area. But imagine MSG being used for the Olympic Gold metal basketball game. That'd be pretty sick. Not a lot of things would take place in NYC proper, but there's a lot of space in some of the neighboring areas (like New Jersey, which I'm sure would let NYC build everything there)

In theory, holding the Olympics in NYC isn't a bad idea, in reality it is impossible. Geographically, demographically, financially, just can't happen.

KD, I get that even with a year, setting up for the olympics is damn near impossible, but if any city in the world could do it, it'd probably be NYC (unless all the celebrities in Hollywood and the geeks in Silicon valley pitch in some of their millions to make SF or LA the host).

We're fighting a war as we speak, losing soldiers (ours and Iraq's) and more importantly innocent civilians, so do we have any right to complain about China?

I'm a bit late to this one, but you're right in my wheelhouse with this: I'm halfway through a masters degree in development studies (which of course means that I have a lot more to learn, but here's my two cents anyway).

China is most definitely a developing country, and I'm curious why you (SSR) would think it wasn't. Because it is a political and economic rival of the U.S.? That is a matter of sheer volume: China has the world's fourth largest GDP, but rank only 105 in GDP per capita. Also, FP used the term "second world", presumably to describe China as a moderately developed country. However, this is a misuse of the term. Second World refers to the Soviet Union and its allies (including China) during the Cold War, but fell out of use as the Cold War ended. The former Second World Countries either became part of the First World if they were developed or the Third World if they weren't. China today considers itself Third World.
For a very broad (and certainly unofficial) understanding of what is First and Third World, GDP per capita is a good measurement. As a measure of the economy, balanced by population, it will give a pretty good picture of who is developed and who isn't.
As for the air quality, Beijing and LA aren't even remotely comparable. I was in Delhi this past winter for a week, and when we got off the plane, I wasn't really sure how I would be able to breathe to survive the week. Seriously.
As for the negatives to holding the Olympics in China: they were brought up in 2001, and during the bidding process. But since they Olympics weren't imminent then, it wasn't exactly the top news story of the day. Not to mention, SSR, that you were, what, eight or nine at the time? Didn't you have better things to do then than watch the news for the latest on China? But it's a big story now because we are just a few months away. PETA calls for reform in horse racing all the time, too, but it only makes news when there actually is an incident (much to the ire of some here).
As for changing host cities, that was never going to happen. The IOC was certainly aware of these situations when they awarded the Olympics to Beijing--they aren't going to take it away a few years later for something they already knew about. And even if they did, no one could be prepared for it, not even New York. There is quite simply too much to be done, and it goes way beyond building a few new stadiums. That's why they award these things years in advance in the first place.

In the end, I think this will be a non-story. There are always problems leading up to the Games. Usually it is concern about if a venue will be ready in time. It always comes through in the end. China wanted the Games to show the world how great they are, so I don't really think they are going to let algae shut events down. It'll all get cleaned up and everything will look fine, but remember: just like any other world event, it is all a facade. You will only see what they want you to see.

The floor is open for cracks about articles in comments now. Fire away.

Tay-Thanks for the well thought out and eloquent, all be it verbose, comment.

In the end, I think this will be a non-story as well. I just put it out there to (1) show how strange things crop up when you try to host a major international event and (2) highlight some of the temporary measure that China plans to put in place for the games.

What can I say? I was late to the party and the convo had gone lots of directions.

I hope my "non-story" comment didn't come across as negative towards the story. I found your article quite interesting (as always), and the topic as well. I actually wrote an event brief for Politics of the World Economy on the Beijing Games and potential boycotts. Fascinating situation.
Were you there on an 11th, aka Queue Day? Don't know if they are doing that just in Beijing or in all major cities.

Tay, Nice explanation of 2nd world...

Also, China has had a lot of pseudo status for a while...China has been a dominant force in the world economy (you're right because of volume) but its economy has also been growing at double-digit rates for a while...until recently...

They're also the reason gas is 4 bucks a gallon...

Its a fascinating, yet dangerous place...and the cracks in its economic foundation are starting to show...China has the "way" but no "will" if you ask me...

правда, Russian word for truth.

The propaganda was a lame attempt at a joke.

too bad its far from it gunny...

Quite right Justin, quite right.

When I last went to China, I missed out on the Beijing leg of the trip as I had other, more pressing business elsewhere in-country. My colleague, however made it to Beijing and said the Bird's nest and the swimming pool both are amazing structures.