The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), and the rest of the government, are less than pleased that the true costs of the Olympics £12BN (including £2BN running costs) has finally hit the headlines of the mainstream media.
The Telegraph reports that Jonathan Stephens, the senior civil servant at DCMS,
has written to Margaret Hodge (Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee) to complain about the fact that PAC have quoted a figure higher than the £9BN sanctioned by the government and dutifully reported by the MSM.
The £2BN running costs will come from the taxpayer (therefore it is a cost). However, the government is so keen to keep the headline figure below £10BN (a psychological breakpoint) that it is using an accounting fudge to hide the extra £2BN (by claiming some monies will be recouped, and others are not "Olympic costs").
Smoke and mirrors will no longer hide this con trick, the budget cat (reported here in 2007) is finally out of the bag and about time too!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Showing posts with label the Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Olympics. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Pie In The Sky
I see that a proposal for cable cars crossing the Thames, that has been knocking around since the 1990's, has been dusted off again using the London 2012 Olympics as the catalyst.
Transport for London (TfL) have it in mind to use cable cars to transport 2,500 people per hour between the Greenwich peninsula and the Royal Docks.
TfL believe that the £25m cost can be covered by the private sector.
Call me cynical, but I guarantee that this gets nowhere.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Transport for London (TfL) have it in mind to use cable cars to transport 2,500 people per hour between the Greenwich peninsula and the Royal Docks.
TfL believe that the £25m cost can be covered by the private sector.
Call me cynical, but I guarantee that this gets nowhere.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Vancouver - Worst Olympics Ever?
The Guardian is of the view that the Vancouver Winter Olympics are turning into the worst Olympics ever, even beating the financially ruinous games held in Montreal in 1976.
For why?
The paper lists a number of "indicators" of failure:
- The faulty hydraulics on the torch bowl in the opening event.
- Lousy transportation infrastructure that caused the Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, and the chiefs of the four host First Nations to miss the singing of the Canadian anthem at Friday's opening ceremony.
- Safety issues over the Whistler sliding centre.
- The faulty wiring on the Cypress mountain, which blew a fuse at the weekend and closed the concession stands.
- Rain that has washed away snow on Cypress mountain, making it impossible to build spectator viewing areas that would be safe.
All in all a damning indictment of failure.
What else will go wrong I wonder?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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For why?
The paper lists a number of "indicators" of failure:
- The faulty hydraulics on the torch bowl in the opening event.
- Lousy transportation infrastructure that caused the Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, and the chiefs of the four host First Nations to miss the singing of the Canadian anthem at Friday's opening ceremony.
- Safety issues over the Whistler sliding centre.
- The faulty wiring on the Cypress mountain, which blew a fuse at the weekend and closed the concession stands.
- Rain that has washed away snow on Cypress mountain, making it impossible to build spectator viewing areas that would be safe.
All in all a damning indictment of failure.
What else will go wrong I wonder?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Friday, February 12, 2010
Winter Olympics 2010
Good luck to the citizens of Canada/Vancouver, as they will end up footing the "mere" £3.6BN bill for the 2010 Winter Olympics which have kicked off in Vancouver.
It took decades for Canada to pay off the cost of the 1976 Montreal summer Olympic Games.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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It took decades for Canada to pay off the cost of the 1976 Montreal summer Olympic Games.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, July 13, 2009
Brothel Funds Olympic Bid
Full marks to Logan Campbell from New Zealand for using his initiative wrt sourcing funds for his Olympics 2012 bid to win a medal at taekwondo, he has opened a 14 bedroom brothel.
New Zealand decriminalised prostitution six years ago, and brothels are allowed to operate with few restrictions.
However, Team NZ funding manager John Schofield is not happy. He is quoted in the Sunday Star Times:
"Selection takes into account not just performance but also the athlete's ability to serve as an example to the youth of the country."
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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New Zealand decriminalised prostitution six years ago, and brothels are allowed to operate with few restrictions.
However, Team NZ funding manager John Schofield is not happy. He is quoted in the Sunday Star Times:
"Selection takes into account not just performance but also the athlete's ability to serve as an example to the youth of the country."
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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Monday, July 6, 2009
Jowell To Quit
The hapless Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, is to quit Parliament at the next election (latest 2010). Which means that she will be quitting at least two years before the London games.
Will this make any difference to the Olympics?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Will this make any difference to the Olympics?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Largest Security Operation Since WWII
The Olympics in 2012 is turning out to be a security nightmare, presenting the Home Office with the largest peacetime security operation since the Second World War.
There will be up to 10,000 officers policing the event, this accounts for around 7% of all the police in England and Wales.
Unsurprisingly the heavy burden, and concentration of policing required for the event, threatens to "displace" crime, trouble and terrorism to other parts of the UK.
The costs of policing will, according to Jacqui Smith Home Secretary, remain "on budget" (whatever that really means) at £600M - unless the terror threat is raised from "severe" to "critical".
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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There will be up to 10,000 officers policing the event, this accounts for around 7% of all the police in England and Wales.
Unsurprisingly the heavy burden, and concentration of policing required for the event, threatens to "displace" crime, trouble and terrorism to other parts of the UK.
The costs of policing will, according to Jacqui Smith Home Secretary, remain "on budget" (whatever that really means) at £600M - unless the terror threat is raised from "severe" to "critical".
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, February 2, 2009
Lawyers To Make a Killing
Every cloud has a silver lining, and it should come as no surprise to learn that even if the Olympics are a colossal waste of money and that we are facing the worst recession for decades, lawyers will still make money out of the games.
That at least is the view of Charles Tomlinson of Mace & Jones'.
He is quoted on Heating and Ventilating News:
"When London was awarded the Olympics the construction sector was booming. It was a welcome bonus for the sector. Now it will be seen as vital for the survival of many companies at time of unprecedented crisis in the sector.
With margins going through the floor and the commercial sector in freefall, all parties will be looking to protect their positions. This is not the ideal environment for a project of the scale and importance of the Olympics.
If, or example, you are waiting payment, does the other party have the means to pay? If so, a well timed adjudication can protect cash flow.
In relation to more complex disputes, parties must consider alternative forms of dispute resolution such as mediation, expert determination or just good old fashioned commercial negotiation to keep the project alive".
The lawyers will at least do very well out of the games!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
That at least is the view of Charles Tomlinson of Mace & Jones'.
He is quoted on Heating and Ventilating News:
"When London was awarded the Olympics the construction sector was booming. It was a welcome bonus for the sector. Now it will be seen as vital for the survival of many companies at time of unprecedented crisis in the sector.
With margins going through the floor and the commercial sector in freefall, all parties will be looking to protect their positions. This is not the ideal environment for a project of the scale and importance of the Olympics.
If, or example, you are waiting payment, does the other party have the means to pay? If so, a well timed adjudication can protect cash flow.
In relation to more complex disputes, parties must consider alternative forms of dispute resolution such as mediation, expert determination or just good old fashioned commercial negotiation to keep the project alive".
The lawyers will at least do very well out of the games!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Olympics Could Cost Wales £100M
Welsh Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, has claimed that Wales could lose £100M of diverted lottery money to the 2012 Olympics.
He told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, as per Wales Online:
"There's a downside, of course, in terms of lost Lottery funding and that's been estimated at £70m.
With the extra money the Lottery could have pulled in, that could be as high as £100M."
The reality that regional MPs need to face is that now that the government has saddled itself and us with the white elephant of the games, it will do everything in its power to avert a PR disaster. That means that money will be diverted from all other areas in order to paper over the cracks of a badly budgeted and badly organised event.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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He told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, as per Wales Online:
"There's a downside, of course, in terms of lost Lottery funding and that's been estimated at £70m.
With the extra money the Lottery could have pulled in, that could be as high as £100M."
The reality that regional MPs need to face is that now that the government has saddled itself and us with the white elephant of the games, it will do everything in its power to avert a PR disaster. That means that money will be diverted from all other areas in order to paper over the cracks of a badly budgeted and badly organised event.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Olympic Scam
The BBC have uncovered an alleged scam whereby hundreds of East European workers have been conned by a promise of non-existent jobs at the London 2012 Olympic site.
550 Slovakians paid cash deposits of £600 to convicted fraudster Nigel Lewis, who is based in East London. They were promised accommodation on a cruise ship in Docklands, and jobs on the site of the Olympic Village.
Mr Lewis has insisted that he made no profit from his UK Cruise Line venture.
The BBC will show the programme today, in which they claim that Mr Lewis advertised for catering staff and tradesmen to work in East London.
After deposits were transferred to Mr Lewis's firm UK Cruise Line Ltd in 2006, the BBC alleges he vanished.
BBC London tracked him down to a hotel in Dartford, on 1 September, and quote him:
"I've worked on this project almost 12 months solid and I've got nothing for it, just heartache."
He also said he had intended to buy three cruise ships and secure jobs at the Olympic site but that "it just went out of control".
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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550 Slovakians paid cash deposits of £600 to convicted fraudster Nigel Lewis, who is based in East London. They were promised accommodation on a cruise ship in Docklands, and jobs on the site of the Olympic Village.
Mr Lewis has insisted that he made no profit from his UK Cruise Line venture.
The BBC will show the programme today, in which they claim that Mr Lewis advertised for catering staff and tradesmen to work in East London.
After deposits were transferred to Mr Lewis's firm UK Cruise Line Ltd in 2006, the BBC alleges he vanished.
BBC London tracked him down to a hotel in Dartford, on 1 September, and quote him:
"I've worked on this project almost 12 months solid and I've got nothing for it, just heartache."
He also said he had intended to buy three cruise ships and secure jobs at the Olympic site but that "it just went out of control".
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, August 22, 2008
Bad Karma
Gordon Brown, Britain's Prime Minister, finally made it to Beijing to watch the tail end of the games and to attend the closing ceremony.
Needless to say, given Brown's penchant for attracting bad luck, some wags have pointed out that his arrival will herald the end of Britain's better than expected performance at the games.
The Prime Minister's presence at sporting events to watch home teams compete has invariably resulted in defeat.
Olympic Medals Won
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Needless to say, given Brown's penchant for attracting bad luck, some wags have pointed out that his arrival will herald the end of Britain's better than expected performance at the games.
The Prime Minister's presence at sporting events to watch home teams compete has invariably resulted in defeat.
Olympic Medals Won
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, August 18, 2008
Empty Seats
Before the Olympics began, Beijing Olympic organisers claimed that that all the 6.8 million tickets to Olympic events had been sold.
However, it seems that there are empty seats in the Bird's Nest and other venues.
Organisers are trying to "save face" by bussing in people from soccer fan clubs, high schools, and local neighborhoods to fill the empty seats. However, it is still not working, on 11th of August there were 20 competitions in the 18 stadiums attended by 40,000 spectators. Only two of stadiums were more than 90% full, six were more than 80% full and over half had at least 30% of seats empty.
One factor being blamed is the weather. However, the most likely cause is the fact that corporate sponsors and VIP's are allocated vast swathes of tickets that they never use.
The key to making future Olympics successful, wrt crowd attendance, is to give the games back to the people and allocate less tickets to faceless corporate sponsors who never turn up.
Olympic Medals Won
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However, it seems that there are empty seats in the Bird's Nest and other venues.
Organisers are trying to "save face" by bussing in people from soccer fan clubs, high schools, and local neighborhoods to fill the empty seats. However, it is still not working, on 11th of August there were 20 competitions in the 18 stadiums attended by 40,000 spectators. Only two of stadiums were more than 90% full, six were more than 80% full and over half had at least 30% of seats empty.
One factor being blamed is the weather. However, the most likely cause is the fact that corporate sponsors and VIP's are allocated vast swathes of tickets that they never use.
The key to making future Olympics successful, wrt crowd attendance, is to give the games back to the people and allocate less tickets to faceless corporate sponsors who never turn up.
Olympic Medals Won
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Saturday, August 16, 2008
China Bashing
The hypocrisy of some parts of the western media appears to know no bounds when it comes to having a go at China.
On Friday, reports emerged that the children who carried the Chinese flag in a show of national unity at the Beijing opening ceremonies were not from the 56 ethnic groups they were purported to represent.
Given the lies and distortions published by the media in the West, to criticise the Chinese for this is hypocrisy of the highest level.
Olympic Medals Won
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On Friday, reports emerged that the children who carried the Chinese flag in a show of national unity at the Beijing opening ceremonies were not from the 56 ethnic groups they were purported to represent.
Given the lies and distortions published by the media in the West, to criticise the Chinese for this is hypocrisy of the highest level.
Olympic Medals Won
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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Friday, August 15, 2008
Blue Skies
Contrary to the expectations of some people before the games, the air quality in Beijing has actually been reasonably good thanks to the anti pollution measures taken by the authorities and a heavy storm that blew it away.
The skies above Beijing are currently clear and blue.
International Olympic Committee's medical commission chairman, Arne Ljungqvist, said:
"The information so far is very encouraging. The recent... days have had very good air conditions indeed.
There is no indication that there will be a problem in the near future."
However, World Health Organisation China chief Hans Troedsson noted that pollution in Beijing still presented long-term health risks to residents.
Olympic Medals Won
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The skies above Beijing are currently clear and blue.
International Olympic Committee's medical commission chairman, Arne Ljungqvist, said:
"The information so far is very encouraging. The recent... days have had very good air conditions indeed.
There is no indication that there will be a problem in the near future."
However, World Health Organisation China chief Hans Troedsson noted that pollution in Beijing still presented long-term health risks to residents.
Olympic Medals Won
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Fakery Accusations
Having basked in the glow of excellent viewing figures, NBC and the Beijing Olympic Committee are now having to face accusations from some quarters over fakery wrt their broadcast of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
The organisers have been accused of adding fake CGI fireworks to the opening ceremony. NBC have been accused of adding a bogus "Live" stamp to their prime time delayed feed of competition coverage this weekend, and edited the "parade of nations" segment of the opening ceremony to delay the entrance of the US Olympic Team.
Can anyone ever truly believe what they see on TV?
THR.com runs through the accusation point by point, including NBC's responses:
Accusation: Viewers were misled by the use of CGI fireworks during a sweeping helicopter shot ( video clip here) leading up to the Bird's Nest. Organizers note the fireworks were there, but the footage was created in advance due to the danger of shooting live from a nearby helicopter.
NBC Response: An NBC Sports spokesperson says U.S. viewers were informed of the manipulation. Commentators Matt Lauer and Bob Costas said the fireworks were a digital effect. From the opening ceremony transcript during the fireworks in question:
Lauer: "You're looking at a cinematic device employed by Zhang Yimou here. This is actually almost animation. A footstep a second, 29 in all, to signify the 29 Olympiads."
Costas: "We said earlier that aspects of this Opening Ceremony are almost like cinema in real time. Well this is quite literally cinematic."
Analysis: Mixing real and CGI fireworks during an Olympic event is visually misleading, though NBC did try to address the issue. The question is, during a spectacular-looking shot, do the phrases "cinematic device" and "almost animation" really convey that the image wasn't real?
It seems more to hint that something about it wasn't quite literal, while coming shy of saying - in far more clear and simple terms - "this is a digitally manufactured shot to represent what's happening right now outside the stadium."
Accusation: NBC is time stamping West Coast feeds of competition coverage with a "Live" tag even though the coverage is not live.
NBC Response: A spokesperson points out the constant "Live" tag is accompanied by twice-per-hour time stamps that inform West Coast viewers that the event was only live on the East Coast (ex. "10:05 ET").
"The audience makeup of the Olympics is very much like that of 'American Idol' and 'Dancing with the Stars' which have 'live' season finales presented in much the same way," an NBC Sports spokesperson says. "You assume there's a large amount of intelligence in the viewing audience, so when they see those twice-an-hour time stamps they'll understand what is being presented."
Analysis: If a sporting event's feed isn't live, a broadcaster should avoid using an omnipresent "live" tag. The best reason to have this tag on a West Coast feed (and to not put a clear "tape delayed" notice) is for the same reason some are incensed – it gives viewers an impression of live urgency that isn't quite there. Like with the fireworks, the original complaint is mollified by the facts, to a degree: to a casual viewer the coverage shows one thing, while to somebody paying close attention, it shows something slightly less exciting.
Accusation: NBC edited the "parade of nations" from the original order to delay the entrance of US. athletes.
NBC Response: An NBC Sports spokesman says the order was unchanged.
Analysis: Editing a sporting event like a reality show to save the most eagerly awaited moments for the conclusion would be an issue - if it were true. As it is, online reports have provided no real evidence.
The Times also reports that the "cute" girl who sang at the opening ceremony was merely lip synching, the real girl who sang was deemed to be too "ugly" for TV.
Oh dear, it really is rather silly to try to pull the wool over people's eyes like this!
Olympic Medals Won
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The organisers have been accused of adding fake CGI fireworks to the opening ceremony. NBC have been accused of adding a bogus "Live" stamp to their prime time delayed feed of competition coverage this weekend, and edited the "parade of nations" segment of the opening ceremony to delay the entrance of the US Olympic Team.
Can anyone ever truly believe what they see on TV?
THR.com runs through the accusation point by point, including NBC's responses:
Accusation: Viewers were misled by the use of CGI fireworks during a sweeping helicopter shot ( video clip here) leading up to the Bird's Nest. Organizers note the fireworks were there, but the footage was created in advance due to the danger of shooting live from a nearby helicopter.
NBC Response: An NBC Sports spokesperson says U.S. viewers were informed of the manipulation. Commentators Matt Lauer and Bob Costas said the fireworks were a digital effect. From the opening ceremony transcript during the fireworks in question:
Lauer: "You're looking at a cinematic device employed by Zhang Yimou here. This is actually almost animation. A footstep a second, 29 in all, to signify the 29 Olympiads."
Costas: "We said earlier that aspects of this Opening Ceremony are almost like cinema in real time. Well this is quite literally cinematic."
Analysis: Mixing real and CGI fireworks during an Olympic event is visually misleading, though NBC did try to address the issue. The question is, during a spectacular-looking shot, do the phrases "cinematic device" and "almost animation" really convey that the image wasn't real?
It seems more to hint that something about it wasn't quite literal, while coming shy of saying - in far more clear and simple terms - "this is a digitally manufactured shot to represent what's happening right now outside the stadium."
Accusation: NBC is time stamping West Coast feeds of competition coverage with a "Live" tag even though the coverage is not live.
NBC Response: A spokesperson points out the constant "Live" tag is accompanied by twice-per-hour time stamps that inform West Coast viewers that the event was only live on the East Coast (ex. "10:05 ET").
"The audience makeup of the Olympics is very much like that of 'American Idol' and 'Dancing with the Stars' which have 'live' season finales presented in much the same way," an NBC Sports spokesperson says. "You assume there's a large amount of intelligence in the viewing audience, so when they see those twice-an-hour time stamps they'll understand what is being presented."
Analysis: If a sporting event's feed isn't live, a broadcaster should avoid using an omnipresent "live" tag. The best reason to have this tag on a West Coast feed (and to not put a clear "tape delayed" notice) is for the same reason some are incensed – it gives viewers an impression of live urgency that isn't quite there. Like with the fireworks, the original complaint is mollified by the facts, to a degree: to a casual viewer the coverage shows one thing, while to somebody paying close attention, it shows something slightly less exciting.
Accusation: NBC edited the "parade of nations" from the original order to delay the entrance of US. athletes.
NBC Response: An NBC Sports spokesman says the order was unchanged.
Analysis: Editing a sporting event like a reality show to save the most eagerly awaited moments for the conclusion would be an issue - if it were true. As it is, online reports have provided no real evidence.
The Times also reports that the "cute" girl who sang at the opening ceremony was merely lip synching, the real girl who sang was deemed to be too "ugly" for TV.
Oh dear, it really is rather silly to try to pull the wool over people's eyes like this!
Olympic Medals Won
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, August 11, 2008
Record Audience
The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics pulled in a record number of TV viewers around the world.
NBC in the USA, despite not showing the event live and delaying it to primetime, managed to score its highest ever rating (over 34 million viewers) for a non-American hosted summer Olympics aside from the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
In China between 63% and 68.8% of China's total audience, a record, watched the opening ceremony.
In Australia, the Seven Network said that its audience was over 3.3 million viewers. In Germany, 7.7 million watched it on ARD; in France, 4.4 million watched it on France 2 and in Italy, 5.5 million watched on RAI. The BBC had an audience of 5 million.
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NBC in the USA, despite not showing the event live and delaying it to primetime, managed to score its highest ever rating (over 34 million viewers) for a non-American hosted summer Olympics aside from the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
In China between 63% and 68.8% of China's total audience, a record, watched the opening ceremony.
In Australia, the Seven Network said that its audience was over 3.3 million viewers. In Germany, 7.7 million watched it on ARD; in France, 4.4 million watched it on France 2 and in Italy, 5.5 million watched on RAI. The BBC had an audience of 5 million.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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Saturday, August 9, 2008
Special Protest Zones
Mindful of criticism over the lack of free speech during the Beijing Olympics, China has authorised the right of protest in specially designated "protest zones" dotted around Beijing.
They are hidden away in hard-to reach suburbs, seven miles from the main Olympic stadium. There are also rules about who can demonstrate, and what they can demonstrate about.
In order to protest, the "protestee" must apply for a permit at the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) five days before the planned protest. They must fill out an application that specifies the purpose and time of the protest, what will happen during it, the slogans that will be written on banners and posters, the estimated number of protesters and whether megaphones or any form of amplified sound equipment will be used. Foreigners have to go through the same procedure, and make sure their application is in Mandarin.
The protest must also comply with Chinese law on public demonstrations.
Protests that threaten the territorial unity of China are illegal, so protests demanding freedom for Tibet are of course banned.
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They are hidden away in hard-to reach suburbs, seven miles from the main Olympic stadium. There are also rules about who can demonstrate, and what they can demonstrate about.
In order to protest, the "protestee" must apply for a permit at the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) five days before the planned protest. They must fill out an application that specifies the purpose and time of the protest, what will happen during it, the slogans that will be written on banners and posters, the estimated number of protesters and whether megaphones or any form of amplified sound equipment will be used. Foreigners have to go through the same procedure, and make sure their application is in Mandarin.
The protest must also comply with Chinese law on public demonstrations.
Protests that threaten the territorial unity of China are illegal, so protests demanding freedom for Tibet are of course banned.
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Friday, August 8, 2008
Scenes From the Opening Ceremony
Scenes from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008:
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Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
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Opening Ceremony
The Beijing Olympics will kick off in less than an hour (8:08PM local time) today. Unfortunately, Beijing is shrouded in fog and haze, and is sweltering in hot and humid conditions.
Those who are in the Bird's Nest stadium tonight will experience temperatures in the low 30s Celsius and humidity above 80%.
However, Jacques Rogge (President of the IOC) remains optimistic, he is quoted on Bloomberg:
"The fog does not mean necessarily pollution.
We prefer clear skies but the most important thing is that the health of the athletes is protected."
The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Those who are in the Bird's Nest stadium tonight will experience temperatures in the low 30s Celsius and humidity above 80%.
However, Jacques Rogge (President of the IOC) remains optimistic, he is quoted on Bloomberg:
"The fog does not mean necessarily pollution.
We prefer clear skies but the most important thing is that the health of the athletes is protected."
The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bush To Attend Opening Ceremony
President Bush has stated that he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on 8 August 2008, despite calls for him to boycott it.
Speaking before the opening of the G 8 Summit on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, Bush said that not going to the ceremony "would be an affront to the Chinese people" that might make it "more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership."
Given the amount of dollars held by the Chinese, Bush is wise not to "affront" them.
Other leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, are avoiding the opening ceremony to protest China's record on human rights and its dealings in Tibet and Sudan. Brown of course (trying to avoid being controversial) claims that he was never going to go, as he was too busy.
Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan is also going:
"I don't think you have to really link Olympics with politics."
The Olympics is primarily about politics and money, to think otherwise is naive in the extreme. However, as said before on this site, many of those who call for a boycott are hypocrites as they own many products manufactured in China.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Speaking before the opening of the G 8 Summit on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, Bush said that not going to the ceremony "would be an affront to the Chinese people" that might make it "more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership."
Given the amount of dollars held by the Chinese, Bush is wise not to "affront" them.
Other leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, are avoiding the opening ceremony to protest China's record on human rights and its dealings in Tibet and Sudan. Brown of course (trying to avoid being controversial) claims that he was never going to go, as he was too busy.
Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan is also going:
"I don't think you have to really link Olympics with politics."
The Olympics is primarily about politics and money, to think otherwise is naive in the extreme. However, as said before on this site, many of those who call for a boycott are hypocrites as they own many products manufactured in China.
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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