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Ready, Set ... Preparing for the Beijing Olympics

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Ready, Set ... Preparing for the Beijing Olympics Ready, Set . Preparing for the Beijing Olympics GET SET . In China, and all over the world, preparations for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing are gearing up for the final lead- up stage. This IR2008 update focuses on three groups—the Beijing hosts, the corporate community and ath - letes—to report on some of their key preparatory activities. This IR2008 update also identifies some actions that different actors can take to address the ongoing deterioration of human rights, including violations related to Olympics preparations. OLYMPISM The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to pro - moting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.—Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principle 2. The “Fuwa” Mascots: Environmental contingency plan: Close • Beibei (a fish), Jingjing (a panda), Huan - down, take a vacation huan (an Olympic flame), Yingying (a With growing concerns over environmental Beijing Hosting Tibetan antelope) and Nini (a swallow) degradation, including air and water quality, 1 • Lele, a cow, is the Paralympics mascot rumors are circulating that factories and “Hosting the Games will help raise the living • The five names form the Chinese other businesses will be shut down during standard of the Chinese people and speed up phrase “Beijing huanying ni” (“Welcome the games to clear the air—resulting in a China’s reform, which will also leave an to Beijing) 16-day vacation for all Beijing residents. important legacy to China.” • English name changed from “Friendlies” —Beijing Mayor Liu Qi, also president of the to “Fuwa” (“lucky kids”) because of con - Producing the Show: “Vision Beijing” Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee .1 cerns about Chinese people misreading Organized by the Beijing Association for Cul - the name tural Exchanges with Foreign Countries, five The Beijing Organizing Committee for the directors will each shoot a five-minute film to Games (BOCOG) of the XXIX Olympiad con - Yuan Yonglin, Vice chairman and president celebrate Beijing. Italian director Giuseppe cluded its seventh meeting with the Interna - of Shanghai-listed Haixin Group, manufac - Tornatore finished his film about a school tional Olympic Committee (IOC) on October turers of the Fuwa (the five Olympics mas - reunion on October 14, 2006. Iranian direc - 27, 2006. cots), is being investigated for involvement tor Majid Majidi began his project, “Beijing, Recent activities include launching two in the corruption scandal that led to Shang - 2008 Olympic Games Host,” at the begin - new posters to recruit volunteers in early hai’s party secretary Chen Liangyu’s resig - ning of November in Houhai. Ang Lee and November 2006, and ongoing selection of nation for misuse of pension funds IOC member He Zhenliang have also been sponsors and providers. In response to con - recruited to the creative team behind the cerns expressed by international media out - Several other preparatory developments are opening and closing ceremonies, which also lets about access, Beijing has promised to worth mentioning—and following! includes Stephen Spielberg and Zhang provide quality and efficient services to Yimou . Jazz musician Quincy Jones will com - news media. A coordination commission Learn English! pose music for the events. review said Beijing’s preparations were on “A: China has a lot of problems. track for 2008. However, Hein Verbruggen, B: I don’t think so.” 3 the official IOC coordinator for Beijing Olympic Games, said more focus was The “Beijing Speaks English Program,” was needed on services, cleaning up the environ - introduced in 2001 aiming for 400,000 flu - Media and ment, improving traffic and ensuring free ent English speakers by 2008. As part of 2 access to foreign media. Some construction the program, English classes start in first IT companies— is still underway, including the Rem Kool - rather than third grade. Government and Profiting haas tower for CCTV and the Herzog & De private employees are encouraged to learn Meuron Olympic Stadium. Since 2003, a with vacation and financial incentives. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an third of the 62km area that makes up the Plans to edit poor English in signs citywide essential means of risk management. “It’s central part of the old city has been were announced in October 2006. about pre-emption and thinking about what destroyed for Olympics preparation, 2 often In recent months, the English campaign might go wrong before it does. CSR is a mind - without proper permits, with more clearings has been joined by efforts to clean up “bad set, not a band-aid to cover things up, ”4 notes expected in 2007. Nearly 580,000 people behaviors” such as spitting and littering, Bill Valentino, general manager of corporate have been displaced so far. under the slogan “Prepare for the Olympics, communications for Greater China at German Strive for Civility and Create New Habits!” pharmaceutical maker Bayer, a leading spon - sor of the Special Olympics. As of May 21, 2006, corporations from 190 example and respect for universal funda- 1. Gezahegne Abera, Elfenesh Alemu (Run- countries and regions worldwide have mental ethical principles. ners, Ethiopia) 2006 invested in China, including 450 of the For- —Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principle 1. The runners worked with World Vision to . 4, tune global top 500 multinationals: with raise awareness and $105,000 in fund- NO construction of venues in its final stages, A projected 10,500 athletes from 204 ing for AIDS orphans in Ethiopia through the media and communications and secu- countries are training hard for competition. Chicago marathon fundraising. rity systems sectors will become increas- China recently banned its athletes from cor- 2. Michelle Kwan (Figure skater, U.S.) ingly prominent. porate sponsorship and other “social activi- Kwan is a national spokeswoman for the ties” to prevent distraction from training Children’s Miracle Network of children’s Broadcasting rights: In 1998, NBC paid and a potentially detrimental impact on hospitals. She flew to Hong Kong (where $3.5 billion for the U.S. rights to broadcast planning. “All the athletes, including those her parents were born) to support the the five Olympics from 2000 in Sydney big stars, are forbidden to take part in all city’s tourism after the SARS epidemic. RIGHTS FORUM through Beijing. Two thousand NBC employ- kinds of social activities to avoid distrac- Kwan also launched a scholarship pro- ees will go to Beijing, bringing 120 shipping tions from training,” Liu Peng, President of gram with Chevrolet that benefits 10 col- CHINA containers of sets and equipment. BBC China’s State General Administration of lege-bound female athletes a year. holds exclusive rights for the UK. Sports (SGAS), told a meeting on Novem- 3. Joey Cheek (Speedskater U.S.) ber 8, 2006, “But exceptions will stand if Cheek donated his $25,000 prize 121 The Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co., they get the permission from the SGAS in money for his victory to Right to Play an Ltd. (BOB), a Sino-Foreign joint venture advance,” he added. athlete-driven charity organization for funded by BOCOG and the Olympic Broad- In 2005, gold medalist Tian Liang was the battle-ravaged Darfur region. TURES casting Services, was established on Sep- kicked off the Olympic team for taking in tember 6, 2004. As the “host too much money from sponsorships. In NOTES broadcaster,” it will provides international May 2006, Olympic medalist Liu Xiang 1. http://english.people.com.cn/200107/21/ television and radio signals for broadcast- came under criticism for signing an eng20010721_75512.html. ers to access, and will plan, design and agreement with Baisha, a Chinese tobacco 2. http://chinadigitaltimes.net/beijing_olympics REGULAR FEA install necessary broadcasting facilities company. _2008/. 3. http://www.beijing2008.com/11/53/article and services for rights-holding broad- 212035311.shtml. casters.5 Doing good with the gold 4. http://www.ethicalcorporation.com/content. Past Olympics medal winners have gone on asp?ContentID=4633. Wifi is being installed in all the venues. In to use their prestige and Olympiad status to 5. http://www.bjreview.com.cn/200412/Nation- September 2006, China Grentech won the be spokespersons for a range of peace and 200412(A).htm. bid to build the indoor wireless coverage social causes. Some examples include: systems at the Olympic stadiums. Con- struction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2006. Services to be offered will Sponsor Profile: General Electric include exclusive digital cellular and next- (http://www.ge.com/olympicgames/) generation mobile communications serv- ices at the stadiums. “In events where one hundredth of a second counts, we’re proud to make the smallest Meanwhile, in preparation for the difference. Looking forward to meeting you in Beijing.” Games, Beijing is deploying a wireless mesh network over the city provided by Strix, a Cal- • Paid nearly $200 million in 2003 to become Olympic sponsor ifornia-based company, which will enable • Signed in June 2004 as the first partner of the Beijing Olympics Committee city-wide surveillance and data integration • Owns NBC, official U.S. broadcast partner from stationary locations or mobile vehicles • By October 2006, reported winning more than $150 million in contracts for by the Public Security Bureau. Olympic-related projects including: • Partnerships with Shenzhen Bank and Wal-mart to issue credit cards • Production of cutting-edge technology: bulletproof plastics; dynamoelectric vehicles; portable medical instruments; advanced dust control technologies • Security equipment: baggage-scanning devices at Beijing Capital Airport; Training for the gold secure doors, electronically photographing and scanning those who enter for 3 explosive devices and drugs. A GE technician explained, “The door can auto- Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting matically collect the dust particles on a person, and analyze the dust within and combining in a balanced whole the seconds. In this, anyone who has touched drugs in the recent past will be qualities of body, will and mind.
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