Why Beijing ???

[violette]

Of all the countries, why pick this city? It is the worst place for athletes because of polution, riots, etc....

I don't get it.

[Chicken Little]

I AGREE! Human right violations alone should have prevented it. Libya would have been a better choice because of the weather.

I could go on and on...

[ny biker]

I was wondering that just the other day. If the air is so bad you have to hand out masks...

[OakLeaf]

I'd say it was all about the Benjamins, but I doubt he's on a yuan note...

[GLC1968]

Cash, baby. Cold hard cash.

[SouthernBelle]

Cities bid on the right to host the Olympics. I'm not sure of the process, but they must put together a proposal demonstrating the ability to host all of the sports, crowds and press.

The IOC has the ultimate decision.

[Flur]

Yes, but even the IOC has to be wondering what they were thinking when they gave it to Beijing... I just hope nothing bad happens. No riots, no athletes collapsing from poor air quality, etc.

[violette]

I think a lot of athletes will have to drop-out. Their system won't be able to handle the polution. You'd think that the polution problem would have disqualified Beijing from bidding. Really, use your common sense IOC! This is terrible.

[indigoiis]

Cash, baby. Cold hard cash.

Yep.

[bouncybouncy]

the silver lining if I may...

This Olympic city will provide the "greenest" construction ever (in our lifetime I guess)

I saw a show on the construction on the Olympic venues & village last night (**disclaimer: it was past my bedtime so facts are not instilled in brain correctly) but what I remember hearing is

ALL Beijing construction (even that NOT related to Olympics) will cease 4 months prior to the games in order to allow construction dust to settle. Now that is alot of dust!!! And something else about factories???

The aquatic center was built with a special plastic that allows light to penetrate therefore reducing the need for electric lighting during the day. Also I thought is was amusing that the Chinese agreed to forgo having the swimming during their primetime so NBC could air the meets live during USA primetime...hmm!

Olympic Village buildings are equipped with solar panels and gardens on the roof-tops, recycled water for the air conditioning systems, 40% of the grounds will be landscaped...

Something about the Nest but I was drifting away to dreamland...

I am sure there is more but google will have to accompany me on the facts...

I am not trying to defend the pollution in ANY matter or validate the choice of city...all I am saying is they are making an effort that is NATIONAL and hopefully, just hopefully other nations (ours perhaps) will take note and start NOW in more green building; gardens on roof-tops, more landscape, recycled water, blah blah blah!!!!

btw: good for the cyclists who wore masks....no need to apologize, I say!

oh...and...also, let's not make this political but environmental!!!

[7rider]

I caught something on BBC America that folks were kicked out of their homes (and not compensated) and neighborhoods razed to make way for Olympic venues.

But...
I think the decision to go with Beijing was really an invitation to China to play on the world stage in a positive light. If you want to run with the big dogs, then there are certain rules you have to follow. This will certainly shine the spotlight on China - for good or for ill. I just hope nothing bad happens.

[mimitabby]

I caught something on BBC America that folks were kicked out of their homes (and not compensated) and neighborhoods razed to make way for Olympic venues.

But...
I think the decision to go with Beijing was really an invitation to China to play on the world stage in a positive light. If you want to run with the big dogs, then there are certain rules you have to follow. This will certainly shine the spotlight on China - for good or for ill. I just hope nothing bad happens.

that happens here too. Look what happened in Texas, it happens all over. Someone wants to build a stadium.. move now!
and like it or not, China is one of the main world powers, WE owe them BILLIONS of dollars!

[Grog]

I caught something on BBC America that folks were kicked out of their homes (and not compensated) and neighborhoods razed to make way for Olympic venues.

They are doing that right here in Vancouver right now (in prep for the 2010 Olympics). They're a bit more subtle and "polite" about it than the Chinese government, but the end result is quite similar. EDITED TO ADD: "We," in fact, are doing that. It's unfair to say that only the governments and officials are doing that. The rest of the population, of which I am part, is tolerating this tragedy without making much of a fuss. [/end of edit]

They did that surrounding the Montreal Expo (1967) and Olympics (1976) to build venues and also improve urban infrastructure (highway construction). Most people displaced were poor and tenants. The landlords sure got compensated, but what about the communities who were destroyed? Can't really compensate for that.

China has lots of examples to learn from in the past Olympic history...