Talk:2008 Summer Olympics/Archive 1

message: Since when is Falun Gong a democracy movement? 130.238.5.7 17:35, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Extermination of Tibetans? Genocide of Uighurs? Really! One aspect of western propaganda is that they like to over-exaggerate stories. Why are westerners so brainwashed by their own media? 134.84.166.42 21:03, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

text: Typical western POV, excessively focusing on negative aspects of the Chinese government. What about the extensive improvements of infrastructures over the decades, including in Tibet, the lifting of millions after millions of people out of poverty, and trying to broker the six-nation talks on Korean nuclear issues? Nothing in this world is perfect, certainly not the Chinese government, but it has changed extensively since its days during the cultural revolution, just as the American government and society have changed since their segregation days. I have encountered many Americans offended by foreigners' criticism of the American government. Choosing to focus more on positive or negative respects of something is POV. Pseudotriton 04:15, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

text: Just a point: why does politics always have to enter these games? It's stupid. There's enough chinese to make sure all the tickets are sold out. Even from just the oversea chinese. 24.189.163.169 02:03, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Falun Gong

message: Its election was considered controversial by many, given what some consider the poor human rights record of China.
Well I really don't understand what human right gots to do with Olympic Games. Olympic is just a sport festival and has nothing to do with politics. As a Chinese I really think that China should host an Olympic Games, for the fact that there are 1.3 billion Chinese in this planet, and the country has the economic strength to host such an event. And I am sure that it is not controversial at all in mainland that China should host the Olympic games. --Formulax 09:30 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)
I think the wording "what some would consider" ambigious. It should be replaced by "progressive, democratic thinkers worldwide"—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.41.142.242 (talk • contribs) .
:I realize I'm coming to this discussion late, but I feel I have to put in my two cents regarding the comment, "Olympic is just a sport festival and has nothing to do with politics," which I find absurd. Politics play a huge role in the Olympics. Multiple games have been boycotted due to politics, South Africa was banned for a period due to its politics, the 1988 games in Seoul were a factor in forcing the South Korean government to democratize...the list could go on. Parthepan 11:45, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm not sure what exactly you are refering to, nevertheless, if you have so much problem with Beijing hosting the 2008 Games, just don't watch it. However, the IOC obvioulsly disagrees with you, and so do hundreds of millions of Chinese, including many in Taiwan. Apparently, the only people feeling the same way as you do are those with "anti-China" agendas trying desparately to inject politcs into this whole ordeal. Beijing IS the host for the next Olympics, deal with it... Pseudotriton 04:01, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Human rights

message: I wonder whether the piece about the Guangdong Stadium is relevant in this article. Did the Chinese really consider having the stadium so far away from the host city or is this just a fantasy ?
:Yes indeed. Guangdong Stadium in Guangzhou is quite close to Hong Kong. I couldn't imagine how they even thought about of holding the opening ceremony there when the city chosen was Beijing. Can someone elaborate on this in the main article? In so far as I know, cities other than the host, like Guangzhou, can host an sports event during the Olympics (and in this case, Qingdao, Hong Kong [which is an IOC member] and some other cities [for soccer]), but as explicitly stated in the 2014 Olympics page, to host the opening/closing ceremony at some other city other than the host city (that's why it is called a host city) is in violation of the Olympic Charter. So how can the authority even think of such an arrangement during the campaign phase of for hosting the 2008 Olympics, especially when they are really wanted to win the rights of hosting?Joey80 06:26, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Guangdong Stadium

message: Is the piece about the vatican joining a joke? I don't think anyone seriously expects the vatican to participate in the games, as a catholic i dont find the idea of pope benedict in one of this skin tight track suits to be particularly good for the mind.
*Not a joke as such, but it would be the only widely recognised sovereign nation not entering (for obvious reasons)Average Earthman 13:27, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I second that (removal of the mentioning, that is; not for the pope running sprints). Pseudotriton 04:52, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The last time I checked, the Vatican/Holy See does not even have a National Olympic Committee. And almost always (though I think there were some exceptions--that's why they let some athletes participate as individuals), a National Olympic Committee must be recognized before a country's participation. In the case of the Vatican, its involvement with the Olympics is usually made in terms of the Pope sending a message of peace in the period leading to or during the Games. In this particular edition, the involvement of the Vatican and China is more on the political arena, rather than a sports stadium, with some speculations being made on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two by 2008. Joey80 06:36, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Vatican? 

message: I know it's jumping the gun by some 2 years, but I began a calendar of events following the one on the 2006 page. I started to do the dots, but I stopped because we don't know the event specifics yet. Then I started another one with just the sports. I just wanted to let someone know if anyone was looking to start it. Here are the two links to the pages I started:
:This one has everything.
:This one has everything, but it's ugly. Use the one above, please!
--Jared  [T]/[+] 20:00, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Calendar  

message: There are two disciplines added to the programme in Beijing: open water swimming and BMX cycling. There will be 5 new events: 10km open water swimming for men and women, BMX cycling for men and women, and also women's 3000m steeplechase in athletics. 2 track cycling events (1000m time trial for men and 500m time trial for women) and 2 shooting events were discontinued.--Nitsansh 01:15, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Also there are new team events (men and women) in table tennis, that replace the doubles events, and 2 events in fencing were changed.--Nitsansh 00:10, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  New disciplines and events 

message: Someone forgot to add the list of venues for the 2008 Summer Olympics. We already have a list of venues for the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics. They need to add that list to this article. They do not have detailed venue information in the Beijing 2008 Olympic website.
:Well, there was an episode shown in the Discovery Channel about the latest structural developments in Beijing, mostly devoted to facilities which will be used for the Olympics. So in terms of making a list, the documentary is a good start. And I agree that in contrast to the 2012 Olympics wikipedia article, this one is lacking in details when it comes to venue. It is quite peculiar that this will be the next Olympic Games and many are already reporting that construction of venues are on time or either ahead of schedule. But this article devotes its content more on speculation on boycott, politics, etc., which are not really a direct part of the Games (and which will actualize only during the period leading to the Games or during the Games), rather than what is certain as of the present. In this case, this includes the update on venue constructions and even the list of venues.Joey80 06:42, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  They forgot to add a list of Olympic venues