New Statesman article on the Olympics

A disappointing piece of journalism by Lindsey Hilsum, about the 'no-fun' Olympics.

http://www.newstatesman.com/asia/2008/07/beijing-olympic-rights-china

Yeh, OK, the 'authorities' are pretty paranoid about what bad things might happen during the Olympics, particularly involving foreigners. And, yes, they're keen that no-one starts 'disstenting' before or during the Olympics, because they know the whole world will be watching - who would want to be embarrassed? But that is about the only reasonably sensible point that I can find in this article.

Above all, the article displays the cultural ignorance and pre-decided stereotypes that mars so much of Western impressions of China, not just journalists. Comparing the atmosphere in Sydney 200o to Beijing is ridiculous. Maybe its fine in Australia to go out and "party", drink in parks, and engage in what many Westerners see as just a bit of fun. But cultural attitudes, not just paranoid politics, is probably the main reason why the authorities don't want people "partying" all the time. Rarely in China will you see people enjoying themselves the way people apparently did during the Sydney Olypmics, so to suddenly expect Chinese people and authorities to allow and promote it is a bit much.

And lets's no forget, it's only 30 years ago that China was a country with virtually no contact with the outside world. To judge it by standards afforded to countries like Australia, and to expect it to adapt to our cultural expectations, is extremely short-sighted.

The article continues: "The Chinese government, it seems, does not care how much it costs, nor whom it pays, provided the Games look good on television. The aim is a picture-perfect Olympics". Well, dur. Who wouldn't? They have a choice - leave the pollution as it is, or do something about it. It's pretty obvious what is going to be chosen, and its also pretty obvious the reaction of Western journalists if they didn't take these measures. Also, linking these pullution cutting measures, however temporary, to the 'no-fun', 'paranoid' attitude of authorities makes no sense.

The Chinese government doesn't want foreigners causing trouble. What about London 2012? Do you think the British government would allow foreigners with a gripe against the government - Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians, etc - to protest during the London Olympics? I think not.

Such journalistic attitudes as expressed in this article reach China, and more and more people are aware of these attitudes. And they're not impressed, which only further leads them to support the ugly patriotism and nationalism that the government very actively fosters. Attitudes like these, rather than encouraging the Chinese government to be more responsive to its people, play into the hands of the Chinese government, allowing them to stoke up irrationalist nationalist sentiment, which is of little benefit to anyone apart from the authorities this journalist so derides.