Final preparations are underway in the capital and other Olympic cities as the countdown to the games now lies at only 12 days. Last weekend marked the opening of subway lines 8,10, and the Airport Express line (though check-in facilities at Dongzhimen 东直门 will not be ready till after), and on Sunday began the traffic restrictions through alternating number plates. Meanwhile banners have been erected around the city to welcome the Olympics (some making more sense than others), and security has been beefed up. Armed police have a noticeable presence around town, checkpoints installed at all points of entry to Beijing (road, air, and rail), and increased security checks are conducted at underground stations.
Slight improvements in Beijing traffic
Practically speaking, there are many inconveniences now which locals will have to endure at least until after the games. Most DVD shops have been shut down (granted they were illegitimate – but this being China I have no idea where to buy an original DVD!), the Internet now mysteriously suffers more “technical problems”, restaurants being asked to stop serving dog meat (not that i’m a fan – but hey, if eating dog is a cultural thing it shouldn’t be stopped “in the name of the Olympics”)… and of course all the other problems that I already mentioned in a
previous blog entry.
Beijing subway ticketing finally electronic!
Though traffic has reduced, the restrictions have yet to prove its effectiveness on improving the air quality (today I can barely see 500m). Nonetheless, people
are making an effort for the games, to learn English, to tidy up, and to improve efficiency (such as finally implementing ticket barriers on the subway). As the SCMP put it nicely:
“The Olympic Games are seen as symbolising China’s coming out on the world stage. The whole country has been looking forward to them with immense pride. It was therefore expected to be an occasion when China would lay out the welcome mat for foreigners”. It goes on to say that visa, media, and other restrictions have at times given out the opposite message.
It remains to be seen how successful the games in Beijing will be but, for me at least, i’m looking forward to seeing how it will be after the games.
