Plan

I) Perception of China before the Olympics
- Historic, China's features
- Perception of China in France
- Perception of China in other countries

II) Olympic Games in Beijing
- Positive aspects (Organisation, transport, environmental measures...)
- Problems faced (Censorship, Flame's journey, demonstrations...)

III) Perception of China after the Olympics
- Improvement during the Olympics
- Unsustainable effects

Useful Vocabulary:

Olympic games, Olympics
Opening ceremony, Closing ceremony
Censorship
Demonstration
Perception
To fake
To ban
To protest
To politicize
The logistics
Human Rights Violations
Press freedom
Propaganda
Patriotism
Polemics
National Pride
Government Control
Host nation

People were invited to e-mail their comments on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Below is a selection of responses.

Of course the show was without equal, for which congratulations are well deserved. HOWEVER, the spending of $40 billion in the face of abject rural poverty, the clandestine treatment of local gymnasts' ages, the lip-synching+re-editing of the opening ceremony and the shipping-off of near-octogenarian women to labor camp after filing an unwanted eyesore of a protest "application" as only a FEW examples, show that while we can admire China's cosmetic ability to show itself off, we MUST be wary of the beast within. Thank you for the greatest Olympics ever, China! Now, can we see some freedom for your people and some more balanced economic development?
John
Jakarta, Indonesia

I thought it was absolutely fantastic, the enthusiasm of the people, the logistics. I like it even more because there has been so much doom-saying and criticism in the run-up to these games. There must be a few very frustrated marathon runners who could have set a new world record in the terribly polluted air of Beijing but decided not to compete, not to mention so many journalists that wished the games to end up in a disaster. The people in the cities hosting Olympic events and BOCOG deserve praise. The IOC, in my opinion, deserves even more praise for choosing Beijing and sticking to its decision despite all the criticism.
Laurentius Metaal
GM Projects
Western Way For Industrial Development Co. Ltd.

I think that the International Olympic Committee made a tragic mistake when they awarded the Olympic games to the Chinese. The Chinese have a ... track record of human rights violations that only increased before and during the Olympics. It was disappointing that many media outlets covered so little of the atrocities that the Chinese government committed against their people. I realize that they had a commitment to cover the games, but so much more could have been shown concerning the loss that occurred for the entertainment of others. Homes were seized and demolished so the venues could be built.
Michele McCullough

I think it was perhaps the best Olympics ever. China did an outstanding job of preparing and producing a very successful two weeks of competition on a world-class level. I would hate to be London and have to try even matching the spectacle or the opening and closing shows. Because of people power, which they used brilliantly, I think no other country will ever hold a candle to those two events.
Mostly, I am happy for China. I think the world will view it differently despite issues in which we differ greatly. I am hopeful that the afterglow of its success will spill over into many other areas and bring a better future to its people.
Wallace Rhodes

I think the games were great, but why shouldn't they be? With a country whose government can control everything and spend what it wants, everything should have been perfect. In a country with the number of people that China has there should be an amazing number of gold ... perhaps even more. Thing about the number of people in China vs Canada. Percentage-wise China should have won a lot more.
I'm glad that the games went well, but I don't think anyone should be at all surprised. Few countries have the number of people, the freedom for government control and spending that China has. It would be interesting to know what China could have done / would have done without government control.
Dan Ingram
Toronto

Participant age controversies and government ideologies aside, this could well have been the greatest Olympics of the modern age. With less pomp and ceremony and more art and talent, the Chinese have brought together both its people, its money, and its true concern for artistic beauty, and displayed to the world what it is capable of being. Now, if it would let its people figure out how to develop and illustrate their Olympic talents without the force and pressure of the whole weight of government, we could surely have some wonderful Olympic Champions.
Thank you,
Joel Shattles
Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.

Without a doubt, China put on the most spectacular show on earth! However, the issue of many of China's gymnastic team not meeting age-requirement standards is of concern. Mention of this issue has been reported by CNN, and since no further commentary has been announced, I presume the issue is still under investigation.
Evidence that under-age gymnasts were knowingly being trained for China's Olympic gymnastic team is well documented in Discovery Channel's series - Discovery Atlas - China. In that documentary is the story of Jin Yang, a 12-year-old girl from Beijing. Her intensive training, along with her performance in China's qualifying Olympic trial competition, was filmed. In her own words, Jin stated, 'I dream of the 2008 Olympics.' Jin Jang qualified after the first round, but was eliminated after the second one.
Clearly, this is irrefutable evidence that China's Olympic coaches, etc., were attempting to create the most talented Olympic competitors irrespective of meeting age-requirement standards set by Olympic committee regulations. This evidence needs to be presented not only to the world at large, but submitted to the Olympic investigating committee.
Sincerely,
Sandra St John
Sao Paulo, Brazil

I think they were great. China may have its share of problems, but they proved to be an excellent host nation. I wish the Olympics were less politicized, but I guess that will not be changing anytime soon.
W MayFairfax
Virginia, U.S

What the world said about the opening ceremony

This great performance was a brilliant distillation of 5,000 years of glorious history. China will embrace the world with openness, self-confidence and warmth.
People's Daily, China

It started with grim paramilitary goons in blue track-suits accompanying the Olympic torch on its embarrassing tour of democratic countries. And now the Games begin with broken promises on press freedom and shipping in party members to forcibly replace ordinary Chinese hoping to see the torch relay.
Taipei Times, Taiwan

Not for decades has an Olympic Games been opened in such a colourful and overpowering fashion. The perfect show also demonstrated China's frantic desire for recognition and contained a lot of propaganda.
Die Welt, Germany

Any Olympic opening is a propaganda exercise, but Friday night's blockbuster show demonstrated the broader public relations challenge facing the Communist Party as China becomes richer and more powerful. The party wants to inspire national pride within China, and bolster its own legitimacy in the process, even as leaders want to reassure the world that a rising China poses no danger.
The New York Times, USA

The heavy presence of Chinese (People's) Liberation Army officers throughout the proceedings left many wondering exactly what image the hosts were intending to project to the international community ... At a time when Tibet, Darfur and China's broader human rights record are proving delicate issues for Beijing organisers, the move to present thousands of drilled, sobersided army officers ... was surprising for its brazenness; a none too subtle projection of strength.
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

This, it was hard if not impossible to dispute, was the greatest show the world had ever seen and it brought joy that became delirium in 1.3 billion people. The launch of the 29th Olympics was so stunningly choreographed, so meticulously planned - full dress rehearsals were under way more than a year ago - and went so far back into China's ancient history you suspected that Confucius himself might have been pleased.
The Independent, UK

"Friends who come from far, how happy we are to have you here," was the message of greeting to the world, even the part of the world China has had harsh criticism from. And in a stroke it made the latest polemics about Bush's words on human rights slide away.
Corriere della Sera, Italy

Eye-poppers gave way to jaw-droppers, stunners were followed by dazzlers, and if the absence of a big emotional catharsis was a little disappointing, the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics from Beijing still added up to one of the most visually beautiful evenings of television ever seen.
Washington Post, USA

Heaven knows what it was like to watch this if you were one of the people charged with designing the follow-up for London in 2012.
The Times, UK

To say these Games would be a landmark in world politics was no idle claim. The ceremony proved it. Steven Spielberg had resigned as artistic director for opening night, but his dream-like visions were apparent in the brilliant orchestrations of the chief choreographer and acclaimed film director Zhang Yimou. Hollywood will study the DVD for years to come and plunder Beijing's visual tricks. Another sign, this, that China believes it can match any country in any department. This was a feast for the eyes cooked not from the books of ancient culture so much as the latest Microsoft manuals.
Paul Hayward, Daily Mail, UK