Winter Olympic Games Beijing 2022 News

[Griff88 2,020]

11 hours ago, heywoodu said:

It's not really news, but I had no idea where else to ask it, so here we go. Is there any news on whether or not China will allow the thousands of athletes to use their regular social media in the Olympic village or something? On one hand I can imagine there being some relaxation of rules for such a huge and incredibly international event, on the other hand it's China, so it's hard to get a sense on it...

 

@Vic Liu Have you heard anything about this by any chance?

 

In my case it's of course mostly about how to stay in touch with @brunamoura if she qualifies, since she'll be there for three weeks or so in that case. We generally use WhatsApp, but yeah....

My friend who went as a reporter in the badminton World Tour Finals back in 2019 was able to access the mainstream sites using the connection in the venue. He sent the photos via WhatsApp and we downloaded it from there. Athletes are also allowed access in the official hotels. For the Olympics I think such arrangement is very much possible.

[Jan Linha 632]

3 hours ago, heywoodu said:

You don't need any followers or something to simply be able to stay in touch with the people back home  

True, no doubt about that ..... But what Olympian wouldn't like to post some moments from the Olympics on his/her social media account in the real time? Most of them do it even though they cannot "promote" any companies they have contracts with ..... I am sure most of the athletes will use VPN or Olympic village will be "foreign internet friendly" :-) 

[orangeman 2,851]

On 11/14/2021 at 6:04 AM, Gianlu33 said:

Or maybe, just use a good VPN

Most international or "international" schools in China have a state-sanctioned VPN worked into their campus wifi.  It's based in HK and still blocks some sensitive materials, but it's fine for all social media and almost everything you'd use everyday.  The weird thing is, the one I use blocks the CBC, but not any American news sites I've tried.  Anyway, I'd imagine the Olympic Village will have something similar and then NOCs will provide VPNs for athletes as well.  

 

As a side note: This site is blocked for me in China without a VPN.  I guess that makes it cool.  

[orangeman 2,851]

The Ice Cube (formerly Water Cube) where curling will take place will only be at 20% capacity, or 1000 spectators. 

 https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/beijings-ice-cube-capacity-capped-20-covid-19-measure-2021-11-11/

 

We can expect the rest of the indoor venues to be the same, I guess. Having lived in Beijing during Covid this doesn't make much sense to me because everything here is usually business as usual, except with masks and health code.  I don't know why for the Olympics in particular we suddenly have to reduce capacity.  It's disappointing because, as with everything in China, it was already going to be hard to get tickets because everything is always snatched up by large companies right away and you basically have to be a local to understand how to get them (i.e. air, train and sporting events).  Now we know it'll be impossible.  Very disappointing because a big part of the reason I stayed here this year was for the Olympics. Now we're sure we won't be able to attend, and there will be no atmosphere, we'll just watch at home like I could have done anywhere.  I live so close to most of the Beijing venues, I had dreams of scooter over to catch a hockey game before hopping to catch some speed skating.  Very sad now.  

 

Having said that, Beijing is experiencing a "mild" outbreak again so things are getting crazy.  Probably due to the Olympics, a new policy is going into effect tomorrow where you cannot enter Beijing if you've been anywhere that has even 1 case in the last 14 days.  You also cannot go to any city with a land border or a port (i.e. Shanghai or Guangzhou). 
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/beijing-city-tightens-covid-guidance-travel-chinese-areas-with-overland-ports-2021-11-14/

 

So basically we are locked into Beijing until after the Olympics at least.  Now I know how the residents of Tokyo felt.  You suffer due to hosting, but you get nothing in return.  Even as a huge Olympic fan, it stings.  It probably stings more as a fan.  

[Vic Liu 1,701]

8 minutes ago, orangeman said:

Most international or "international" schools in China have a state-sanctioned VPN worked into their campus wifi.  It's based in HK and still blocks some sensitive materials, but it's fine for all social media and almost everything you'd use everyday.  The weird thing is, the one I use blocks the CBC, but not any American news sites I've tried.  Anyway, I'd imagine the Olympic Village will have something similar and then NOCs will provide VPNs for athletes as well.  

 

As a side note: This site is blocked for me in China without a VPN.  I guess that makes it cool.  

Weird enough, this site it not blocked for me! Also CNN is not blocked but nytimes and BBC is blocked for me.

[Orangehair43 312]

I wonder if the Peng Shuai incident will increase the chances the games get boycotted at this near last moment.

[intoronto 6,853]

49 minutes ago, Orangehair43 said:

I wonder if the Peng Shuai incident will increase the chances the games get boycotted at this near last moment.

I am sure you'll sleep well tonight 

[Quaker2001 339]

2 hours ago, Orangehair43 said:

I wonder if the Peng Shuai incident will increase the chances the games get boycotted at this near last moment.

You don't need to wonder that.  It won't.  Diplomatic boycotts will happen (as is starting to come together in the United States), but not by the athletes.  As horrible as this saga is with Peng Shuai, it won't lead to athlete boycotts IMO

[Vic Liu 1,701]

For those who don’t read Peng Shuai’s post and only receive interpretation from media, I want to clarify Peng Shuai’s post is not mainly accusing sexual assault. She is mad at the man not respond her message and not granting her legal recognition after sex. She felt her putting love in the relationship but the man drop her into dustbin. I don’t think this kind of thing never happen in western country.

[Orangehair43 312]

7 hours ago, Vic Liu said:

For those who don’t read Peng Shuai’s post and only receive interpretation from media, I want to clarify Peng Shuai’s post is not mainly accusing sexual assault. She is mad at the man not respond her message and not granting her legal recognition after sex. She felt her putting love in the relationship but the man drop her into dustbin. I don’t think this kind of thing never happen in western country.

I believe she accused him of forcing her into sex.