The 'no-fun' Olympics

Some press and blog reports are already describing these as the “no-fun” Olympics.

That’s because so many regular Beijing nightlife haunts and restaurants popular with ex-pats are being shut down for the Games. The music scene is also taking a hit. Blame security concerns.

Beijing is usually a hopping place on summer evenings. Bars and restaurants open rooftop gardens. An increasingly vibrant music scene enlivens the city. More and more foreign musicians come through the capital.

But not much of that will be happening in August.

The popular Timeout Beijing magazine is producing a double issue for August and September because there are not enough events in August to justify two separate issues of listings, according to this Newsweek article.

"They want to make sure everything looks clean and goes smoothly," editor Tom Pattinson told Newsweek. "They're not so interested in making sure that everyone ... [learns] what a great, vibrant, exciting city Beijing is."

Two popular venues for live music _ D-22 up in the Haidian university district, and the Stone Boat in Ritan Park _ have had to halt live performances.

A few days ago, authorities pulled the plug many foreign musicians coming to China, saying that even the songs they play in encores have to be vetted beforehand. This is fallout from the Bjork concern in Shanghai in the spring when the Icelandic singer shouted “Tibet! Tibet” after belting out her anthem about independence.

This Agence France Press story notes that popular bars and restaurants deemed too close to some of the Olympic venues, such as the Workers' Stadium in downtown Beijing, have been ordered shut for security reasons.

A popular pizza joint outside the Workers’ Stadium, the Kro’s Nest, has already shut down for a month or so (much to our family’s dismay).

And then there are the increasingly frequent requests to provide IDs, open bags and purses for searches, etc. The level of grumbling is increasing among foreigners, but not Chinese, who take at face value explanations that the security threat to these Olympics is greater than at any other.

For visitors to Beijing who want an inside look at the nightlife, check out the Beijing Boyce blog, which recently noted how vital it is to carry your passport around with you. Here’s what the blog said:

Question: Do I really need my passport when I go out in Beijing?

Answer: Yes. Most definitely, absolutely, unequivocally yes. Well, unless you like taking unnecessary risks, talking at length with the local authorities, and possibly making a visit to the police station.

Several Sanlitun bar owners told me today that the authorities will be making the rounds and checking patrons’ ID, and that bars are now expected to check patrons’ bags for anything “dangerous.” Add in the general increased security measures in Beijing ahead of The Games and the previous crackdowns in the city, and carrying your passport or a copy of it should be a ‘no brainer.’

Comments

[SiberianRat]

This is sad. China is trying to showcase itself to the world by creating a Hollywood set of a city which seems to take away from the true flavor of Beijing. I'm so glad I decided against going (I was seriously weighing it).

[A B]

Many security procedures are implemented not because they make things more secure, but because they make the innocent (everyone) feel more secure.

Like bag and body searches for everyone boarding aircraft.

Just precisely how many incidents does that prevent? Or even exist without any searches at all?

Look at it from another way: suppose a regime were implemented to run sobeiety / drug / fatigue / inattention checks on every single driver getting into a car? upplement that with mandatory rechecks every couple hours at checkpoints?

Sure... that would prevent many traffic accidents!

But....

[tjh]

Why's the Kro's nest shut down?! I love that place. One of my reliable places to get a Guinness.

[CS]

I have been shocked and amused to see just how much antiChinese feeling has been stirred up by these measures.

Here in Australia jokes about being shot for smiling at the Olympics and not-cheering etc are very common on the TV.

Most Chinese i know (OK most Chinese north of Shanghai) have a pretty good sense of humour, we used to have some quality practical jokes in the office.

Very very sad to see them wanting to reduce Beijing to a Disneylandesq place and that people are laughing at them.

Would it really have been that hard to engage a PR firm and then listen to them?

[Tim J]

Kro's Nest is shut because it was smack up against the Worker's Stadium. I don't know if Vic's and the Outback Steakhouse have also been shut down.

[Peter in Shanghai]

I live in Shanghai and I'm having no fun trying to buy some English language books at the few places where that's possible. Two days ago, exasperated by browsing the same old collection of so-so titles at Chaterhouse I thought to ask the clerk why they couldn't get something new for a change. Reply: the government is holding all new books at customs for 'security reasons' related to the Olympics. Puke puke puke!!! Never much of a sports fan I'm now becoming and active hater of this massive mass nonsense, and have begun browsing other places in the world where I can ply my trade. Down with authoritarian madness, I say!

[Condor]

@tjh

'Tis a shame. Part of the reason the communists won their civil war was that they were the masters of propaganda. Looks like that mastery has deteriorated with every year of the PRC. Look at how the Chinese view their own mass propaganda programs. But beware of what you wish for, I can't think of many things much scarier than the marriage of the government of the PRC, in its present state, to a truly professional propaganda, uh, i mean marketing and adverstising firm.

[Condor]

@tjh

'Tis a shame. Part of the reason the communists won their civil war was that they were the masters of propaganda. Looks like that mastery has deteriorated with every year of the PRC. Look at how the Chinese view their own mass propaganda programs. But beware of what you wish for, I can't think of many things much scarier than the marriage of the government of the PRC, in its present state, to a truly professional propaganda, uh, i mean marketing and adverstising firm.