2008 Summer Olympics In Beijing China Blog

China warns Dalai Lama not to obstruct Olympics (CTV.ca)
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday demanded the Dalai Lama stop trying to divide China, incite violence and harm the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

Zagat guide finds Beijing restaurants slicker, pricier (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
With Olympic-sized hordes of tourists set to descend this summer, Beijing has stepped up its culinary sophistication — but slickness comes at a price, a new guide to the city’s eats warns.

China acknowledges tightening of visa rules before Olympics (Las Vegas Sun)
Tue, May 6, 2008 (12:12 p.m.) China has tightened visa controls ahead of the Olympic Games, with invitation letters and hotel reservations required for some travelers, the government acknowledged Tuesday after weeks of insisting the entry process was business as usual.

Tough Olympic draw for GB’s women’s hockey (Daily Telegraph)
Great Britain’s women have been drawn alongside defending Olympic champions Germany at this summer’s Beijing Games.

WHO: Hand-foot-mouth disease not to affect Beijing Olympics (People’s Daily)
The recent outbreak hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in China, which has killed 25 children till now, will not threaten the upcoming 29th Olympics Games in this summer, a representative from Beijing Bureau of the World Health Organization (WH …

China changes visa requirements ahead of Olympics (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
China has admitted for the first time that it has introduced more stringent visa requirements to ensure a “safe environment,” only months before Beijing is to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Commentary: Beijing’s environmental issues cloud Olympic boycott debate (Orion)
It’s a hot August day with temperatures hovering near triple digits, and a thick coal-smog mixed with exhaust fumes surrounds a city of more than 17 million people. No, this isn’t a bad air day in Los Angeles. It’s worse. Welcome to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and don’t forget to strap on your dust masks.