China–Ready for the Olympics

Don’t call it a makeover. Chinese officials say what they did to their capital in preparation for next month’s Summer Olympic Games is beyond a mere renovation. They consider it nearly a complete overhaul. Beijing has had seven years to get ready for the 2008 Summer Games and officials there say they’ve made good use of the time and are ready for visitors to start pouring in. English-language and anti-spitting lessons (one of the government’s slogans is: “Spitting kills even more than an atomic bomb.”) along with tutorials in personal hygiene were required for everyone from taxi cab drivers to … Continue reading