Let the Games begin!

by Yeoh Siew Hoon

Instead of turning to the comics first thing these days when I read the newspapers, I am going straight to the sports pages.

Not because I have suddenly developed an obsession for the sport of sports, but because I am headed for the Big O in the Big C of the Mother C and I feel I ought to at least know what’s going on in the sports world, who I should be rooting for and who will be the favourites in which event.

Yes, I’ve got my flights, my room, my visa and, yes oh yes, a ticket to the opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest.

I am celebrating (I hope not prematurely because these days, you never know till you know) because everyone had told me how difficult it would be to get, in this order, flights, a room, a visa and a ticket to the opening.

Most difficult of all, they had warned me, would be the visa.
A Swiss businessman I met at a party recently told me how his visa had been rejected. This was a man used to getting what he wants.

The first thing he said when we were introduced was, “Do you want to know about my lifestyle?” Before I could say no, he told me about his five homes around the world – his latest being in Marrakech and how hard it was these days to get good servants – and how his real home is in the first class cabin of airlines.

He travels frequently to China as he has business interests there.

“Can you believe it?,” he said indignantly. “They refused my visa application. There is no way yours will be approved.”
Well, surprisingly, my visa approval was easier done than said.

Other than sporting news, I have also been devouring all the other news about Beijing just to make sure I am up with the latest “goz”.

The latest news is that they’re now expecting the worst locust invasion in history to descend upon Beijing. And because these days, all roads lead to rising fuel prices, they’re also blaming this on that damned black gold that is making all our lives miserable across the planet.

According to this report in Bloomberg, locusts have infested an area of 5,000 square miles (1.3 million hectares), including more than 550 square miles of farmland in Duolun.

Officials counted as many as 70 locusts in every square metre (1.2 square yards).

Funds are needed to destroy the insects and their larvae and one official said the Inner Mongolian government needs three million yuan (US$438,000) for diesel to run tractors pulling sprayers and to hire pilots and lease planes to spray the locusts.

It quotes the official: “We need diesel to run the tractors and there’s also fuel for the planes. Oil prices are so high now.”

Then of course there’s the algae bloom that’s choking Qingdao waters where the sailing events will be held but then I hear they’ve cleaned it up with nets and all.

Meanwhile, factories in and around Beijing have been ordered to close and private cars removed so as to ensure the air is as clean as possible for the Games.

Security for the opening ceremony has also been tightened because there’ve been heightened reports of a possible terrorist attack. Up to 20 world leaders are expected for the three-and-a-half hour spectacle directed by famous film producer Zhang Yimou.

They have had their first rehearsal, which was held under tight secrecy.

Then just recently, I watched a telecast on CNN saying that the government has ordered all restaurants in Beijing to take dog off their menus to ensure the half a million visitors expected for the Games do not end up eating man’s best friend by mistake.

And then I arrive in Hong Kong this week and guess what the headline of the day read: “Thousands in banknote queuing marathon”. It appears some folks have been queuing for days to get their hands on Olympic commemorative banknotes.

One student reportedly made a killing – she bought $3,000 worth of banknotes and sold them for $13,000.


In Singapore, they queue for food and if something is free. In Hong Kong, they queue if there is money at the end of the rainbow.

There’s so much going on that I can barely keep up with the news and it is interesting the reactions I get when I tell people I am headed for the Olympics. They range from: “Wow, you are so lucky.” “You’re crazy. It will be crazy there.”

So less than a month to go, I am feeling a little bit lucky and a little bit crazy with the anticipation.

Don’t you want to be there too?

Read Yeoh Siew Hoon every week at The Transit Cafe – www.thetransitcafe.com