It was a very nice gesture by the Olympic committee to pledge this money. The people in China really need it. I hope that there are no more setbacks leading up to the Summer Olympics, because the Chinese really could use a good Olympic experience after all the problems they have had.

I just read on Yahoo news that China is considering the idea of inviting the Dalai Lama to attend the games in Beijing. I can’t imagine that the Tibetan leader will actually go, but I suppose it is possible.

What do you think… do you think there is any change the Dalai Lama will attend the Olympics this year?

So, if you were planning on going to the Olympics this year I hope you already bought your tickets. The tickets sold out a month earlier than expected, which is pretty amazing considering all the controversy surrounding this years Olympic games.

Here is the press release:

CHINA OLYMPICS: CARTOON CHARACTER TORTURED IN NEW AMNESTY FILM MARKING 100-DAY COUNTDOWN

With 100 days to go until the Beijing Olympics, Amnesty International today (30 April) launched the first in a series of four hard-hitting animated films highlighting human rights abuses linked to the Chinese authorities hosting of the Games, in particular the risks of peacefully protesting in China.

The first 40-second film, called Torchure, shows a cute, animated character being brutally beaten with an electro-shock baton by Chinese security forces for protesting about human rights. The baton is then handed to another character, who uses it to light the Olympic flame at Beijing’s Olympic stadium.

Amnesty is campaigning for Ye Guozhu, imprisoned and reportedly tortured with electro-shock batons after he protested at forced evictions in Beijing. Ye Guozhu’s home and family restaurant had been bulldozed to make way for Olympics construction.

The organisation hopes the online films will encourage people in the UK and around the world – including in China – to find out what is really happening behind the grandeur of China’s new Olympic venues, and to join Amnesty’s campaign at www.amnesty.org.uk/china for much needed human rights reforms in the country. The new website enables people to send campaigning letters and emails, share content or even to start their own blog. Amnesty is also releasing a new booklet accompanying the film, showing ‘the two faces of the Beijing Olympics’.

Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director Tim Hancock said:

“Amnesty is not against the Games but we want people to know what else is happening in China – including the silencing of critics and peaceful protesters – and to join our campaign for urgent human rights reforms.

“People who speak out about human rights in China are being persecuted and locked up ahead of the Olympics. Torture is commonplace. Right now we’re demanding the release of Ye Guozhu, who was arrested and tortured just for protesting when his home was bulldozed to make way for Olympics venues.

“The Chinese authorities promised when bidding for the Olympics that hosting the Games would improve human rights. Rather than honour these promises, the government has cracked down on dissent more rigorously than before.”

Yasmeen Ismail of Sweetworld TV, the animator behind the films, is half Chinese and spent many summer school holidays in Hong Kong. During these family trips she became influenced by ‘Hello Kitty’ and other ‘kawaii’ characters. She said:

“With animation you can create a lot of emotion.  The characters in the Amnesty China campaign are quite innocent and cuddly. When something horrific happens the impact is greater because you have built up a bond with them.

“These characters just want to have a good time and express themselves freely. They are like children playing a game and the ‘policeman’ comes over and spoils it all.

“Working on this project with Amnesty has really opened my eyes to China’s situation.  I feel angry, fired up and helpless all at the same time. I feel sad for the Chinese people and disturbed by their government.”

See the first film and join Amnesty’s campaign at www.amnesty.org.uk/china

Pretty cool news for those of you who are heading out to see the Olympics live this year.

“Chris Babida” was already named as the theme song for the the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay, and “I am a Star” by Emil Chau was named as the song to be played for the Olympic volunteers. One song in particular has been getting A LOT of attention, Giorgio Moroder and Kong Xiangdong’s “Forever Friends”. Moroder has already written two Olympic theme song, this would be his third to make it in the Olympics.

Here is a nice rendition of the song by CoCo Lee:

Other major world leaders are considering skipping the games. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already announced that he is not going to attend the opening ceremonies.

The next step is for countries to start announcing they will boycott the Olympics. I hope that doesn’t happen, but I can certainly understand why countries would boycott the 2008 olympics.

Well, I just found out that you can track it’s path and find out exactly where it is today, by visiting the Google Maps Olympic Torch relay page.

From the map you can see where the torch is, where it was and where it is going.

Pretty Cool, huh?

Here are my two favorite quotes from the article:

Chinese President Hu Jintao issued a statement stating that the People’s Republic of China will not send a team to Beijing to participate in the Olympics. Jintao cited China’s poor record on human rights and the environment as primary reasons.

United States President George W. Bush remarked, “Cool! More medals for Americans!”

So funny! Click here to read the rest of the spoof article on China’s boycott of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

“All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be subject to on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times.. Hotel rooms, residences and offices may be accessed at any time without the occupant’s consent or knowledge.”

You can read more about the warning here.

I guess Big Brother is even more prevalent in China than in the US, or is it?

You can click here to see the current schedule for the 2008 Olympic Games.

I plan on keeping it up to date with fun facts about the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.

I understand the IAAF’s need to ban any items which give a technological advantage. However, it does seem that the fact that the man has no legs mitigates any advantage the prosthetics may give him. If ever there were a place for an exception, this would seem to be it. By the way, Pistorius is not exactly the bionic man. He has not yet run Olympic qualifying times and was simply seeking the opportunity to compete. He was not considered a high threat for qualifying, much less medaling at the Olympics.

Our first athlete is 49 year old Tim Barnes of Pueblo, Colorado. Barnes hopes to make it to Beijing competing in kayaking. Not only will Barnes have to compete against athletes half his age but he’s also had both hips replaced. In spite of this, he’s already had a couple of strong finishes in national competitions. In April, he’ll compete in the Olympic trials in Oklahoma, hoping to complete his dreams of a trip to the Beijing Olympics this summer.

CEO David A Boitano had this to say on the subject:

The Olympics symbolize peace, harmony and oneness and a country which has such widespread Human Rights violations, I believe, cannot do justice to an event which calls for world peace. China’s Human Rights violations have always been, and currently are, systematic. The Chinese government continues to suppress dissenting opinions and maintains political control over the legal system. We feel that at this time China is not a country that we want to support any more than we are forced to. Until they can prove that they have stopped violating Human Rights, started complying with Child Labor Laws and allow their citizens the freedoms we all enjoy, we will continue to hold this position.

Our decision to discontinue the sale and market of 2008 Summer Olympics tickets has nothing to do with China as a nation but its policies which are inhumane and should be abolished as soon as possible. There has been a lot of unrest since China was picked as the host nation and, at one point of time, it was almost certain that the games would be boycotted. Although that is not happening, we are protesting in our own way and the tickets will not be put on sale again till China provides the world definite proof of its innocence.