China's Olympics Guide: Do's And Don'ts For Foreigners

With China expecting an enormous influx of foreigners for the 2008 Olympics, they've helpfully issued an Olympics guide, which is filled with a wide range of do's and don'ts for incoming foreigners:

Do not bring any printed materials critical of China. Do not plan on holding any rallies or demonstrations in China. Do not think that you are guaranteed an entry visa even if you hold tickets to an Olympic event. And do not even think about smuggling opium into China...

...The advisory to foreigners, posted on the committee's Web site, but only in Chinese, provides answers for each question in a deadpan style (burning or soiling the Chinese flag or emblems is a criminal offense; food poisoning symptoms are to be reported to the local medical health department). Some of the rules, like a ban on religious or political banners or slogans at Olympic sites, appear aimed at preventing protests of China's crackdown in Tibet this spring and other Chinese policies...

...The advisory issued on Monday by the Beijing Organizing Committee includes a ban on bringing into China, "anything detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture or moral standards, including printed material, film negatives, photos, records, movies, tape recordings, videotapes, optical discs and other items." All rallies, demonstrations and marches, at athletic venues or anywhere else, are also banned during the Games unless approved in advance by public security agencies - a longstanding policy in China even when there are no Games or other big events being held.

China also issued a manual to thousands of volunteers who will help the Olympics run smoothly. However, the manual was apparently not thoroughly vetted, as the government has now apologized for some insensitive stereotypes when describing how to deal disabled people:

Beijing Olympic organizers have issued an apology for the language used to describe disabled athletes in a manual compiled for thousands of volunteers...

...A section dedicated to the disabled said that "paralympic athletes and disabled spectators are a special group. They have unique personalities and ways of thinking."

To handle the "Optically Disabled," the guide said: "Often the optically disabled are introverted. They have deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions. ... Remember, when you communicate with optically disabled people, try not to use the world `blind' when you meet for the first time."

On the "Physically Disabled," the guide said: "Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy. They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.

Read more HuffPost coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Comments

[InformedSources]

I think it would be highly imprudent to visit China at this time, unless one had a compelling reason to do so. It is not a free country by any measure. China requires extreme conformism of its own people, and of visitors too. Their legal system provides little protection for the accused. One step out of line--a single ill considered word or act--and you could find yourself in deep trouble, with little recourse.

[groucho]

How about in return, they stop putting poison and lead in our toys and food. Oh, and stop tearing out all of our trees and flora and replacing it with cement. If you want us to respect your countries rules and laws when we visit you, your visitors and immigrants try and do the same It's called assimilate.
I've spent a lot of time in 3 other countries, and enjoyed them immensely. And I assimilated to their ways.
Having said all that, anyone who goes to China deserves whatever happens to them. Don't go.

[hey0there]

Do NOT ask why you didnt get a fortune cookie at the end of your meal. Thats not actually a Chinese custom.

[unpoetaloco]

I agree, the best thing is to not go. There is no reason for anyone other than George Bush (because Bush will use any excuse to take time off and fly Air Force 1 thousands of miles away) to go. The Olympics are no longer about sports or competition any way. Friends, family and sport enthusiasts can watch the games on the 56" flat screen they'll be able to afford by saving on airfare and lodging. There is a moral imperative here that transcends any phony argument about sports uniting the world.

[fcsakes]

I think everyone should just stay home.

[ZedLoch]

Thats China. Blunt and non-PC.

[amanda85]

An absolute dream for every conservative...

[FrankenPC]

My mind is still boggled that the Olympic commission elected China. WTF were they thinking? Seriously, they should all be fired.

[Nooneyouknow]

Check their bank accounts; wouldn't be the first time the Olympic committee's been swayed by "favors."

[andyboy]

Just think. Someday you'll be just like them in every way. Our politicians LOVE China and the way they run their country. They would be pleased to take away your freedom and in fact are doing so in small yet important ways EVERY DAY.

I do agree with their attempts to control population though. This is the major factor in all of the problems of our world. There's just too damn many people overunning this planet and unless we start lowering population levels we will drive ourselves to extinction.

[NYC07]

Best advise : Don't Go - They have most of our money anyway

[calgary]

They have all our money because we need to have 20 pairs of shoes, a room full of toys to amuses our spoiled kids, borrow beyond our means because we want everything. And everything is made in China. China did not point a gun to our head to buy their goods. We are addicted to mass consumption and China provides both the "drugs" and the money by buying our debt.

[JScott]

So unless you can read Chinese then what?
If ya get caught doing the unmentionables can you just say 'I can't read Chinese so I don't know'-yeah right.
I for one will have no great urge to watch any of it on TV. I can only hope they have major embarrassment during the games, then I can watch it on youtube.

[AnotherHuddy]

Don't get in trouble and then argue that "it's a free countrry, man!"
~s~

[javaman]

Rule #1: before you enter country, take deep breath. It will be the last fresh air you will get for a while.

Rule #2: bring knife and fork everywhere you go. Food is in short supply and the air is very thick. Kill two bird with one stone. eat the air.

Rule #3: don't complain, otherwise we will make you breath.

[MagisterLudi]

Javaman posted: [In China ]Food is in short supply

The ignorant post of the year, surely.

[Chavez08]

Neoliberal "Free Market" Slogan: "Market Liberalization leads to Political Liberalization."

- YOU be the judge.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

It's a disgrace to the games to be held in such a totalitarian environment. In 1936, Nazi Germany actually had a BETTER human rights record than the Chinese do now.

[emerywood]

I think you should change your banner to " Human Obligations " rather than human rights.
Nazi Germany had a better human rights record ? What about the Holocaust ?
What have we done for air pollution and carbon emission ? A big zero !
I, for one, think the " One Child " policy is China's contribution to fighting pollution, over-population and combating food and gas scarcity and which is better than most other countries.

[amanda85]

"Nazi Germany had a better human rights record ? What about the Holocaust ?"

In 1936? I don't think so. Though of course they were still major violators of human rights, but so were Britain, France and the US at that time.

[LivingInChina]

Well now,

So many negative comments about a place and system so few Westerners know anything about.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of the government nor many of the customs, policies, and/or practices but this is after all a different country with a long history of doing things differently than the US, Europe, Canada, and others.

The Olympics is China's well edited travelogue and introduction to the country. They just want things to go well, as in perfectly. The rules are there for both foreigners and Chinese alike and generally, the rules are the same for the Games as they are all the time.

As for the translations re the disabled, one commenter got it right. Chinese does not translate too delicately. Also, the translation was pretty much spot on re the information quoted in the article.
Disabled people are not common in China. Yes, there is a rather large number of such people but they are not commonly seen on the street. Handicapped parking and access is unknown here.

China is not a Western country and definitely not a Western culture. Maybe someday things will swing more toward Western ways but then again, maybe not.

China is China. Get used to it.

Best regards from Chengdu.

[FirstShirt]

Having lived in Asia for several years I agree with your observations. One point. China asked for the Olympics. No one forced them. We in the west would perhaps be less arrogant and insensitive if we were forced to endure family separation and reeducation camps. Perfection is applauded and if you are not "perfect" then you are ostracized. Sounds like a communist paradise.

[LivingInChina]

Talking perfection, I am worried about the Chinese Olympic team members.

The pressure for gold will be more than some of these young people will be able to handle.