Mure Dickie, Geoff Dyer and Jamil Anderlini reports in the Financial Times:
Just three weeks before the Beijing Olympics, concerns are growing that China’s sweeping security measures could end up sucking all the fun out of the world’s biggest sportsfest.
Pre-Olympic jitters are almost a tradition but a Chinese visa crackdown that has sent visitor numbers plunging, heightened security checks, dire warnings of terrorist attack and curbs on Beijing nightlife have led to some observers dubbing the 2008 Olympics the “no-fun Games”.
Michael Payne, the International Olympic Committee’s head of marketing for the two decades to 2004, said that in meetings with top Beijing organisers he has stressed a single word of advice: smile.
“The biggest challenge they have to face now is ensuring that the security doesn’t suffocate the festival,” Mr Payne said. “The Olympics are only special if there is a festival outside the venues.”
