Summer Olympic Games Open in Beijing

Summer Olympic Games Open in Beijing
Criticism and protests have surrounded the Olympic games. Transcript of radio broadcast:
08 August 2008


This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
After seven years of preparations, the Summer Olympic Games have opened in Beijing, China. An opening ceremony and lighting of the Olympic cauldron marked the official start of the games on Friday.

More than ten thousand athletes will compete in the summer games. They will take part in more than three hundred events in twenty-eight sports. About twenty-five thousand members of the media are reporting on the games.

Chinese President Hu Jintao welcomed leaders from around the world to a special celebration meal. He said the Chinese government and people have been fulfilling promises made to the international community when Beijing was chosen to host the games.

However, human rights issues, pollution and the ability of the media to freely report have caused criticism and tension leading up to the Olympics.

China is hoping the criticism will be replaced by excitement for what many believe is the greatest sports event in the world. This year's theme is "One World, One Dream." The idea is to unite the world in the spirit of the Olympics.

China is promising a safe and peaceful Olympics. The government increased security after a deadly attack on police earlier this week in the far western Xinjiang province.

China has spent more than forty billion dollars on structural improvements for the Olympic games. Earlier this week, some people protested the destruction of their homes to make way for new buildings.

There have been many other protests. China expelled two Americans and two British citizens for demonstrating Wednesday near the main Olympic structure. The four members of "Students for a Free Tibet" hung signs calling for freedom in Tibet.

Chinese officials detained three American Christian human rights activists Thursday after they protested for a second day in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

In addition, China cancelled a visa for American athlete Joey Cheek hours before he was to leave for Beijing. Mister Cheek has criticized China's support for the Sudanese government and had planned to demonstrate on the issue.

President Bush is expected to discuss human rights issues with Chinese President Hu Jintao when they meet on Sunday. Mister Bush attended the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

Another issue surrounding the Olympics in Beijing is air pollution. The city has some of the most polluted air in the world. However, the International Olympic Committee's medical commission chief said the air is not a threat to visitors. Four members of the United States cycling team apologized after wearing protective face coverings when then arrived in the city. Pollution caused the Chinese government to ban more than three million vehicles from roads each day. It also shut down factories during the games.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. You can read and listen to our reports on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

----------------------------Google Translate

夏季奥运会在北京召开
批评和抗议，已经包围了奥运会。全文电台广播：
2008年8月8日


这是在新闻中在美国之音特别英语。
经过七年的准备，夏季奥运会已在北京开幕，中国。一开幕式并点燃了奥运主火炬，标志着正式开始的游戏，周五。

多万运动员将角逐在夏季奥运会。他们将参加在多于300事件在2008年体育。约2.5万成员的媒体报道上的游戏。

中国国家主席胡锦涛领导人欢迎来自世界各地的一个特别的庆祝餐。他说，中国政府和人民已履行承诺，向国际社会作出的，当北京被选为申办奥运会。

然而，人权问题，污染和能力，媒体自由的报告引起了批评和紧张局势的领导到奥运会。

中国是希望的批评，将取代兴奋什么许多人认为是最大的体育盛会，在世界上。今年的主题是“同一个世界，同一个梦想” 。想法是团结的世界，在奥运精神。

中国是大有希望的安全与和平的奥运会。政府增加安全性后，一种致命的攻击，警方本星期早些时候在遥远的新疆西部省。

中国已用了超过四百亿美元，结构改善，为奥运会。本星期早些时候，一些人提出抗议，摧毁其家园的方式，使新建筑物。

有很多其他的抗议。中国驱逐两名美国人和两名英国公民展示周三附近的奥运主要结构。 4位“学生为建立一个自由西藏”红的迹象，要求自由在西藏。

中国官员被拘留的3名美国基督教人权活动家周四后，他们提出抗议，为第二天在北京的天安门广场。

此外，中国取消了签证，美国运动员乔伊的脸颊小时之前，他离开北京。米斯特塞脸颊曾批评中国的支持，为苏丹政府和原来的计划，以显示对这个问题。

美国总统布什预计将讨论人权问题与中国国家主席胡锦涛时，他们举行会议，讨论周日。米斯特塞布什出席了开幕典礼奥运会。

另一个问题，围绕北京奥运会的是空气污染的问题。城市的一些最污染的空气，在世界上。不过，国际奥林匹克委员会的医疗行政委员会说，空气是不会威胁到游客。四名成员的美国自行车队道歉后，穿上防护面对覆盖，然后抵达时，在该城市。所造成的污染，中国政府禁止超过3万辆，从道路，每一天。它也关闭工厂，在运动会期间。

这是在新闻中在美国之音特别英语，写的brianna布雷克。您可以阅读，并听取我们的报告对我们的网站， voaspecialenglish.com 。我史蒂夫ember