Nightline's Daily Line

The better question is will anyone care if China, or any country for that matter, pulls off the summer games? People are more concerned with if they'll pull off paying their rising food and gas bills next month.

Its not the country that gets nominated, its the city. In my opinion i feel that although the right to life is being violated in Tibet, the Olympics are a democratic event so in a way it is ok to hold the olympics there

The IOC will make sure that the coverage is positive, otherwise their decision to award the games to China will put into question future awards.

China, will of course, try to quelch any negative publicity, from algae to smog to zooplankton.

American network television coverage will downplay any negative in order to preserve their rights to purchase future rights.

So, what's the point. China cannot 'Clean up its act' nor will the coverage of the Olympics point out its failures.

China is passing out fliers on the proper way to cheer. They plan to clear the atmosphere and now the algae. News agencies are being swamped with paperwork in the name of security. We will be lucky to see anything other than what they want us to see and hear. We will be fortunate to see any live shots of the events that have not been sanitized for our viewing pleasure. Maybe the entire Olympics will be on a one day delay or maybe more.

The way the things R going these days I think and alot of other people probly think the same but just wont say it, is that these games will b frightening because people r taken extream measures 2 hurt other people. The game shouldnt b that way they r supost 2 u night people, hopefully it will go that way.

I am still amazed how Beijing was chosen to host the Olympics when it is one of the, if not, the most polluted city in the world. How could the Olympics committee let world-class athletes breathe the polluted air there when oxygen is the most vital in sports? How could the Olympics committee allow their athletes live in the newly-built Athletes Villages that were built on the ground that used to be houses to those now homeless citizens? I cheer for the athletes and wish them the best, but I pray for their health and safety.

I feel we should Boycott the Olympics, due to the country itself. Also the violence in Tibet. I don't think they can settle this prior to the Olympics so my answer is NO but they are all willing to go. I fear for the People of China, government telling them what to do how to smile. BOYCOTT IS MY M O. Boycott cause it's China, Earthquake, TIbet, Air Pollution, Health and safety of all involved. BOYCOTT

China has far worse problems than algae or air pollution. Human rights abuses, censorship of news and internet, and incursions into Tibet are the legacy that is being created by the leaders of the country but the world community does not hold them accountable. The Olympics will be portrayed by the media as a huge triumph for China regardless of the actual conditions that exist at the venues because the media wants China to succeed, to look good and to appear as a counterpoint to the "decadence" of the west in general and the US in particular. It is a giant PR event more than a real view of conditions in China. The athletes are largely pawns in this game.

TOO LITTLE.. TOO LATE!!
how did this oppressive country ever earn the priviledge of hosting this great peace promoting event???
SHAMEFUL!!

What we worried about is our ridiculous gas price and Mortgage. I have been China twice this year, I am kinda wondering why our media nvr report anything about their improvements and fxking amazing stadiums.We dont wanna being a bitch and hiding in the corner to tease others while our ass hasnt been wiped yet. This is not our style!!!

For the sake of their People , I hope they can pull it …
I have to admit that t I admire the Chinese People seeing how they were able to develop and grow in the past few years , and trying to reach other International opportunities. But now they are facing trouble with international trading and the rate exchange of the U.S dollar is dropping ….I pray that they can pull it out in the best way they can so they can intervene with the other issues that occurred Environmentally and economically.

'China' to clean the act of some polluting companies to clean their act?

If a Boeing 747 blows up in the air do you blame Boeing or the US?

“Will China clean up its Act?”

No, it doesn’t have to. The enormous commercial value of the Olympic Games guarantees image control. Problems are swept under a rug.

China has invested a reported $25B to ensure that its entrance onto the World Stage goes off without a hitch, the IOC has selected which 21,000 journalists get credentials for the Games, and further, NBC has the lock on US television rights from 2000 to 2012 at a cost of $5.7B.

That is why I am compelled to express concern for the personal safety of those traveling to Beijing to see the Games. While all travelers know that something can go wrong, the distinguishing difference is that this is China’s $25B coming out party. You don’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Be vigilant about personal safety. Give someone back home copy of your daily itinerary and check in as often as possible via phone or Internet. Keep a video recorder or camera with you at all times to snap evidence if needed.

It has happened before. One Olympic hitch occurred in Athens before the start of the 2004 Games when a tourist was run over by car driven by a Danish athlete. The athlete was not charged, but continued on to his competition. And so the Games went on undisturbed. Later report stated that the fatal accident was caused by the dead tourist pedestrian.

My own experience happened when I was a US athlete. While competing in the 2002 Pre-Olympic Test Event for sailing, I was run over by a top New Zealand Olympic coach driving a power boat. I was left comatose. A former athlete, I use a wheelchair to move about.

But it was the secondary damage that hurt the most. Something kept media quiet while I was comatose in Athens. CNN.com reported the accident when it happened, but then even CNN.com went silent. When I woke up, I was told the accident was my fault. To the contrary, evidence shows the coach driving the power boat was at fault.

Most harmfully, I was blocked from filing in the US and was informed I had to file in New Zealand. Since 2004, I have been fighting in New Zealand Courts for all that was taken from me that day in Athens. Then last month, without prior notice or order, the New Zealand judge violated due process and ordered that I was allowed only 14 days for discovery - not the 42 days allowed under rules.

It is as though the problem of my personal injury case is being swept under an Olympic rug. Don’t let it happen to you. Please be vigilant about personal safety at the Beijing Olympics.

The health and well-being of EVERYONE should have been considered before they choose China to host the Olympics. I do not believe our athletes are safe with the air quality. The politics do enter into the picture. The Chineese people are wonderful people- their government sucks.
I would not feel safe if I were an athlete, and as a parent I'd have serious reservations.
I do not believe China was the wisest choice, but a political one.

Now that the Chinese are cleaning up the algae, how do they get rid of it?