Talk:Concerns and controversies at the 2008 Summer Olympics/Archive 2

NPOV

Neutrality is first disputed in Talk:2008 Summer Olympics#Neutrality in Controversy, Talk:2008 Summer Olympics#POV and Talk:2008 Summer Olympics#Long, weak and POV "concerns and controversies" section (and maybe in Talk:2008 Summer Olympics/archive1 and Talk:2008 Summer Olympics/archive2, too). Wouldn't it be better, if those discussions moved here? --Kahkonen (talk) 14:36, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Currently seems to be a well cited page outlining some controversies in the Olympics. Seems simply to present the facts that there is controversy, as opposed to taking one side or another.152.3.41.118 (talk) 00:55, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Tag removed.--Kozuch (talk) 00:32, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

Gender verification

There are reports in the Western news media that gender verification will be in effect in Beijing. According to the article gender verification in sports, it has "been officially stopped by the International Olympic Committee in 1999". Wonder if someone can verify this. --Voidvector (talk) 15:26, 30 July 2008 (UTC)

IOC: Beijing Briefing Kit

http://www.swr.de/report/presse/-/id=3816966/property=download/nid=1197424/16fljuj/index.pdf Beijing Briefing Kit, 3 August 2007, Volume 4 —Preceding unsigned comment added by DL5MDA (talk • contribs) 22:18, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

NYT article on NBC tape delay backlash

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/sports/olympics/09nbc.html?hp

Good article on NBC's futile efforts to censor (online) footage of the opening ceremonies within the US. --Madchester (talk) 04:57, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

NBC West Coast Primetime Delay Very sad —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.122.28.117 (talk) 03:47, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

If you're on a satellite dish, you should be able to get east coast... 70.55.86.69 (talk) 11:08, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Concerns or controversies?

Let's just say it like it is: these are controversies. Having the article named "Concerns..." is weak. Barrylb (talk) 08:51, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Poor crowd turn out is not controversial. BillyTFried (talk) 19:54, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

China faking the ages of its athletes is.Rhinowing (talk) 01:44, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Spelling consisting

Madchester- It doesn't matter what spelling IOC uses. (See Manual of Style, which refers only to a strong connection to a particular region.) Moreover, China uses American spelling (with logical puntuation -- just like Wikipedia!) on their Olympic Web site, though that, too, is irrelevant. Let's follow WP policy here! The article started out with American spelling; let's keep it that way. (And let's keep it consistent!) Thanks. PeterH2 (talk) 07:50, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Agreed, I believe in China its common to use American spellings, only in Hong Kong and other colonies will you find more British influence to be common. .:davumaya:. 10:13, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Firstly, Wikipedia's MOS indicates that we actually have no preference towards one variant of English over another.

Second, the best solution is to substitute those words with multiple spellings with ones that are common across all variants of English. i.e., criticize/criticise to denounce, organize/organise to form, index, etc. Also when you're taking quotations from a source, you should still be reproducing it word for word, even if its based on a different spelling variant. I've made the appropriate fixes using the appropriate synonyms, except for one word ("politicising"), which was directly quoted from the BBC article.

The reason I referred to the IOC standard, is because we use the organization as the main reference for Olympic articles. I remember moderating over an edit war at Talk:2006_Winter_Olympics_medal_count with multiple editors trying to promote their different counting systems, instead of following the one established by the IOC. --Madchester (talk) 19:03, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Merger of 2008 Olympics attack on American nationals

This article needs to be merged into the other article. There is no reason for it to be its own article. NorthernThunder (talk) 14:43, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

I agree. Nobody is saying that the article isn't notable, but the concern is whether or not it needs it's own article or can be merged into the "Concerns" article, which I believe is the best choice here by far. Rwiggum (^Talk/_Contrib) 19:51, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, this should be merged. It's not that the content can't be covered anywhere, there's just no need for an article unto itself. Croctotheface (talk) 19:58, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

I suggest waiting until that AFD is over before merging. D.M.N. (talk) 20:06, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Things I am concerned about at the Olympics: boycotts, protests, air pollution, surveillance, media censorship, and persecution. Oh! And being stabbed to death. I think that the nature of this "concern" makes it worthy of a separate article. — Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 10:14, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Against Merge This is definately not a concern during the olympics. Keep article seperate. All other concerns are pre olympics concerns. Being stabbed to death is not relavent to a pre olympics concern and not to this article. 63.76.234.250 (talk) 16:01, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

• Merge or rename and expand to 2008 Summer Olympics related crime, because its quite likely to be an act of random violence, and thus not much of an article, better for WikiNews. Merge it, since it raises concerns, or expand coverage, to overview crime at the Olympics. 70.55.86.69 (talk) 11:07, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Against Merge - it doesn't make sense to have 2008 Olympics attack on American nationals merged into this article. Just because a crime happens during the Olympics, doesn't mean it has any thing to do with the Games. Ingramhk (talk) 16:10, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

• Is this discussion concluded? It has been 5 days. I'm gonna go ahead and close the merge. 63.76.234.250 (talk) 17:01, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Ticket scalpers

here, I wodner if this should be included or wait to see what develops. Katana Geldar 07:28, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

2008 Kunming bus bombings

Should these bombings be mentioned? I'm not sure if they are, but I can't tell. Spencer^T♦C 21:26, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

yes because they are fundamentally a threat to the Games posed by the terroists (or whatever they call themselves). Maybe there should be a new section named safety; as this is not an isolated event, there has been a few potential threats made. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ingramhk (talk • contribs) 16:15, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

The begining singer

I read while look on the drudge report that the girl who "sang" the song was not singing it, instead she was chossen because the girl that was choosen for her voice had buck teath. Should this be mentioned, and no I can not find the site where it was. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Not G. Ivingname (talk • contribs) 15:48, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

I remember I saw it on a news report. They said she wasn't cute/pretty enough (I knew something didn't look right). 12.74.209.109 (talk) 02:28, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Age of Chinese Gymastics

Though there is nothing offical about this, and might not be apporpriate, but is widely thought that the chinese olimpic team is underaged, though on there pasports it says they are 16, but even the person covering the games says they looked to young, If anyone can find something offical to comfirm or denie this, that would be great. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Not G. Ivingname (talk • contribs) 16:03, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

A section on this topic has been added to the page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerns_over_the_2008_Summer_Olympics#Possibly_Underage_Gymnasts BillyTFried (talk) 19:42, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

The IOC is not investigating the age, even though their is monting evidence? I heard they were, though I did not read it personally though. is there anyone who can look for evidence of this?--Not G. Ivingname (talk) 21:55, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

Empty Olympic seats cause concern

By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing

Chinese officials have admitted that they are concerned about the lack of spectators at some Olympic events.

They have hired volunteers, dressed in yellow shirts, to fill up empty venues and improve the atmosphere inside.

But Wang Wei, a senior official with the Beijing organising committee (Bocog), said other Olympics had experienced similar problems.

The comments came after spectators and journalists noticed that certain venues were far from full, even though all events are sold out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7555509.stm

BillyTFried (talk) 19:51, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Foreigners taken away by Beijing police for instigating "Tibet independence"

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) - Seven Americans and one Japanese national were taken away by Beijing police on Wednesday noon for fomenting "Tibet independence" at a park, police said. At around 12:20, the eight people were gathering at the China Ethnic Culture Park in the northern part of urban Beijing, waving flags symbolizing "Tibet independence" and shouting slogans supporting "Tibet independence". Police also said the eight entered China on tourist visas. The Beijing police was considering cutting their stay period in China and asking them to leave China. Editor: Bi Mingxin

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/13/content_9268286.htm

BillyTFried (talk) 20:44, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

Protests still unwelcome in Beijing

China has set aside three parks during the Olympics, to allow people to demonstrate. But, as the BBC's Michael Bristow finds out, the parks are empty and those who apply for permission to protest are even finding themselves arrested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7559217.stm

BillyTFried (talk) 01:50, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Ara Abrahamian (Wrestler throws medal in protest)

here are two Reuters articles about the Swedish Wrestler, Ara Abrahamian, throwing his bronze medal on the mat and quiting the sport.
"Anger as Swedish wrestler loses on 'bad call"
"Swede throws down medal, faces probe"

Dreammaker182 17:38, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

just added this Rhinowing (talk) 01:41, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Issues With the Olympic Village's Religous Center

Possible new section: there are allegations that many athletes from various nations and religions are increasingly dissatisfied with the Religious Center. The complaints include that it’s hard to find, too small to house its worshippers, lacks competent religious clergy, who cannot speak or perform religious ceremonies in any other language outside their native Chinese. Athletes are apparently so angry that they repeatedly go to the center so that their multiple complaints get logged again and again to reinforce how bad it really is. Some people are arguing it’s just another example of Chinese control over religion, and what was previously taken for granted at other Olympics. Here’s a link to a Washington Post article on the subject. Some Olympians Dissatisfied With Religious Center

Also, shouldn’t the fact that Bela Karolyi was banned from the Gymnastics stadium a be added to the said section? I think its very pertitent that the most vocal critic of the Chinese Gymnastics Age Scandal wasn’t allowed access. Zidel333 (talk) 17:54, 14 August 2008 (UTC)