Olympic Special, issue no. 380, Aug 8, 2008


^{Cover picture of the Economic Observer's 48-page Olympic Special}

In conjunction with the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug 8, the EO issued a 48-page special that day featuring stories of Chinese and how the Games have impacted their lives. They are no sports heroes, and no applause awaiting them to take the center stage. These are just ordinary people with ordinary tales during an extraordinary time.

They include a painter who labored for more than a year in the Bird's Nest; an internet video hosting site's staffer who screened countless hours of footages each day to eliminate "undesirable content"; a man who dressed up as Charlie Chaplin and trekked thousands of kilometers to the Chinese capital to commemorate the Games; a nanny from the countryside who took up a job in Beijing to be near to the hosting venue; victims of the Sichuan earthquake now in Beijing and more.....

This special strives to present the changes in their lives during the Olympic year, to record the thoughts and contributions that might be neglected as the spotlight focus on would-be heroes.

The Special is a token of appreciation from the EO to all those who have been quietly laboring to make the Beijing Games a reality. As we send these humble heroes our best wishes, we also wish China and the Beijing Games a success. 

Original issue: [Chinese]