The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. History Assignment.

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Introduction
Due to the increased competition and the subsequent attempt at drawing on special interest markets, social, and environmental improvement issues, the idea of the development of event tourism became prevalent from the 1980s (Hall, 1992). Several scholars made observations that special events are some of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry. Many countries and cities vigorously seek to become involved in event tourism. One of the critical factors that distinguish event tourism from other forms of tourism is that government bodies usually play a vital role in developing such special events. The involvement of governments in such significant events of such magnitudes continues to form an essential element in the whole process of planning for the events and operating in several destinations (Hall, 1992; Jeffries, 2001).
Much of the existing literature on event tourism emphasizes the management and marketing processes as well as the evaluation of the socio-economic, geo-political, sociocultural, and environmental impacts.
The games sites
Beijing
There were 31 games sites throughout the city of Beijing. Of particular note was the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in a new area called Mapo Village. It had proximity to the expatriate community, near agricultural land and farms. The main Olympic Games venue at ‘Olympic Green’ in northern Beijing was spread over a large area. Travelers had to be prepared to walk some distances around the venue. Travelers with disabilities were to ensure that special arrangements were made to assist them in moving around the venues. An awareness of evacuation routes and fire safety at the games village or other places where spectators or athletes are residing was also essential. There was a host of many different cultures represented at the games, and travelers needed to be culturally aware and culturally sensitive, especially around the Games Village (Deng, 2008).
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Outside Beijing
Olympic competition venues outside Beijing were located in the cities of Qingdao (sailing), Hong Kong (Equestrian), Tianjin (Football), Shanghai (Football), and Qinhuangdao (Football).
Anticipated Health Issues Before the Games
Climate
All the venues were selected in areas that were effectively at sea level, with Beijing being the highest at 51 m above sea level. In August, the humidity would be highest in Hong Kong and Shanghai (approximately 80%) and lowest in Qinhuangdao (approximately 65%). Average daily maximum temperatures were likely to be in the range of 25–32 1C in all venues, although northern China was expected to experience heat waves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius. Thus, adequate precautions needed to be taken to prevent sunburns and dehydration, and travelers and game competitors were to be advised to limit their exercising to the early morning -390525220027500or late afternoon periods (Deng, 2008).
Air pollution
Although the preparations started many months before the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Beijing had to fend off the unwelcome award of being the world's air pollution capital. Satellite data was essential in revealing Beijing and the neighboring northeast Chinese provinces as having the planet’s worst levels of nitrogen dioxide, a gas that can cause considerable pulmonary morbidity. Alarm about the perilous state of the environment had gathered pace in recent years. China is the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, and pollutants in the sky over China had increased by about 50% during the past ten years. More than 100 million people live in cities, such as Beijing, where the air is considered ‘‘very dangerous’’. China is now the largest source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in the world. SO2 and particulate matter coming from coal combustion are two primary air pollutants, resulting in acid rain formation that falls in about 30% of China’s total land area (Deng, 2008). By 2002, Beijing alone had the largest fleet of buses that run on natural gas in the world, totaling 1630 vehicles. China’s national legislature, through its model of ‘‘Cleaner Production’’ amongst other attempts to reduce air pollution, managed to significantly alter the Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution that was revised in 2002 (Deng, 2008).
Nonetheless, Beijing continued to have a significant air pollution problem. In 2005, the European Space Agency released data suggesting that Beijing and its environs may suffer some of the worst air pollutions on the planet. The fact that Beijing’s air quality had failed to improve despite the many measures outlined above was partly a reflection of rapid economic development and increased motor vehicle use. It may also have been due to an enormous contribution of regional air pollution and meteorological factors. However, the Central and Municipal Governments were strongly committed to ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic Games were not marred by poor air quality. It was anticipated that every possible measure to curb air pollution would be taken; such measures were to include closing factories, limiting road traffic, strict measures (both temporary and permanent) to curb regional pollution, and artificial weather modification.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and China’s International Strategy
Since the Cold War ended, China has experienced de facto isolation because of the triumph of the U.S., which was representative of western democracy and liberal capitalism. Subsequently, a new international political and economic system dominated by the U.S., the so-called New World Order (NWO), was established. The former Soviet satellite states turned to democracy and were subsequently assimilated by the new system. During the 1990s, liberal values spread, particularly human rights, and became international norms. These were manifested through humanitarian interventions throughout the decade. Therefore, China has become an “other” in the international community because its political and economic systems and foreign policy are substantially different.
Moreover, China's rise, particularly its rapid economic growth and Beijing’s increased influence on the Third World, intensified the West’s concern that China’s threat had become more explicit. This aspect led to the increased numbers of adherents to the China threat theory. However, these concerns about China are not new; they can be traced to the work of A. F. K. Organski, a Cold War realist. In World Politics, Organski (1958) predicted that China would become a challenger to the US.’s position at the top of the pyramid and the dominant nation if it became industrialized (Organski,1958: 322). Consequently, China has been compelled to deal with what Yong Deng (2008: 105) called the ‘China threat theory.’ According to Deng, the China threat theory is a crucial impediment to China’s international goal achievement: acknowle...