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July 25, 2008 12:19:19 AM CDT

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In Countdown to 2008 Olympics, Beijing Besieged

Posted Aug 7, 07 6:48 AM CDT in World,  Sports 

(Newser) – As the one-year countdown to the Beijing Olympics begins tomorrow, activists and Olympic organizers alike have been vocal in their concerns about the host city. The government is under fire for press harassment: journalists were detained for several hours yesterday after a Reporters Without Borders conference, and six Free Tibet activists were arrested recently for unfurling a banner at the Great Wall.

Hu Jintao's administration also has its hands full with the food safety crisis; the latest concern is an abundance of diseased pork on the market. Finally, high levels of smog have Olympic organizers advising athletes to show up as late as possible; a recent state report said that hellish conditions gave city traffic police a life span of 43 years.

Source Reuters

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China  • 2008 Beijing Olympics  • Tibet  • human rights  • pollution  • Beijing  • athlete  • Olympic Games  • air pollution  • Hu Jintao  • journalist  • food safety


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