Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom
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preparations for and during the Games, as well as long after the Games are finished, can
China host a truly successful Olympics.
Changing the rules mid-game
An aspiring Olympic host city must clear many hurdles. For Beijing, it took two attempts,
one in 1993, and the second successful bid in 2001. With the old lobbying practices now
deemed corrupt and unethical, cities had to navigate a complex bureaucratic process set
forth in the new “candidature acceptance procedures” adopted by the Executive Board of
the International Olympic Committee in February 2000.
Applicant cities must present to the Executive Board, through their respective national
Olympic committees, a completed questionnaire that addresses six themes: motivation
and concept, political and public support (including any opposition), general infrastructure,
sports infrastructure (including environmental impact), logistics and experience, financing.
In August 2000, the Executive Board named five cities to proceed as candidate cities:
Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris and Toronto. These candidate cities had to meet rigorous
application requirements including 10-minute presentations to the board, submit a
candidacy file, together with a non-refundable deposit of $150,000, and host a four-day
site visit by an evaluation commission. The candidacy file had to address 18 themes and
149 questions. Between mid-February and mid-April 2001, the International Olympic
Committee's evaluation commission conducted site visits to each of the cities. As part of
the application requirements, guarantees were required from national, regional, and local
authorities, as well as city and other competent authorities.
Based upon review of the candidacy files and the report, the board drew up the final list of
candidate cities to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee session for
election through secret balloting. The April 3, 2001 evaluation commission's report offered
this assessment of the Beijing bid:
This is a government-driven bid with considerable assistance of the NOC (National
Olympic Committee). The combination of a good sports concept with complete
Government support results in a high quality bid. The Commission notes the
process and pace of change taking place in China and Beijing and the possible
challenges caused by population and economic growth in the period leading up to
2008 but is confident that these challenges can be met. There is an environmental
challenge but the strong government actions and investment in this area should
resolve this and improve the city. It is the Commission's belief that a Beijing Games
would leave a unique legacy to China and to sport and the Commission is confident
that Beijing could organize excellent Games.
On July 13, 2001, in Moscow, the International Olympic Committee voted to award China
the honor of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite its failed first Olympic bid in 1993,
despite its serious record of ongoing human rights abuses, and despite achieving a top
rating in only one out of 10 applicant selection categories, Beijing had come from behind
to beat Osaka, Paris, Toronto, and Istanbul.