by Robin Burchfield
(AgapePress) – It appears Western consultants and public relations firms played a pivotal role in Beijing’s successful bid to host the 2008 Olympics.
Money was no object for China in their bid for the Games, as they sought out the best public relations money could buy. Spending some $24 million, China lobbied the 131 voting members of the International Olympic Committee with the help of Australian and British public relations firms.
With that help, The Washington Times reports, communist China learned to tone down the politics and focus on its booming capital with the slogan, “New Beijing, Great Olympics.”
In addition, China furnished an English-speaking team to convey the people’s passion, and push an argument still based on China’s history and population, its impressive reform and sporting prowess. Obviously lacking were details on China’s human rights record.
While China realizes it is now under global scrutiny, the Times article notes, most signs point against political reforms such as South Korea experienced before hosting the 1988 Games, when Seoul was obliged to respond to U.S. pressure.
(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)
