The Beijing Olympics will be the most definitive political statement since the Berlin games of 1936. The pariah of today’s world, more than anything else, wishes to impress and intimidate the rest with a display that is going to be staggeringly beautiful and frightening at the same time. Whispers that a new world leader has arrived will finally be out announced loud and clear on August 8. That the western world has the chance to get even, at London, of all cities, is further reason why Beijing wants to set a lofty benchmark.

Here is our list of some thingt to watch out for at the games:

Protests:

No one can possibly rule out political disruptions during these games, expect protestors to try and grab as much attention during a time when China would be hosting the maximum number of foreigners on its soil, at any given time in its post-colonial history. Tibet, Darfur, human rights, Islamic fundamentalists, and separatists will look to make a small mark, if any at all. Protests at gymnastic events, videos challenging kafir athletes and improperly attired women, protest banners on the Great Wall of China. Anything is possible. But China’s strong handed, zero tolerance policies would prevent a good majority of these protests, for better or for worse.

Pollution:

China’s pollution problems and the ongoing efforts of the government to curb it have been well documented. In a bid to give, Beijing a much needed facelift, the government has gone to extreme lengths including relocating all polluting industries to outside city limits. It has introduced ‘no-car’ days where people are encouraged to use public transport instead of their four wheelers. But, two things remain to be seen. Firstly, will athletes especially those long distance runners get affected by the incredible pollution and secondly, will the government continue to focus on green initiatives after the Olympics?

The stadia

The stadia for the Beijing Olympics are going to be just another attraction. The city of has been waiting eight years for this event and boy have its citizens been prepared for it! Foreign newspapers and magazines have started to review the stadiums and how each one is indicative of the Chinese spirit and the fact that the country has arrived in a big way. Expect a lot of superlatives over the next two weeks as people go gaga over the main Olympic Stadium or even the fabulous venue for swimming.

Iconic Images: 

Every Olympic Games has its own set of iconic images and moments that transcend petty factors such as medal tallies and world records. In 1996, it was Muhammed Ali lighting the Olympic Flame and Kerri Shrug beating an injury to help her team with the gold. (Michael Johnson’s 200 and 400m double as well). In 2000, it was the incredible image of Cathy Freeman in a full body suit running and winning the 400m two weeks after being chosen to light the Olympic Flame and in the process almost bridging the gap between the aborgines and the rest of Australia. The best moments of 2004 undoubtedly had to be the entrance of the Afghanistan and Iraqi teams at the Opening ceremony, or better yet, Liu Xiang almost heralding the arrival of the Chinese in the 100m Hurdles (the commentator started to scream breathlessly- ” It’s the Chinese guy, it’s the chinese guy!”)

But if there will be one image to take back from the 2008 Olympics, it will probably be again Liu Xiang at the 110m hurdles, leaping past history in the iconic Bird’s Nest with the bated breath of the world’s biggest population. Liu, not unlike Cathy Freeman in Sydney for Australia, holds the key to galvanize the entire nation and announce its arrival where short, skinny Chinamen are traditionally not favorites. Expect at his celebration, not the whimper of a kangaroo, but a deafening roar of a billion dragons.

The Indian Angle:

As ever, India goes into the Olympic Games being cautiously optimistic that there will be more than one medalist. The competition is tougher than ever, but despite the lack of funds, facilities and support, our athletes have got stronger. Flag bearer and Olympic Silver Medalist Major Rathore is still a bet but not a safe one. Shooting remains our best opportunity to win a medal and one hopes that one of Gagan Narang, Anjali Bhagwat, Mansher Singh, Abhinav Bindra or Major Rathore come good over the next two weeks.

Looking at Tennis, The Lee-Hesh combo is way past its best but given some inspiration might grab a bronze. But the two haven’t been exactly in the best of terms with each other, and the rustiness, the animosity and the competition could mean that they will come back empty handed. Sania probably stood an outside chance a year back but now with her injury and poor run of form, it will be a miracle if she reaches the later stages. How she and Sunita Rao perform in the doubles will be interesting to watch.

We have an outside chance in both archery and boxing. The archers have done the country proud at the World Cup but whether they can replicate the same at the biggest stage of them all remains to be seen. The gut feeling is that we will return home from our neighbor’s Olympics, empty handed. But there is nothing wrong in hoping. Also, expect men like Suresh Kalmadi making a bloody grand appearence at the Olympics Village talking about how we will do the same in 2010 at the Commonwealth Games. Or how we are going to win the bid to host the 2020 games.

The boardroom battles:

The Beijing Olympics will see the biggest battle yet between, not just athletes, but sportswear manufacturers. The rivalry between Nike and Adidas gets bitter with both eyeing long term gains in the world’s largest market place (read battleground). Adidas has coughed up USD70 million to become the official title sponsor, while Nike has decided to sponsor key performers who they believe will display the Swoosh on the podium. Add to this, Speedo with its controversial LZR swimsuit, which Nike has strongly objected to and grudgingly allowed, and we could have a war in the boardroom just as well as on the track. You could expect lawsuits, athletes being forced to change clothes for displaying the wrong logo, walk outs and as the London Telegraph put it, ‘National anthems being drowned in the ring of cash registers.’

The Chinese Brand

After Hitler’s abortive attempt at establishing Aryan supremacy at Berlin, China will certainly attempt to project its athletes not as disgruntled victims of a repressive regime but as world champions who owe their success to their government. However, their means of doing so have already started being challenged. The Aussies have complained, as usual, about them being disallowed team barbeques which they think will give an added advantaged robbing Team Australia of ‘bonding’ opportunities. Allegations of ‘under-age’ and ‘doped’ athletes have already begun. China is going all out to project itself, not as the iconoclastic, atheist nation of today, but the preserver of the world’s oldest existing traditions. Chinese medicine, feng shui and astrology will be showcased in more ways than subtle, leading to possible allegations of favoritism to the home team. Nevertheless, China will definitely succeed projecting its significant sporting culture, it will finish second at best, behind the United Stateson the medal tally.

Somewhere, in this humdrum, lies buried the spirit of the Olympics of universal brotherhood, fair play and sportsmanship. These values, in Beijing, will be little more than verbal assurances. For China, the Olympics are a war against the rest of the world. If they breach a few ethics in the process, they could be setting dangerous precedents. These Olympics would perhaps be best remembered as a bloodbath of many dimensions, sporting, commercial and above all political. What better message could a “Red China” send?

Z and Pyscho