A Frosty Reception, A Mutual (Dis)Understanding

Bubbling Over, From Tokyo: as in "eager with excitement, to be so full of emotion to the point one cannot resist expressing it...more often those of a favorable nature" Yes, we will certainly experience and witness a range of emotions expressed by both athletes and expert commentators--expertise and commentaries regarding the athletic performances shot live but witnessed by us more often through taped delay ("Taped LIVE"). But here, at this time and in this new zip code, what we'll see and hear most often in the context of "bubbles" will be more like what we've become accustomed to in this pandemic, the effects of which will surely still be in evidence as the 2022 Beijing Winter Games begin. That is, how certain activities, including major athletic events, are only able to commence due a 'bubble' like environment, restricting guests from entering, and participants from exiting. Like the NBA achieved in ...Disneyworld, where else?!

       The other bubble we're likely to see has to do with less favorable emotions which, while just as strongly felt, are likely to be a bit suppressed, due largely to the "On location" location. The other bubble, then, being represented over the heads of various guests (and even local citizenry), whose masks not only serve as a measure of protection in case CV-19 tries to make an unwanted guest appearance, but also a makeshift muzzle, in case one is tempted to utter the thinkable but 'unsayable' about the host country (reduced to only a thought bubble as depicted in cartoons). Nothing humorous around here.

Host and Guest, Tepid at Best: Another parallel with Tokyo and the 2020, which then became, of course, the 2021 Games, to be experienced by the hundreds, if not thousands, arriving in and near this huge capital city, is a warm reception by the host welcoming committee, with some 'cooler' undertones, perhaps not approaching what is the average ambient temp. in and around Beijing that time of year (mid 30's F), but also not approximating the warmth the marathon swimmers experienced swimming in the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo (84.2 F at 6:30 AM)...somewhere in between...tepid. 

Ambivalent Ambiance, Bach is Back: Respecting that the Games are indeed a 'sporting' event, it is the IOC President who initiates the formal invitation to the various NOC's (National Olympic Committees). This was issued by who else but Thomas Bach (oh, oh, see previous posts regarding Bach's blunders in Tokyo, including referring to the Japanese as Chinese..."I mean..."), a year in advance, plenty of time for RSVP, I guess...from a safe distance and a place known for its neutrality...Switzerland, where else?! "I am so impressed....China is ready...We are all looking forward..." Yeah, sure, until you view the guest list and realize that from A to (almost) Z (as of now Zambia is not listed, and the list ends with Uzbekistan), and start listing all those who have 'issues' with China (or vice versa)...from A for Australia, who has been haggling with the host country over human rights, who has in turn 'shoved back' with import restrictions, on to C for Canada, who has hinted about Baching, I mean backing out, due to a few of its citizens being held prisoner (literally), on through US -- we, of course, have been on and off with this 'host with the most' (population, that is) ever since President Nixon defrosted relations a bit through the Olympic game of table tennis (aka Ping Pong around these parts). 

       Yep, as I said to you in my own invite two days ago here, it will be the 'off ice' action that will be of just as much interest as those being performed by the athletically talented. Oh, and don't let me forget about poor Jamaica, which as of this moment is till 'wait listed' -- waiting,, that is, for sufficient funds for their beloved "Jamaican Bobsled Team" to make their way to Beijing...and, while things appear to be getting cozy between these two vastly different countries (mutual trade over the last several years has skyrocketed), the U.S. has cautioned them that the money that has so freely flowed from China to assist in Jamaica expanding its infrastructure projects, may eventuate in a very different, "Unwelcome" expansion...only August 17th, and if things keep warming up at this rate, there will be little snow left on the peaks in Yanqing. Then again, relations could just as easily freeze over...