The 2008 Olympic Games

China will host the Olympic Games in 2008
What does the forum think of the opportunities this event provides to launch a charm offensive.
Ofcourse never to mention any negatives and presenting the images and offering experiences which would lead to a more favourable attitude towards Black people by this great and rapidly developing nation.

How about bringing in the smartest pr pros and perhaps even politicians and artists as wel as business people. The most charming and sensitive we can offer.
All totally designed to improve the situation.
No talk of racism or anything uncomfortable to the host. Just the kind of 'content' that will bring warmth and laugther, understanding and empathy, appreciation and sympathy. Totally tailored to the taste and sensibilities of the recieving audience.
In any case there should be a thorough discussion among as may participants as possible pointing out how much of a historical difference attitudes of the people of this new Global Power will likely make starting in the not even so distant future.
And that future is will surely arrive.

Great thoughts Herandu, there is definitely a need brainstorming on opportunities during the Olympic Games  for promotion of Africa's cultural appreciation in China. The Olympics are usually the prime time for cultural exchange and friendship for people from all over the world, and I believe that will be the case during the Beijing games too.

Personally, beyond all the misconceptions I believe that Chinese are not offensive to other cultures and there is no need to wait for the Olympics to promote more knowledge about Africa in China. The only problem is that there is still a need for more work in terms of improvement of awareness of Olympic values in China. It seems that for more people the Olympics are just a competition where home support will increase the chances of China to get to the top of the medal list. Participation is not deemed to be the most important, and countries will be classified in terms of the number of gold medals they get. From an historical point of view the Chinese athletes have been under the continuous pressure to produce results for the "country honor", and I remember this table tennis player who lost in the finals to a korean, who until today is almost reminded at every competition of the national shame he brought with his failure to capture the gold. If you have followed the last two editions of the Shanghai Grand Prix, with Liu Xiang being not only the main but almost the single attraction of the evening, you would have a better understanding of my point. Nevertheless, I believe the sport officials are working on this and soon we will begin to see campaigns to make people realize that the Olympic Games are just what they are, games.