The Chinese government’s busy printing up etiquette guides for the citizens of Beijing in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics.
The “Basic Reader in Civility and Etiquette” tells residents how to cross the street, order steaks, how to dress (do not wear pajamas in public), and how to greet foreigners.
Beijing’s audiences will represent the spirit and style of the city and the entire country,” mayor Wang Qishan writes in the introduction to “Rules and Propriety.
Along with the athletes and others, they will be like ‘actors’ appearing on billions of television screens around the world. It goes without saying this is a big problem!
According to the article, “A July 2005 basketball game between China and Puerto Rico in Beijing deteriorated into a brawl, with fans hurling insults and missiles at the visiting team.” I think the Chinese might be stockpiling too many missiles if they can afford to just hurl them at the Puerto Rican basketball team.
Links:
[Reuters]: Games hosts try to polish Chinese manners
