Guardian Reports that Beijing Plans to Trim its Olympic Excesses

September 15, 2004

Jonathan Watts of the Guardian reports that the extravaganza planned to welcome the Olympics to Beijing will be toned down. The change in plans may respond to discontent with the growing disparity in incomes between rich and poor in China. The plans for the Olympics have exacerbated popular anger over residential evictions to make way for contruction in Beijing. In addition, the slimmer Olympics may respond to the June report of China's auditor-general finding significant corruption in the early preparations for building the venues for the Games.