Thursday, May 8, 2008
a bit of macau history ... since there were no protests
Before Macau was under Chinese rule, it used to be a dangerous city full of criminal gans, triads and turf wars with drive-by shootings and kidnappings. And that's not all , car bombs were typical there and this obviously scared away tourists. However, the crime rate dropped after it joined Chinese rule and now tourism has boomed.
Going back to the casino business... the billionaires Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corp., opened the $2.4 billion Venetian mega-resort complete with Italian-style gondolas floating down indoor canals. In 2006, Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip as the world’s epicenter of gambling. Its casinos rang up $6.95 billion in gambling revenue.Last year, Macau’s casinos raked in more than $10.3 billion in gaming revenue, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year, the government said.
But Macau’s leader, Edmund Ho, recently announced the booming city would not issue any new casino licenses soon. He said it’s time for the government to review the industry’s development before new projects are approved.
Bangoko part 3
The recent Bangkok stop was the Olympic flame's first visit to Thailand. The relay covered just over 10 km, and included Bangkok's Chinatown. The torch was carried past several of the city's landmarks. Green World Foundation (GWF) chairwoman, withdrew from the torch-running ceremony, protesting against China's actions in Tibet. Several hundred protesters were present, along with Olympic supporters. Thai authorities threatened to arrest foreign protesters and ban them from future entry into Thailand. A coalition of Thai human rights groups announced that it would organize a "small demonstration" during the relay, and several hundred people did indeed take part in protests, facing supporters from Beijing. Intended torchbearers boycotted the relay, to protest against China's actions in Tibet. In Bangkok, students told the media that the Chinese Embassy provided them with transportation and gave them shirts to wear to show support.
Bangkok part 2
The relay was scaled back to 2.3 kilometers and only lasted around 30 minutes. The Relay participants are also going to be tightly surrounded by Chinese security guards and are allowed to only run a few meters each due to the high threat levels surrounding the event.
No issues for torch relay Chinese city Macau
There were no protest in Macau for the Olympic torch. However, there are articles describing how the the event happened. It describes Macao or Macau ( I never know which one it is) as having Las Vegas-style casinos and pastel colored colonial buildings. According to MSNBC, it is the world's most lucrative gambling center. The event had spectators waving flags and cheering wildly chanting “Go China!”
Macau is a tiny city on China's southern coast. It's history contains Portuguese enclave and was returned to Chinese rule in 1999.It is the only place in the country where gambling is legal.
Protests are rare in Macau, therefore, the relay went smoothly. Just in case, there were two columns of police jogging on each side of the torch bearers.
Bangkok part 1
India is home to 100,000 Tibetan refugees, including the Dalai Lama and radical youth groups, and authorities wanted to ensure that chaotic protests like those seen in Paris and London did not mar the event. 16,000 police, soldiers and even elite commandos were deployed to throw up a huge security cordon around the central thoroughfare between the presidential palace and India Gate. Around 170 to 180 people in custody,after a day marked by a string of protests led to tracker dogs, bomb disposal units and metal detectors. The Tibetan Youth Congress attempted to disrupt the event but was instead detained in the days before the ceremony while another 46 Tibetans were arrested in Mumbai for trying to storm the Chinese consulate.
Beijing Olympic torch relay kicks off in Macao!
The 21st leg of the Beijing torch relay started in Macao on May 3rd, Saturday afternoon. Ho Hau Wah Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region handed the torch to Leong Hong Man, a local martial arts athlete and also the first torchbearer. The city of Macao was very excited to participate for the first time in the Olympics. According to the Beijing Olympics website, Macao is praised for its "efficiency and meticulousness." The torch began at Macao's Fisherman's Wharf, will pass through 120 relay points across Macao, Taipa, and the Cotai. The 20 kilometer route will explore unique characteristics of East and West along some of Macao's most famous scenic sites, including the A-Ma Temple and the Sai Van Bridge.
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