Prince Andrew Visits Beijing

Prince Andrew attended a series of sport and industrial activities in Beijing this week, in order to raise the profile of Britain's equestrian experience in the run up to the 2008 Olympics.

He visited the Sheerwood Equestrian Club in Beijing, then attended the Chinese-British Riding Club National Accreditation Award Ceremony.

He is quoted as saying:

"We believe that this celebration is an opportunity to showcase China's progress in equestrian sports to a wider audience and serves as an example of successful Sino-British sport cooperation building up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics and beyond to London 2012."

Moths Threaten Olympics

Now there's a headline that you don't see everyday!

It seems that the 2008 Beijing Olympics are under threat from an invasion of moths.

The American White Moth has benn entering China, from the North East, since 1979. It now poses a serious threat to trees and crops in Beijing and five other provinces.

Cao Qingyao, spokesman of the State Forestry Administration (SFA), is quoted as saying:

"The moth, that strips trees and crops of their foliage, could impact on Beijing's 2008 Olympics if not controlled."

Apparently 50,000 trees in 933 villages around Beijing's 9 districts and counties have been affected by the swarm of moths.

Wu Jian, chief engineer of SFA's department of forestation, said:

"Beijing is preparing to host a green Olympics in 2008. Without timely control, the moth may turn the green Olympics into a brown one by eating all the leaves from Beijing's trees."

He added:

"This year, our moth-control will target about 16,000 hectares of woodland in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Liaoning."

One green solution to the problem is to use parasitic bees, which are the natural enemy of the moth.

The costs of these pests are high, aside from the potential damage to the Olympics, the annual costs run to over $8BN per annum.

Children's Olympics

In a bid to enthuse the children of Britain, and their parents, about the 2012 London Olympics the government has set up a children's Olympics.

The first event will be held in Glasgow between 7th-10th September, it will feature sports such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, who has recently hit the headlines for other matters, said:

"This will be a fantastic celebration of sport for young people, and a real legacy for generations."

Other cities will be encouraged to hold similar events to Glasgow, which will receive £1.5 million from the Millennium Commission.

China's Eight Moral Principles

In the run up to the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, China has issued a set of eight moral principles designed to stop the "rot":

-Love the Motherland
-Serve the People
-Be united
-Struggle hard
-Work hard
-Advocate science
-Be honest
-Obey the law

I guess that there are many countries who would wish that their citizens had a similar code of conduct.

Blair Predicts Fantastic Games

Prime Minister Tony Blair, whilst attending the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, claimed that the London 2012 Olympics would be "fantastic".

Quote:

"I think you can see from a stadium like this what it would be like in London. It would be fantastic."

Adding:

"There can't be anything better than having an Olympic Games. Countries bid very fiercely for the right to host them and it is a great showcase for a country and a city.

You couldn't have a better advertisement for a country than to host a great sporting event and that is why we are pushing very strongly for Glasgow in 2014 (Commonwealth Games bid) and I think they have got a great chance actually."

The trouble is that politicians try to use the Olympics as their own personal political memorial.