57 steps to make China look good this August

China released a guide yesterday giving instructions to foreigners planning to attend the Olympics this August. The guide was posted online, but was quickly removed with this notice posted on the China Daily:

The BOCOG has apologized for the language used in a manual for volunteers to describe physically challenged athletes.

The English-language manual has stereotypes, which Zhang Qiuping, director of Beijing's Paralympic Games, has said was the result of "poor translation".

"We would like to express our deepest apologies to the organizations, athletes with disabilities and friends who were offended by our publication," the BOCOG said in a statement Monday.

The organizing committee has recalled the manual and is correcting the discrepancies.

The book offered guidance to volunteers on a wide range of subjects, from how to serve the physically challenged to the basic rules of the Paralympics. About 30,000 volunteers have signed up to work for the Sept 6-17 Paralympic Games.

Because of this "poor translation" we'll have to wait a little longer to get all the tips. Both Chinese and foreign journalists did manage to get a hold of the manual before it was pulled. Chinese media presented the manual as a simple guide to staying in China which includes visa processes, transportation, and accommodations. It also states some of the obvious rules against bringing dangerous weapons, materials, and narcotics as well as being a general introduction to Chinese laws. Among these are prohibiting all guests from making any displays or protests around religious or political topics. Although this aspect is quickly criticized by foreigners, these rules are pretty much in line with the International Olympic Committee's longstanding rules which do not allow such actions anyways.

The New York Times also reveled some of Beijing's pointers. Among the list of 57 question & answers listed are "does China have any regulation against insults to the flag or national emblems?” and my favorite thus far, “after eating or drinking at restaurants or hotels, if you have diarrhea or vomiting symptoms, how do you lodge a complaint?”

I do think China in line to publish such a listing of guidelines, but they also need to be cautious in the approach they take with such materials (beyond translations which turn into offensive stereotypes). China's every word is being closely watched giving them little room for mistakes or opportunities to test their boundaries.