Problems Facing China as it Prepares to Host the 2008 Olympics

As the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics draw ever closer, America, the International Olympic Committee and the rest of the world have begun to look at the problems facing the communist country. As athletes prepare to participate in their respective events, organizers and officials both in and out of China are doing their best to prepare the country to host the world. Unfortunately, China is presented with myriad problems, more than most host countries face. What are some of these problem areas that could potentially ruin the Olympics?

1. Population problems

Its hard enough for the Chinese government to house, feed, and compensate 1.3 billion citizens. Now that the world will be coming the metropolitan areas of the country, this spells disaster. China already deals with massive traffic issues. Streets are crowded, and citizens have difficulty getting from one place to another. Now throw the rest of the world on top of the already problematic traffic issues. China must come up with a tough solution. The government already asked its citizens to refrain from driving during the Olympics. How will the government enforce the request? That is yet to be seen. Millions have been spent on improvements to mass transportation, yet the system still appears to be insufficient. (Cedar City Daily News, Associated Press)

2. Pollution issues