For those with Olympic fever, the close of the Torino Winter Games causes thought to turn to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, now under two-and-a-half years away. But another kind of fever could cause severe problems for the Beijing Olympics, possibly even causing them to be moved.
Yesterday the Ministry of Health in China reported an additional laboratory confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, a 32-year-old man from the southern province of Guangdong who developed symptoms of fever followed by pneumonia. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he died on March 2.
To date, China has reported 15 laboratory confirmed cases. Of these, nine have been fatal, while two patients remain in critical condition. The newly confirmed case is the first reported from Guangdong Province. The totals throughout Asia now stand at 175 cases and 95 deaths.
Back in November at the "1000 days to go" mark before the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies — which the Beijing Olympic committee celebrated with a gala ceremony and presentation — I mentioned that an issue of possible concern not acknowledged by IOC or Beijing officials was the announcement by the Chinese government that same week of two outbreaks of avian flu in northeastern China. This was before there had been ANY confirmed human crossover cases.
As the result of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, the 2003 Women's Soccer World Cup was relocated from China to the United States. The World Cup is again scheduled to be held in several locations throughout China in 2007.
If the bird flu virus does remain a threat to humans in China by then, the world sporting community will have to face the issue again. With the economics and prestige of the Olympics riding on the outcome, and the time and effort required to prepare for an event of such magnitude, the World Cup decision could also portend the actual location of the 2008 Olympics.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Johan Goldbach
Bullshit, I think u just hate China and form a general bias opinion about Beijing and China itself. Why would they want to cancel the 2008 Olympics when 70% of the building infrastructure has been completed. So what if China has some Avian Flu cases, so do other countries around the world too. So now u think they're gonna cancel the World Cup 2010 in Africa just because majority of the African countries are infected by AIDS, HIV, Ebola and other deadly viruses. Do you think the OIC would cancel the 2012 Olympics in London just because of the London bombings and Islamic fundamentalist threats? I say u stop discriminating China and look at the positive outcomes in the 2008 Beijing Games, and I know for sure that i'm gonna be there in 2008. [Deleted]
2 - Eric Olsen
the point, Jonah, is that the Olympics could not afford -- from every possible standpoint -- either some kind of actual outbreak affecting the Olympics, not could it afford the perception that there was reasonable danger of an outbreak taking place, and due to the logistics involved would have to make a decision about changing at least a year in advance. It has nothing to do with China as opposed to anywhere else.
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Eric,
I know that as an intelligent businessman, you are looking down the pike and all, and normally I'd commend any businessman who looks beyond the next quarter or year.
In this one case, I'd look more short term. The reinsurance boys are looking at the threat of avian bird flu, as are a whole bunch of stock brokerages. When the money bags shake, it's worth paying attention. And then there is that article I posted last night about the bird flu being one genetic mutation away from being a pandemic.
That means this spring. If there is a pandemic declared, a whole series of regulations will go into effect world wide that will dump lots of events into the garbage, from the Olympics in China in 2008 to the Gay Celebration scheduled for this summer here in Jerusalem.
That means lots of ad revenues etc. all gone away. But there will be more important issues at hand - like survival.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Ruvy, extremely frightening. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Eric, this story deals with the possible problems that ould occur in terms of credit when this pandemic finally gets underway. This is what I was talking about by "money bags shaking" and the need to sit up and pay attention...
Shabbat Shalom,
Reuven
6 - Eric Olsen
thanks Ruvy, like other disasters, this potential pandemic points out how tenuous our systems of operation are
7 - Quang
Just as John Titor, a time traveller, predicted back in November 2000 that there will be NO MORE Olympics after 2004, but they might be revived in 2040. See johntitor.com