Truemors
It just happen that I was in Beijing for work at the same time as the official ceremony for the Olympic torch was held.
Great I though! I can go shoot the start of the 120 day long run carrying the torch around the world in preparation for the Olympic game starting in August..
But the reality is that I was not able to get closer than a few city blocks away from tiananmen square, where the official event was happening.
Security, local and national police, army, undercover agents where at all major intersections, access points etc preventing people from accessing the venue..
Now, I am not one to talk about international politics (I am doing a rather good job at keeping my opinions to myself about Tibet and HHDL! Considering that i am a self-declared Buddhist and I have had the privilege to photograph the Dalai Lama in 2006 and that I am still in ahhh about that day.. It's a hard thing to do.. But that is another story and perhaps I will say my peace about that one day!)
I just think that it is a shame for the people who took the time to come down to see the torch and were not able to actually see the ceremony (which was held in a location capable of holding 1,000,000 people and based on what I saw on TV, only a selected few where invited)..
I ask myself many questions after seeing this!
Is this a reflection of what is coming this summer? Will I be able to take pictures around the 2008 Olympics like i did in Italy? Will I be able to act as a citizen journalist and cover the events? Will I even be able to attend any of the event?
If today's official torch ceremony is a reflection of what is to come, perhaps I'd be better off staying in Shanghai and watch the game on TV like the rest of the world!
The closest i got to the Olympic Torch Ceremony was in my room watchinfg it live on the TV.. despite the fact that I am no more than 200 meter away from the event!
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