People sloshed around outside the Water Cube as if they had done a few laps in the pool. Remember all the whining about Jacques Rogge’s infamous “fog?” The elements have come down on our heads with a vengeance.
Fans at the men’s beach volleyball preliminaries trying to stay dry. (Thomas Coex/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images) The storms began with thick, muddy drops landing on our heads like pennies lobbed from the second floor of a building. When the rain intensified, it cleared some of the ugliness from the air to the point where you can almost breathe.
The government’s meteorological experts are taking credit for the storm, saying it is a result of the pro-active strike into the heavens Friday to keep the looming clouds from opening up on the opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest.
According to The China Daily and The Associated Press, the government unleashed 1,104 rain dispersal rockets from 21 sites around Beijing on Friday, apparently part of China’s “weather modification.”
This is a frightening concept. I don’t want to think about Bud Selig getting his hands on rain dispersal rockets during the World Series. If Mark Cuban buys the Chicago Cubs, what would happen if he got his hands on the weather rockets with a sold-out series with the Cardinals? Al Davis with rockets? George Steinbrenner?
These frightening thoughts stayed with me as the ominous weather settled over Beijing on Sunday, disturbing tennis and archery events and lashing the female cyclists up at the Great Wall.
Back Story With The Times’s George Vecsey (mp3)The rain was ominous — not one of those great mobile boomers we get in New York, direct from our good friends in the Great Lakes. Here we had thunder and lightning erupting in no discernible pattern, just random jolts from the skies, which made me think of the general storms in Cormac McCarthy’s novel about post-apocalypse America, “The Road.”
Meanwhile, the weather forecast is for storms Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There is muddy scum on sidewalks and streets – from the skies, not the ground – but street cleaners come by and clean it up, and workers mop the entrances to the Water Cube.
On Sunday night, polite young workers stood outside the south entrance of of the main press center and smiled and told people in English, “Watch your step” before the slippery marble entrance. The young people took umbrellas from soaked guests and shook them out and put them in plastic bags. What hath the rockets wrought?
2008
1:10 am
George, I always enjoy your Olympics writing. The action away from the competitions is just as compelling and I admire your observation skills.
— Posted by John Sowell
2008
1:37 am
Ridiculous. This is the same problem they had last summer while testing out the rain rockets (too MUCH rain).
— Posted by SF
2008
1:56 am
I personally am amazed by the technology that people have created. I mean, it would have been disastrous if rain had fallen on the night of the Opening Ceremonies. Its much better for it to rain during regular events than during the Opening Ceremonies. However, because the rain has been forced to build up, the current rainfall will be more intense. About the possible application to baseball, I feel that rain has a history in the sport, and 5 innings games as well as slippery games must not be erased from the formula.
For opinions on the Olympics and the rest of the world of sports, check out my blog at http://talkaboutsport.blogspot.com/
— Posted by Stefan
2008
2:10 am
Shame on you , on your much too radical views! As Americans, we shall not be jealous of China’s admiring development. YOU totally missed the concept of ” One world,one dream.”
— Posted by SH
2008
2:41 am
I’ve been coming in and out of Beijing since they awarded the Chinese the games in 2001. I am very impressed with what I have seen to date. I was in Beijing in March and so much remained to be done.
Maybe because you are so ignorant, you feel free to be so insulting. The negativity of your blog appalls me. I see no recognition or appreciation of what the Chinese have achieved in such a short time.
Remember, just 30 years ago China had just arrested the Gang of Four and its economy was worst than that of India.
While the air looks like gunk, I can tell you that this is the cleanest it has been (sans rain storms) in a long time. Instead of trying to be as rude and insulting as possible, why not show that you have a little class and try to be more balanced?
— Posted by John of Austin
2008
3:26 am
Dear George,
“Mud rain” is not unknown in Beijing, though much less common in recent. It comes from the airborne silt of a soil called loess. The Yellow River gets its name from the presence of this soil in its waters.
San Antonio had some mud rain last March, attributed to a dust storm in Mexico.
— Posted by Gary McCardell
2008
5:36 am
I am tired of all these negatives comments failing to offer any true substances. As reporters I believe they should report not only what they see but also to analyze the whole situation as a whole before happily typing away. One should be more responsible with their words.
There is an ancient Chinese saying, “once something is said, it’s imposible to be taken back” simply because the damage is already done.
So please, let’s be more reasonable and exam careful so that all of us can enjoy a well balance and a more constructive piece of comment.
— Posted by P. E. Wong
2008
6:56 am
It is confirmed that last night’s rain had nothing to do with the Aug 8’s effort. As resident of Beijing, I know the humid weather is leaving us. I predict that you will not see those people talking about Beijing air polution any more.
— Posted by Matthew Chen
2008
8:06 am
Rockets to stop storms? Please don’t give President Bush and Secretary Chertoff any bright ideas.
— Posted by Rolf Asphaug
2008
8:25 am
how dare you write about rain in beijing. it is so disrespectful. you should not write about rain in beijing, because this is more-balanced reportage; and next time you feel you must write about rain in beijing, remember that over thirty years ago under the weight of the gang of four, the rain was even wetter.
i feel once we analyze the lack of reportage about rain in a more balanced perspective, we will come to realize that there are only ever post-production photoshop blue skies in bejing to talk about. this would then be proper goodly “true substances.”
-edbug
— Posted by edbug
2008
8:47 am
Everyone who thinks they can control Ma Nature needs to dust of their text books and remember how well we controlled the brown tree snakes in Guam.
— Posted by Opsimath44
2008
8:51 am
To Posters 7 & Others Alike,
Chill out. It’s an article. You don’t like the not so positive comments? Well, grow up and live with it!!! Too bad you guys are offended.
— Posted by cui
2008
11:20 am
Obviously people who have never been exposed to a dissenting view are confused and angry to find one. Those of you who cannot cope can return to your state controlled media outlets where in fact the water falling from the sky does not exist and the flashes of light you see are part of the glorious celebration of the games. The rest of you who would like to expand your minds, can go look up the works of Jonathan Swift
FYI George, not to worry, experimentation with cloud seeding has concluded it really doesn’t work very well so the sanctity of baseball is safe for now.
— Posted by Frank
2008
1:01 pm
“People sloshed around outside the Water Cube as if they had done a few laps in the pool. Remember all the whining about Jacques Rogge’s infamous “fog?” The elements have come down on our heads with a vengeance.
….The storms began with thick, muddy drops landing on our heads like pennies lobbed from the second floor of a building. When the rain intensified, it cleared some of the ugliness from the air to the point where you can almost breathe….The government’s meteorological experts…”
I found this reporter is ill-intended when writing this piece.
By the way, it does not make much sense to say: “The government’s meteorological experts…”. What did you mean when you inserted “government” in front of “experts”? It only showed how hard you had tried to raise some “interesting” issues. Maybe you believe you can get some credit for that. Some people believe it is glorious to bash the giant China and to make criticism on it obvious unprecedent achievement.
— Posted by David
2008
1:47 pm
I have to agree with Stefan,
rains does have a intertwined history with baseball.
I actually do enjoy the occasional rain game.
But its definitely better to have a dry opening ceremony. Rain would have ruined a fantasic opener
— Posted by Ken55555
2008
4:44 pm
George, has it been proven that the rain was brought by the rockets? Could it be possible that this is just a rain storm that occurred naturally? Oh yes, that would not be very interesting to write about, therefore, it’s the rockets ;)
“What hath the rockets wrought?” The rockets brought a pretty negative article. Negative in the use of words, “frightening thought”, “frightening concept”, “ominous weather”, “rain was ominous”, “apocalypse” …
Try to cheer up and be positive eh?
— Posted by Kate W.
2008
11:36 pm
I’m glad the chinese have put their rocket science and scientists to good use. Better rockets aimed at the clouds than rockets raining down in Tapei or Tibet!
— Posted by Jin Lee
2008
1:56 pm
Hilarious “do not say anything bad about China” type comments here. I think the rain has brainwashed everyone there. My question is how can people get so revved up about synchronized diving, water polo and other weird sports nobody cares about 47 out of every 48 months. Must be something in the wah-wah.
— Posted by inisheer