John Kenny's Olympics 2008 Blog

The countdown continues to Beijing 2008 and it is all quiet here, as you would expect from a country like China, which has a vice like grip on its people.

There has been one or two moments, reported on the BBC, but not on the state-controlled TV.

Four westerners were arrested for unfurling a banner in support of Tibet, while there were minor scuffles in Tiananmen Square where some locals protested to Western film crews about the lack of compensation for the felling of their homes to make way for a shopping centre.

They were quickly hustled away.

Beijing City is massive. It is the size of Munster and it is office district after office district, especially in the northern part where the Olympic hub is located and, to be honest, where we are located is pretty soulless.

If you are wondering where all the steel and concrete in the world is going, let me tell you, the vast bulk of it is here as the cities of China expand at a stunning rate.

The games though seem to be passing by people here. Those that are learning the English language practise it on you at every opportunity, but they don't speak about the Olympics.

One taxi driver had enough to say 'Beijing taxi drivers are great'. He repeated it over and over. Still, his English is better than my Chinese.

Everyone is getting on with their lives and it's only in the evening that one sees crowds at the perimeters of the Olympic venues. There is one thing that China is not short of and that's people. Everyone that we come in contact with has a role.

It may take five to serve you breakfast, or search your bag at the security desk, but they do it efficiently but no means no. This is the Olympics and in our present paranoid security conscious world there is no leeway.

The Irish way of 'chancing your arm' does not apply in China or at the Olympics.

As the opening ceremony is now only a few hours away now, we as the RTÉ radio and TV crew are setting things in motion.

The RTÉ TV office in the International Broadcast centre (IBC) is busy but calm while the Radio section is a real hive of activity. That said, the TV crews and commentators work pretty much outside the IBC while the radio gang route everything through their office as Radio One, 2FM and R Na G are all in the one small area.

When the games finally get going, both areas will be very, very busy.

Nick O'Hare, my co-commentator for the swimming at the National Aquatic Centre or 'Water Cube' has arrived after a nine-and-a-half hour flight from London. We are looking forward to bringing you what should be the highlight of the first week of competition.

I spoke to our three Irish competitors, Andrew Bree, Melanie Nocher and Aishling Cooney on Monday along with head coach Keith Bewley. All are in good form and injury free, with Bree in particular well focused on the job in hand as he goes in the men's 200 metres Individual Medley and the men's 100 and 200 Breastroke.

Indeed, Bree is the first Irish swimmer in the water on Saturday in the 100 Breastroke heats and we will get an indication of his form in that swim.

As I write, Beijing is covered in a haze of smog, the worst day so far. They say it won't affect the swimmers who are indoors, but it completely blocks out the sun and in 34 degrees of heat, it certainly feels clammy.

Let's hope it doesn't affect the athletes too much. The official line is that anyone here on a short stay should be okay.

However, residents who live here permanently are advised to have their lungs checked every three to four years.

The food is good here, by the way, and there is plenty of choice. The hotel prices are a bit steep, but eating out is cheap enough. One piece of advice: don't stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl.

When someone dies, a shrine to them contains a bowl of sand or rice with upright incense sticks. If you stick your chopsticks in the rice bowl, it's the equivalent of wishing death upon a person at your table.

You have been warned.