TO: THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE (LOC) OF BEIJING SUMMER OLYMICS
CC: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC)

Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands
27th March, 2008

Hello Friends,
My name is Lorenzo. I’m a ten-year old canary bird from Vanuatu Islands located in the heart of Melanesia, South Pacific Ocean. I live with my guardian, father (whatever you want to call him), Ted in a beautiful downtown cottage in the capital city, Port Vila. Just for you to know, I had four years of homeschooling thanks to Ted.
I’m really excited!! Guess why? Well, Ted has decided to go to Beijing this summer to cheer the Ni-Vanuatu Olympic contingent on and he’s taking me along!!! I can’t wait to see awesome athletes from all around the globe, fireworks, displays of gymnastics and the pomp and pageantry of the opening ceremony. I’m sure all the venues and hostels in the Olympic village have wonderfully emerged from their cocoons of scaffolding. Last night, I overheard Ted remark about how magnificent buildings look. I watched with keen interest on TV the Athens Games in 2004. As for Sydney 2000, I was a bit too playful by then to remember anything.
But there’s one eerie hitch. I really dread going to Beijing this August. I’m sure you’re all wondering why. Rumour mail has it that China has a poor record of environmental protection. As you already know, Vanuatu is comfortably at the top of the Happy Planet Index (HPI) ranking. We have a reasonably high human satisfaction and life expectancy as well as solid ecological footprints. Thus, I’m not accustomed to air filled with large quantities of fumes and pollutant particles. Besides, my cage at home overlooks a beautiful backyard garden bedecked with daffodils, bougainvilleas and sunflowers. The atmosphere is so serene and fresh. Moreover, Ted buys all my grains from the local green grocer at the blind alley (col de sac) shop. All the seeds I eat are organic and not altered chemically in any way. You also know that the spirit of the Olympic Games existed long before the devil of pollution ambled upon our planet’s efficacy.
In the run up to the games, many in the print and electronic media have told us many stories of pollution in China. I know you’ve made lots of efforts to reduce the filth in the air. According to Ted, many industries have been deactivated whilst others have been compelled to move to the outskirts of the town. Even then, I hear the daily barrage of constructions coupled with a flourishing automobile industry is not making the situation look better. Let us not even go into the t problems of visibility. There are many other athletes from relatively less polluting nations. One nation’s contingent that is not too far from Vanuatu will arrive a day before the commencement of the games. The athletes will not have the chance to acclimatise to the conditions. Competitors from some of the world powers are participating in events with aid of oxygen masks. Certainly, economic disparities will not make it possible for all teams to have this form of ‘aid’. Are the games thus going to be fair to all? Thus while some athletes will be running with ease, others will toil under the heat amid inhalation of large volumes of a mixture of bittersweet killer- gases. The platforms are glaringly uneven.
The International Olympic Committee is considering cancelling endurance events due to the adverse effects of the high rate of emissions. Well, this gesture can mar the beauty of the games. Also, there’s a high possibility of failure on the part of sportsmen and women to either retain or break records at this upcoming edition of the friendship games. Just a fortnight ago the renowned Olympic marathon gold medallist and Ethiopian legend, Haile Gebreselassie cast doubt over his participation in the 10, 000 metre race, an event he’s won twice. He suffers from asthma and the pollution can only be a detriment to his breathing in the long run. Apart from this icon of a champion’s condition, many others who have developed exercise-induced lung related problems over the years are in for big trouble. I mean huge, colossal!! The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is deeply concerned, not just about athletes but about the host of tourists who will flood the city this summer. Indeed, the health implications are really overwhelming. The continued depletion of the ozone layer through pollution in many places across the face of Earth somehow seems to overshadow the colourful centrepieces of festivities.
It is true that aspects of previous Olympic competitions were marred by political turmoil, boycotts, fears of terrorist attacks, drug and bribe scandals but environmental concerns are by far the most pressing issues since parties affected are numerous. Even a little bird like me from a very tiny island is so frightened by the turn of events. The whole thing seems paradoxical to me. How can we strive to make international acquaintances and put our lives in danger at the same time, be it or short or long term?
Luckily enough, Ted already bought his oxygen mask on EBay. Unfortunately for me, we found out that there’s no such thing as an avian mask. I’m therefore pleading with your committee to ask highly qualified designers to make one for me. I don’t want to return to Port Vila from Beijing with special goggles, inhalers, eye ointments and a sack of ‘chirpy’ pills to swallow 24/7. I have noticed some signs that indicate that I have already begun to mellow with age. I still haven’t lost the art of catching juicy worms (yummy!!!) and insects, albeit being a less energetic Lorenzo with a pretty ‘reliable’ beak.
One last thing, then I’ll bother you people no more… Please try to provide oxygen masks to each and every sports personality taking part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Congratulations to all of you for the efforts you’re putting into the building of Olympic infrastructure as well as the ongoing excellent preparations for August. Ted and I are starting Mandarin classes tomorrow as we prepare for our pending trip to Beijing. Oops! I’m late for supper!
Yours truly,
Lorenzo

About the Author:
Daniel P. Clerk was privileged enough to have had direct correspondence with Lorenzo. Do you have some words of encouragement for this canary bird? You can comment below or send an email to importado@uwccr.com.