15 Shocking Beijing Olympic Controversies (SUPER GALLERY) Edit

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are just around the corner, with the opening ceremonies kicking off the event this Friday, August 8. These Olympics certainly didn’t come without controversy, however, as this gallery so vividly highlights.

In addition to the Olympic schedule being packed full of exciting events, it’s the cultural influences surrounding the games that will make this Olympic event so fascinating. This includes architecture, high tech sports equipment, Olympic branded fashion and a plethora of fascinating ad campaigns, from promotion to protest.

The most interesting of all the news and features regarding the Olympics, however, has to be the controversy it has stirred above. Below are some of the most controversial posts relating the Beijing Olympics thus far. Almost certainly, more will follow.

Olympic Controversy

Beijing Olympic Controversies - Iran To Broadcast Female Competitors from China? (GALLERY)

Ali Asghar Purmohammadi, the man responsible for broadcasting sports programs on Iran’s state-run television, has said he is trying to convince Iranian authorities to give special permission to broadcast… [More]

Cashing In Before Olympic Games - Feres Sisters Sexy Photoshoot (GALLERY)

Bia and Branca Feres will be competing in the Beijing Olympics in synchronized swimming.

Now, the Olympics are all about doing your best at your sport, true? But ultimately, it’s about cashing in on…

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Olympic Sex Testing - China Sets Up Lab (Blame Pregnant Man?)

Believe it or not, the Beijing Olympic authorities are planning to test female Olympic athletes that are suspected to be males based on their external appearance. A test lab at the Peking Union Medical… [More]

Olympic Condoms - Elasun Ads Go Viral in China (GALLERY)

Chinese condom manufacture Elasun released cheeky and clever ads with an Olympic theme. They depict athletic stickmen with condoms in place of various sports apparatuses such as basketball nets, bicycle… [More]

Olympic Activists - Amanda Beard Naked for PETA (VIDEO)

Seven time Olympic Gold medalist Amanda Beard will appear nude for PETA to protest the fur industry. The ad will premier at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Beard, 26, started swimming in the Olympics… [More]

Leaked Olympic Rehearsals - China Furious over Footage (VIDEO)

Top secret footage of the opening rehearsal for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has been released, and China isn’t pleased. The tape shows participants doing a full dress rehearsal inside the Bird’s Nest… [More]

Living Keychains - Real Fish in Beijing Olympics Trinkets

Animal rights activists are protesting an unofficial Beijing Olympics keychain which houses a real fish. Although the goldfish are living at the time of sale, there’s no way the little creatures would… [More]

Real Life Pinheads - Self-Piercing for Olympics

A Chinese man turned himself into a real life pinhead, not as a demonstration of mind over manner or some twisted form of acupuncture, but as a PR stunt to promote the upcoming Olympics. Dr Wei Sheng used… [More]

Beijing Bible Ban? - Holy Book Restricted at Olympics

A set of policies for the Beijing Olympic Game was put into place, banning people from taking the Bible into the Olympic Village during next summer’s games. If this doesn’t stir up major debate, I’m not… [More]

World Pressures China To Reduce Pollution (VIDEO)

China’s rapid economic rise has come at great environmental cost. Coal provides 70% of China’s energy needs, contributing to the fact that only 1% of the country’s 560 million city dwellers breathe… [More]

Westernization of Toilets - Beijing Rethinks Squat Down Washrooms for Olympics (VIDEO)

BYOTP – Bring Your Own Toilet Paper That’s tip number one for anyone planning a visit to Beijing. That and prepare to lower your standards as well as your stance – squatting is still the way they… [More]

Olympic Protest + Best Beijing Amnesty International Ads

Olympic Executions in China - Amnesty International Shot Ad

Amnesty International is really pissed off at China, and with good reason. According to their new, straight-to-the-point ad, “China holds the current world record of executions with executing 1,010 people… [More]

Chinese Olympic Torture Techniques - Amnesty International’s Beijing Awareness Ad (GALLERY)

This powerful new campaign from Amnesty International uses Olympic games such as swimming, archery, and weight lifting as torture techniques. In an obvious critique of China’s human rights violations… [More]

China’s Designated Protest Zones - Beijing Prepares for Olympic Anger (VIDEO)

The Beijing Olympics are little less than a week ago, and the city is unable to hide its anticipation…. but protesters aren’t afraid to show their feelings either.

China is prepared for protesters,…

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Political Shockvertising (Part II) - Tibetan Monk Protest

If you have been keeping up with the recent protests in Tibet against the Chinese government’s occupation of that country, then this beautifully done poster is self-explanatory. Many Buddhist monks have… [More]