Annapolis, Maryland - May 20, 2008
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, today released a special brief on the upcoming Olympic Games in China. Organizations with travelers, expatriates and facilities in and around Beijing, China will face a host of potential concerns leading up to and during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, according to the report.
“Travel Brief – Beijing Olympics,” authored by iJET’s regional intelligence analysts for Asia, covers potential concerns regarding transportation, crime and safety, business operations and health information specific to the Olympic Games. It also includes emergency numbers, common phrases, vaccination recommendations and information on Beijing hospitals.
“Preparations for the Olympics, the recent earthquake and other ongoing situations in China point to the need for organizations to continuously monitor events, prepare for potential disruptions and stay in communication with travelers, expatriates and facilities in the entire region,” said iJET’s President Bruce McIndoe.
Information in the report includes:
- Most taxi drivers do not speak English; carry the name and address of your hotel/lodging, written in Chinese characters, with you at all times.
- Security restrictions and traffic control measures could delay or disrupt cargo shipments and affect supply chains during the games.
- Even short-term visitors must register with the local police station. Hotels do this for their guests, but people staying with friends/family or in guesthouses will probably need to register themselves.
- Protests during the Paris leg of the Olympic Torch Relay prompted strong anti-French sentiment among Chinese nationalists; all Westerners (particularly patrons of French-owned businesses) could encounter associated harassment.
- Smog in Beijing could exacerbate heart or lung diseases; additional supplies of medications may be needed to control symptoms.
Multinational organizations are preparing for the games at a time when China is still recovering from and evaluating effects of the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck western China's Sichuan Province on May 12. While the quake’s epicenter is more than 600 miles away from Beijing, officials remain concerned about possible long-term effects on the nation’s infrastructure, including cracks that have appeared in many of the country’s dams. A compromised or collapsed dam could have far-reaching effects across the country.
A full copy of the travel brief is available at http://www.ijet.com/news/whitepapers/index.asp.
iJET’s services, team of world-class intelligence analysts and patented Worldcue®technology solutions equip decision-makers and organizations with real-time information to anticipate, respond to and emerge from business disruptions with a competitive edge. The company’s U.S. headquarters are in Annapolis, Maryland.
For more information, go to www.ijet.com
