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Chum and Concession Watchby Josh Gerstein
Like any self respecting and slightly hungry journalist, the first thing I checked out here at the Bird's Nest is what's around to eat and whether it's free or not. Here's the concession stand rundown: Three kinds of beer: Bud, Tsingtao, and Yanjing. Real cheap: a cup for about 80 cents. Coke, Sprite, water, and similar drinks in bottles. Popcorn, Snickers bars, ice cream, and yogurt. All at or below typical Western prices and way below Western stadium prices. I bought a prepackaged double hot dog, kind of like the pigs in a blanket cocktail party snack, for about 90 cents. Ketchup pre-applied. Tasted OK but the small piece of bone in one of the dogs was a bit of a turn off. The free food being given to reporters and photographers consists of nectarines, bananas, and small cakes filled with different kinds of fillings. Everyone, press and spectators, has a chum bag on his or her seat. The items are not just souvenirs but the way the audience will join in the ceremony. In fact, a lengthy lesson on how and when to use the stuff is under way. In my bag: a plastic stick that lights up when switched on, a flashlight (or torch as the Brits and many other English speakers call it), a small toy drum, a red and white scarf, five colored plastic bracelets kind of like the Livestrong ones. My bag has an Olympic Flag. But I don't seem to have the Chinese Flag some others do. Maybe they left it out to avoid the perception of a snub by reporters who don't go in for flag waving. I have to admit that it also occurred to me that the flashlight might come in handy if the lights go out or, God forbid, something more serious happens.
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