Olympic Stabbings
By jands1
@jands1 (835)
United States
August 9, 2008 11:16am CST
Todd and Barbara Bachman, both tourists and former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman (wife of men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon) were stabbed by a Chinese man while they were visiting a popular tourist site in Beijing, China. One has survived the other did not of the couple.
Chinese tour guide with the Americans was also stabbed and injured.
Tang Yongming, 47, from Hangzhou, China is alleged to have been the attacker and reports are claiming he leapt to his death from a second floor of the tower where the attack took place.
The couple were enjoying the marvels of Drum Tower 13th century imperial structure a little North of The Forbidden City.
What I find is odd is that until the Olympics, China would proudly display on their official tourism webpages how the Chinese Government *guarantees* the safety of any traveler/visitor/tourist to China. Now I can no longer find this guarantee.
So basically China has a floating safety policy?
1 response
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
11 Aug 08
obviously. and this is just the saddest thing. now people will be worried about their loved ones over there with the olympics. but, they are saying this was just one sick individual. not a rep of china at all. a terrible thing to happen right now.
@jands1 (835)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I agree. This should not affect the reputation of China.
I have traveled all over the world, in particular some politically hostile places, and have found that no matter where I go, I find people. We all share the same basic needs, fears, etc.
I do NOT think this is China's fault. It would be ridiculous for ANYONE to blame the whole country of China for one citizen's actions. Unfortunately, I have already had to explain to some (not on here) that generalized statements such as, "Well, China has some bad people."
To be honest, with the amount of people that have surged to China, on top of China's already flourishing and abundant tourist traffic, I am surprised there aren't more incidents. Mathematically speaking that is.
The only reason this made the news is because so many USA citizens went to China at once, it's the Olympics and well, how "well connected" the victims are.
Thank you bunnybon. I can't agree more on how sad this whole situation is.
