Ha!  Just when you thought there was no freaking way I could write another Olympics story, I mean with the economic crisis and election and other stuff, I, uh, do.

Remember those “protest zones” that China set up as part of its agreement with the International Sycophant Olympic Committee?  Well it turns out they’ve gone bye-bye.

The three parks in downtown Beijing designated as demonstration zones during the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics will cease function upon the ending of both Games, a senior official with the Games organizing committee said here on Wednesday.

“In future, relevant departments will continue to accept and handle demonstration applications in accordance with China’s law on assemblies, processions and demonstrations as well as the law’s implementation methods,” said Liu Shaowu, director of the security department under the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG).

The three parks, namely the Zizhuyuan Park, Ritan Park and World Park, were approved to serve as demonstration areas during the two Games in accordance with the requirement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the common practice of other host cities of major international events, said Liu.

“During the Games, relevant departments received a number of demonstration applications from home and abroad. Except for very few cases that were not allowed by Chinese laws, all applications aimed at the settlement of some specific problems and issues,” said the official.

Through consultations between relevant authorities and the applicants, all the problems and issues were handled and settled properly, and the applicants withdrew their applications voluntarily, he added.

The final score, in case you were wondering is zero protests in the protest zones.  And not a peep from the IOC.

Believe it or not, that’s not the worst of it.  The ChiComs learned so much during the games:

[Liu] revealed that the Beijing 2008 Games have applied many high-tech security systems and facilities, such as the venue security control system, electronic ticket and card verification system, communications guarantee system, monitoring system, counterterror and riot-prevention system, and the security screening facilities.

And the planning, design, installation and application of these first-class systems and facilities have kept pace with the design and construction of all Games venues, to avoid incompatibility and ineffectiveness, he noted.

Avoiding incompatibility and ineffectiveness helps avoid other problems — like pesky protesters, free speech, and religious freedom.  You can bet that those cameras and other “high-tech security systems” will now be used to control dissent.

Can’t wait for Sochi 2014.  Gonna be a laugh riot, I’m sure.

Hat tip:  China Digital Times

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