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Our man at the Beijing Olympics - 5/8/08

Matthew Davis
5/ 8/2008

I HAVE never found making toast a particular complicated exercise but this morning I almost caused an international crisis over breakfast.

I was just happy to get to the Media Press Centre (MPC) this morning and find that I could indeed have croissants and toast for breakfast - a typical continental affair - when I was fearing a diet of noodles or rice for three weeks.

However my attempts to put my bread in the conveyor belt toaster were watched and assisted by at least six helpful Chinese volunteers.

Toast is clearly not a breakfast speciality here, illustrated by the fact the toaster seemed to cause great confusion and ended with one of them dragging my toast out with a pair of tongs whilst a huge crowd of volunteers gathered to watch in bewilderment and looking to find something to help me with.

The toast was not in the least bit "toasted" but as my stomach is confused greatly by the seven hour time difference I was happy to eat it..

The Chinese I have met are incredibly helpful and conscientious, they are clearly so worried about putting a foot wrong that everything has to be impeccable.

If I dropped a tissue on the floor I could guarantee that withing a second there would be three volunteers clearing it up - they clear up after anything and everything, a bit like when ants swarm around food.

It should be commended because the service is efficient and quick and no problem is too small even if explaining can cause a great deal of confusion - complicated further my nature to mumble somewhat.

Smog watch for today - There is in my opinion little if no smog today - perhaps just a light haze.

Last night having a beer on the roof terrace I have to say that it is sometimes nigh on impossible to make out what time of day it is when the smog is thick.

But when it comes to pollution I just can't see the problem.

I do not have a fancy pollution reading meter on me but it does not make me cough or my eyes hurt - can't see what the fuss is.

Today is a glorious day in Beijing, it is hot, sunny and on my first proper explore of the Olympic park I was overwhelmed by the scale of the whole games.

At a press conference today the Chef de Mission of the British Olympic Association Simon Clegg said the facilities were the best he had ever seen and I have to agree with them they are incredible - London has a lot of work to do.