 Featuring real people and real views, Olympic Dragons will be based on fictionalised interviews. 'Fictionalised' means nobody is identified and several interviews and other sources may be mixed to produce a final story.
For a better idea of how this works, please see this website's page about Broken Dragons. That book has a similar format and can be purchased through Amazon.
Objectives
The main goal of Olympic Dragons is to portray authentic Chinese views of the Beijing Olympics. Deliberately avoided are official or Communist voices such as press agencies or authorities in Beijing and elsewhere. An additional objective is tracking changes: first interviews happened several years before the Olympics in 2008.
Eligibility
Anybody with a strong connection to China is encouraged to participate. This includes residents of Beijing as much as those living elsewhere in China or elsewhere around the world. Any age or gender is welcome. Connection with the games as an athlete or an administrator is far from essential, though obviously offers a valuable perspective that will be included in the book. Overseas Chinese and non-Chinese nationals are also welcome. I hope, however, they will allow me one final stress that a 'strong connection' with China is vital. Olympic Dragons will predominately feature Chinese nationals.
How to participate: the interview
It will be helpful to share more about the interview. Mostly conducted by myself, these will usually be in person, preferably in Beijing or Hong Kong although anywhere could work within reason. Some interviews can also happen via the telephone. Via the internet is also possible (ie, in writing). Whatever the format the starting point will be general attitudes to the Beijing Olympics. This will include how preparations impacted you or others you know, plus hopes and ambitions and also worries or concerns. However, I hope the subject will expand greatly. The hope is for personal and unique perspectives. In short: anything goes...
You may, of course, wish to contribute but not through interview. I can appreciate that - talking with strangers is not for everybody. May I therefore also take this chance to welcome anonymous contributions through e-mail. Short or long they are always interesting.
Will anybody be identified?
Absolutely not. Olympic Dragons is entirely anonymous. In fact, even if participants sought identification (some have) I could not help you.
Language
Interviews can be in English or Putonghua, but the book itself will be published in English.
A note about what Olympic Dragons is not
A final note, if I may, about limits. Several things are not intended by Olympic Dragons. Foremost of these is not to set the record straight on behalf of others. For those who have encountered specific problems with specific parties, this may well be of interest in interview. Experiences will be duly noted. But the final appearance of any one singular experience will be unrecognisable from its original setting. Names, places, dates, some subject matter: all will change. Personal agendas will be totally absent so as to leave only general realities.
How to join up
Hopefully that's explained a few things. Please do join! Please write to me using details on the contact page. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Bruce Dalbrack
Hong Kong |
