Reuters Blogs

Changing China

Giant on the move

August 12th, 2008

Step away from the crisps, sir

Posted by: Alastair Himmer
Tags: Countdown to Beijing, , , , ,

Presidents Bush and China Foreign Minister Yang JiechiYou don’t often wonder, in all seriousness, whether opening a packet of crisps will result in instant death.

But there I was, not 10 metres from President George W. Bush, his father, former President George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger covering the blockbuster United States v China Olympic men’s basketball game.

I was struggling mightily with a packet of crisps (”potato flavour” no less!). It simply wouldn’t open and I feared a Del Boy moment, where the packet bursts suddenly and the crisps fly everywhere, in this case over news agency reporters from Xinhua, AP and AFP just below me on the press tribune.

It was at this moment that a Reuters technician usefully informed me that if the offending bag were to burst with a loud bang, I could get shot.

Good point. Hadn’t even crossed my mind. I went hungry.

PHOTO: U.S. President George W. Bush watches as his father and former president George H.W. Bush (R) shakes hands with China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) at the Group B men’s basketball game between China and the U.S. during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

4 comments so far

what kind of ‘democrazy’ is this, where 300 million people are dumb enough to ‘elect’ a gwb for 20 years as president and vice president. and ‘conan the barbarian’ is governor of california………….

- Posted by Stephan

Next time take in Pringles, mate. Much safer.

- Posted by Kevin Fylan

No pringles but had a packet of fish and pig-shaped snacks today which were truly, truly awful. Why oh why don’t they sell Monster Munch in China?

- Posted by Alastair Himmer

For a much more effective snack attack, offer the man a pretzel next time.

- Posted by Jim

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