Chinese Courtesy

After our transportation ordeal by bus to the track and field venue today, our frustration was compounded when we were met by queues of thousands -- if not tens of thousands -- of people waiting to go through the security clearance to enter the Olympic Green. Unexpectedly, however, we were pleasantly surprised when we were taken by hand by a volunteer to an "express" queue, where we were able to enter the Olympic Green in relatively short order. We could only surmise that this "courtesy" was due to our rather obvious appearance as foreigners. Of course, this kind gesture only further elevated our already high opinion of the Chinese Olympic volunteers.