Disappointed that no foreign countries have boycotted the Beijing Olympics, Shanghai mayor Han Zheng has announced that Shanghai is to boycott the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. "This is not a matter of rivalry between Shanghai and Beijing" Han clarified, "although clearly the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is a far more significant event than some silly Greek sports festival".

The Olympic flame will be passing through Shanghai on May 20th this year. Shanghainese will be equipped with water guns to aim at the torch as it travels through the city. Shanghai taxi driver Mr Hu, 32, said "Olympics? What Olympics?"