For all the clubs and restaurants in the Gongti Stadium complex, the Olympics seemed too good to be true. Their primo location directly adjacent to one of the flagship Olympic venues (not to mention at the heart of what’s sure to be the biggest party the Gongti/Sanlitun area’s ever seen) seemingly ensured that they’d be swimming in enough cash to stage their own 50m backstroke competition by the time it was all over.

But alas, it seems the party may be over. In an article in China Daily, the stadium complex’s vice-manager was quoted as saying, “About six restaurants and bars inside the Beijing Workers' Stadium compound will be ordered to suspend operation for more than 20 days before and during the Olympic Games”. There’s more hedging in that statement than in Edison Chen's personal photo collection, but, just for kicks, we at the CW offices counted the number of Gongti venues and came up with a good deal more than six; so, it remains unclear whether it will be some or all of the establishments inside the stadium’s gates closing come August.

Making the situation even murkier, there’s been no formal notice served to any of the potential close-ees. A source at The Kro’s Nest said that, pending notification from the authorities, they were going ahead with planning as normal, adding, “we’re going to know when we hear from our sources, and we’re hopeful that there’s nothing that a bottle or two of baijiu can’t fix.” Stay tuned to the CW Dish blog for the latest as it develops.