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Bill Gates, Chinese Badminton Fan

Posted by: Bruce Einhorn on August 11

Why didn’t Microsoft think of this earlier? Bill Gates is in Beijing for the Games and today went to see the Chinese badminton team’s Bao Chunlai defeat a player from Guatamala. As popular as sports like badminton or table tennis may be in China, they’re not tops on the list of events most Americans would want to see at the Olympics. Still, when you’re the chairman of a company that has battled for years to fight software piracy in China – and win over skeptics in the Chinese government worried that you might be fronting for the U.S. government – every little gesture helps. “It was great. I was very impressed,” the billionaire said after the match, according to this report from Reuters. Asked if he was a badminton fan, Gates said: “I became one.” No word yet on whether Steve Ballmer is going to be attending the ping pong tournament.


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Reader Comments

Steve

August 11, 2008 06:09 PM

I will do anything Bill tells me to do.

Steve

August 11, 2008 06:11 PM

Problem is, while everyone in China knows Bill, not a single person there knows about me.

chenleilili

August 12, 2008 04:41 AM

give a tip to Bill,premier Wenjiabao loves basketball.Bill,retired or not?

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BusinessWeek’s team of Asia reporters brings you the latest insights on business, politics, technology and culture from some of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing economies. Eye on Asia’s bloggers include Asia regional editor Bruce Einhorn, Tokyo reporters Kenji Hall and Ian Rowley, Korea bureau chief Moon Ihlwan, Asia News Editor and China Bureau Chief. Dexter Roberts, and Hong Kong-based Asia correspondent Frederik Balfour.

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