FISM BEGINS! :: BY CRAIG MITCHELL

Thanks to our South African Correspondent Craig Mitchell, we'll be able to keep you posted as to the goings on each day at FISM China! Thanks Craig!

As you may have already read - the hordes are descending on Beijing for FISM. Thankfully no reports of any quarantine issues yet :-) Although you play russian roulette every time you return to your hotel passing through the dreaded thermal scanner. One misstep and you're out ...

The city is hot & humid, the Olympic Park area in which the convention centre is located glistens in the sun and so far no major problems. The two main convention centre hotels overlook the Birds Nest Stadium & Water Cube arena ... so you can't shake the feeling that what you're seeing is manufactured reality. The drive from the airport here for instance had more vegetation and lush 'forests' en-route than I've seen in some national parks. Not the image of smoking metropolis that I thought was Beijing - but then that's what they want you to believe.

This is China after all. Facebook is banned ( as are most blogs like MagicNewswire.com & MagicUnlimited.com) and there is a policeman on every corner. It's an interesting mix.

But onto the magic.

After braving the "epic" walk from the CNCC Grand Hotel to the Convention Centre in the searing heat ( the promised bridge connecting the two having done a vanishing act ) I was over-joyed to see that the powers-that-be saw it fit to have registration open early ( thank you! ) Registration was a breeze with a not a soul in sight ( snaking lines from IBM SAM now a distant memory )

The registration kits (See Pic Above) is one of the best FISM ones yet. They've gone all out - attache case, commemorative stamps, baby pink tshirt, pins, fan ( yes a fan ), full colour brochure, magic set, cards etc. Beautifully put together and really sets the stage for something special.

But whether expectation will meet reality remains to be seen. Tomorrow is day one - and the programme is sparse - only kicking off with the opening ceremony at 4:30 pm - the dealers running for the course of the day. Also having looked through the programme comes the worrying factor that plagues all conventions - over exposure. It's deja vu with so many of the performers - Topas, Jeff McBride, Peter Marvey, Lennart Green etc. Will they have new material ? Let's hope so ... otherwise we could be on a repeat cycle.

Magic is definitely in the air :-)