FEATURE: Political nature of Olympics forces changes in Beijing

Several labor advocates do not expect fundamental reforms in a country where galloping economic expansion is a priority which depends on a cheap, pliable work force.

"There are a handful of people who are trying to politicize the Olympic Games," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (楊潔箎) said. "This is against the spirit of the games."

It is more than a handful -- it's just about everyone with a gripe against China. Most have modest goals, while other groups do not voice specific hopes, but still see opportunity.