Let’s just say Magic Johnson wants to see the redeem team crush Greece or someone else’s skull in men’s hoops in Beijing. Should be easy, right? Just make a call and he’s there.

Answer: No chance. Can’t even get into the country.

Really, we shouldn’t be shocked, but some other details did surprise us.

China still has it archaic ban on HIV positive or AIDS-carrying visitors, something the international community wanted lifted before the games and, of course, something China completely ignored (see Human rights, lack of). Surprisingly, right before the games, China lifted another ban, one not allowing persons with leprosy to enter the country.

The Chinese didn’t have a comment on the reasons behind either move.

What’s more stunning is, while China is one of 67 nations with some restrictions on visitors carrying AIDS (or HIV positive), one that was on the list until just two weeks ago?

Yup: The USA. On August 5th, President Bush signed a bill repealing a law stopping those carrying the disease from entering the country without a Visa.

He then asked the Chinese “How that wacky Mao dude on all your walls looks chubby in the pictures but so tall in person for the Rockets?”.