The Olympic Legacy in China
- Thread starter rhino123
- Start date
Autumn Child
Junior Member
Re: Taiwan's Olympic Dream
The russian still got their chance in track and field. But yes their performance is dysappointing in many categories not just gymnastic.
Anyway...the olympic is a blast. I have the lucky chance of attending the Olympics match and my parents got to see the Opening ceremony.
The russian still got their chance in track and field. But yes their performance is dysappointing in many categories not just gymnastic.
Anyway...the olympic is a blast. I have the lucky chance of attending the Olympics match and my parents got to see the Opening ceremony.
Autumn Child
Junior Member
Just return from the Olympic party in Beijing...What a great party!!! Beijing has really changed alot. The medal count and winning gets me really high and numb from realities.
Now that the excitement is winding down, I was thinking what next? How can the Olympic improve China as a whole? First I would like to point out a few observation I made when I was in Beijing:
1) Smiles - There are more smile everywhere in Beijing. From Olympic volunteers to shopkeepers to policemen. The atmosphere is better than i thought despite the high security and constant threat of terrorism.
2) Pride - Never have China been so proud of their country and no, not just from the medal count. I see other country's spectators cheer for China and vise versa. For that brief moment, i felt that china can feel for others. Hearing crowd cheered for the iraq or taiwan team is really emotional especially when you can feel the atmosphere.
3) Sports awareness and interest - Many chinese i met viewed all the sporting events that the chinese team competes in. Most chinese do not watch fencing or wrestling, but with chinese team competing in them they are willing to watch and at the same time learned the rules and history of the sport. If the chinese team won in that particular sports that that sport will get a boost in interest. Liu xiang may not be able to run in beijing olympics but his legacy has put hurdles and track and field sports in the "interest radar" for many chinese. For the first time chinese realize that asian can be as fast as africans that ussualy dominates the sports category. Same goes for swimming after china won several medals in the category for the first time.
4) Infrastructure and economy - If seeing the bird nest and watercube is impressive on television, wait till you get to see the real thing. And that is just the sporting venues... Enough said for infrastructure. The lasting effect of the olympic to the chinese economy is less obvious and this is what I want to tdiscuss in this thread.
There are also a few negative things i observe which needs improvements:
1) booing - I do not think any athelete in the olympic deserved to be booed (except for those drug takers). They trained hard and made many sacrifices to get where they are.
2) Overly fixated on gold medal count - A hong kong commentator said that for many chinese atheletes wining a bronze medal is like losing loved ones. When liu xiang failed to run in today many chinese felt overly dissapointed to the point of blaming Liu xiang for being a fraud and chickens out during race. despite CCTV's attempt to only interviewed those that are sympathetic for liu xiang, many people here know that some chinese are angry at him. Tjhose dissapointed at liu xiang should learn that sports is about the human spirit not just gold medal to satisfy their nationalistic pride. I rather see liu get the rest he deserved and compete again. Having said that I am also guilty of over fixating on gold count to satisfy nationalistic pride, but at least I am trying to convert it positively as a chance for me to learn about new sports that i ussualy ignores.
Has any forum member been in Beijing for the Olympics? I would love to know your observation and opinion about what the game can give china other than gold medals?
Now that the excitement is winding down, I was thinking what next? How can the Olympic improve China as a whole? First I would like to point out a few observation I made when I was in Beijing:
1) Smiles - There are more smile everywhere in Beijing. From Olympic volunteers to shopkeepers to policemen. The atmosphere is better than i thought despite the high security and constant threat of terrorism.
2) Pride - Never have China been so proud of their country and no, not just from the medal count. I see other country's spectators cheer for China and vise versa. For that brief moment, i felt that china can feel for others. Hearing crowd cheered for the iraq or taiwan team is really emotional especially when you can feel the atmosphere.
3) Sports awareness and interest - Many chinese i met viewed all the sporting events that the chinese team competes in. Most chinese do not watch fencing or wrestling, but with chinese team competing in them they are willing to watch and at the same time learned the rules and history of the sport. If the chinese team won in that particular sports that that sport will get a boost in interest. Liu xiang may not be able to run in beijing olympics but his legacy has put hurdles and track and field sports in the "interest radar" for many chinese. For the first time chinese realize that asian can be as fast as africans that ussualy dominates the sports category. Same goes for swimming after china won several medals in the category for the first time.
4) Infrastructure and economy - If seeing the bird nest and watercube is impressive on television, wait till you get to see the real thing. And that is just the sporting venues... Enough said for infrastructure. The lasting effect of the olympic to the chinese economy is less obvious and this is what I want to tdiscuss in this thread.
There are also a few negative things i observe which needs improvements:
1) booing - I do not think any athelete in the olympic deserved to be booed (except for those drug takers). They trained hard and made many sacrifices to get where they are.
2) Overly fixated on gold medal count - A hong kong commentator said that for many chinese atheletes wining a bronze medal is like losing loved ones. When liu xiang failed to run in today many chinese felt overly dissapointed to the point of blaming Liu xiang for being a fraud and chickens out during race. despite CCTV's attempt to only interviewed those that are sympathetic for liu xiang, many people here know that some chinese are angry at him. Tjhose dissapointed at liu xiang should learn that sports is about the human spirit not just gold medal to satisfy their nationalistic pride. I rather see liu get the rest he deserved and compete again. Having said that I am also guilty of over fixating on gold count to satisfy nationalistic pride, but at least I am trying to convert it positively as a chance for me to learn about new sports that i ussualy ignores.
Has any forum member been in Beijing for the Olympics? I would love to know your observation and opinion about what the game can give china other than gold medals?
Interesting topic you have going here. From the economic point of view, Beijing kind of hit a double whammy here. The new airport, subways, etc are already in need anyway by the growth of the city; so building them at this time satisfy both economically and look good for the Olympic.
Then there are the economic benefit created from that "warm fuzzy feeling" the game creates. Call it national pride, public support, propaganda (by the west), whatever. You can't help but being more focused when happier. While this by itself isn't economic; historically it have been very important in the development of a country. There does not exist a case where a country achieved long term growth without the support of it's people (even Hitler and the Soviet enjoyed great support when they first came into power).
From a political point of view. Stability and support for the government I think will increase considerably because of the game. Which will help with keeping them in power.
Externally though, with all the controversies aboard, I don't think it have achieved as much as the government had hoped. Although even the protests is a boost internally because of the backlash it creates.
All in all, my personal view is this: The Olympic legacy is one of success if you are Chinese and it will a legacy remembered for generations to come.
PS: I am so jealous I can't come to the party of a life time.
Then there are the economic benefit created from that "warm fuzzy feeling" the game creates. Call it national pride, public support, propaganda (by the west), whatever. You can't help but being more focused when happier. While this by itself isn't economic; historically it have been very important in the development of a country. There does not exist a case where a country achieved long term growth without the support of it's people (even Hitler and the Soviet enjoyed great support when they first came into power).
From a political point of view. Stability and support for the government I think will increase considerably because of the game. Which will help with keeping them in power.
Externally though, with all the controversies aboard, I don't think it have achieved as much as the government had hoped. Although even the protests is a boost internally because of the backlash it creates.
All in all, my personal view is this: The Olympic legacy is one of success if you are Chinese and it will a legacy remembered for generations to come.
PS: I am so jealous I can't come to the party of a life time.
Mr T
Senior Member
Mr T
Senior Member
Liu Xiang out - bad luck!
I'm really disappointed to hear that Liu is injured again. I heard about his foot a little while ago, but I thought he was over that.
It's a shame, because he would have made the final a great race. Now with another big name out (forget who), it will probably be predictable.
I'm really disappointed to hear that Liu is injured again. I heard about his foot a little while ago, but I thought he was over that.
It's a shame, because he would have made the final a great race. Now with another big name out (forget who), it will probably be predictable.
Someone get an moderator in here......
China won't be able to keep up this stability for long, once the olympics fade away into memories, there will be nothing else to occupy their time. The middle class will emerge and things won't remain very stable.
This thread is not an anti-China thread, but 'some people' I'm not going to mention names (you know who you are) have turned this thread increasingly hostile. All magazines have their point of view and stance, you can't change that (unless your editor of the magazine). Cool down this thread and go back to the original topic, otherwise the moderator will be angry.
China won't be able to keep up this stability for long, once the olympics fade away into memories, there will be nothing else to occupy their time. The middle class will emerge and things won't remain very stable.
This thread is not an anti-China thread, but 'some people' I'm not going to mention names (you know who you are) have turned this thread increasingly hostile. All magazines have their point of view and stance, you can't change that (unless your editor of the magazine). Cool down this thread and go back to the original topic, otherwise the moderator will be angry.
Last edited:
I'm here...I'm deleting soft those last few. post.
This thread shall remain open..keep the level of discussion civil...:nono:
bd popeye super moderator