Games that won hearts and minds

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By Liu Shinan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-27 07:23

The Beijing Summer Olympic Games proved to be a near-perfect success, not because the host country harvested the most gold medals and the second largest collection of all medals but because the Games perfectly illustrated the Olympic goals of being "faster, higher and stronger" and the ideals of "peace, friendship and progress".

The Beijing Games witnessed the largest number of new world records being set as compared with the previous Games and the least number of drug scandals in recent memories.

It was attended by all Olympic Movement members except Brunei - 204 countries and regions - and drew the largest number of athletes ever - 16,000 in total.

The Games was exciting for so many wonders and miracles it has generated, including the opening ceremony that "beats all superlative adjectives," the amazing haul of eight gold medals American swimmer Michael Phelps netted in the Water Cube and the unbelievable records of 9.69 seconds and 19.30 seconds Jamaican Usain Bolt set for 100m and 200m respectively at the Bird's Nest.

The Games was also inspiring and touching for its many impressive stories.

The spectators were moved to tears as 33-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina from Germany beat rivals about half her age to win the women's vault silver medal. She said she wanted to win prizes to help her 9-year-old son who was suffering from leukemia.

The audience were also touched by the tenacious South African Natalie du Toit, the first amputee to compete in the Summer Olympic Games finals, who finished 16th in women's 10 kilometer marathon swim.

Robina Muqimyar from Afghanistan, who braved the gender taboo in her country to come to Beijing for the Games, won the hearts of the spectators as well as the online community even though she finished only last among 85 in the women's 100m.

What best illustrated the Olympic spirit of promoting friendship was the embrace of Russian sharpshooter Natalia Paderina and Georgian markswoman Nino Salukvadze, who won women's 10m air pistol silver and bronze medals respectively, at the medal-awarding ceremony. Their countries were involved in military conflicts at the time.

Beijing, the host city, won intangible medals during the 17-day tournament. The glitch-free proceedings of the Games; the absolute safety from any accidents or terrorist incidents; the clean air and convenient transportation; the charming smiles of volunteers full of youthful vigor; all won praises and congratulations for the city.

And the Games demonstrated another major function - promoting mutual understanding of different countries and regions. Tens of thousands of athletes, journalists, government officials and tourists from other countries saw a real China completely different from what they had learned from previous media reports. The white clouds dotting the blue sky over a city of modern and ancient architectural wonders were probably the most symbolic of the facts that beat the pre-Games prejudice against China.

Seeing is believing. Just as journalist Andy Bull of London's Guardian newspaper said after he came to Beijing to cover the Games: "As a first-time visitor to China, all my knowledge of it is based on received information: from books, news reports, films and TV. The more second and third-hand coverage we get, the more our perceptions are pushed away from the truth ... My idea of it (Beijing) couldn't be more out of date. Modern China is presenting itself to the world, and we have to take it as we find it."

E-mail: liushinan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/27/2008 page8)