Olympic Day
Here I sit in front of my laptop screen, trying to remeber every detail of my first Olympic day of the life time while listening to the theme song “You and Me” (from the official site, unfortunatey, since no downloadable version is by far available).
It was, what was it? Fanbulous and awesome. Arriving at the Entrance 210 just in time for the first qualitification round of Women Artistic Gymnastics at the Nation Indoors Stadium, I was immediately greeted by the professional smile and directing of the volunteer. People’s clapping were furious, mainly to Chinese team, though. A yellow-and-red crowd, each griping their little national flags in hand, were well seated there and now cheering for the 6 young girls who are embracing the hope of this nation.
(The National Indoor Staduim, gymnasts playing.)
(Professional volunteer guiding my way to my seat.)
I was soon immersed in the passion of the Chinese audiences as I had to sit down among this cheering crowd, and hightened as the prestigeous young gymnast DENG Lin-lin, who had just hit the stage thanks to her recent show-up in the movie “Dream Weaver 2008″, popped onto the balance beam. She did not finish it quite well, just as she did in the movie, but this seemed to have made the crowd even more exciting. They thought they had witnessed a star in reality - not perfect, but still charming. When the real star, Cheng Fei completed her moves with awesomeness, the Chinese fans went crazy.
“Amazing! Wonderful! Look at the Chinese girls, they are the best!” A middle-aged man, sitting right next to me, could not help to shout. In his hand, a little red flag was gripped firm.
Just next to Cheng Fei, a Romanian gymnast from the medal-winning team was performing on the central floor and ended her moves with a perfect pose. But few has yet noticed. All applause went to the Chinese young star. Later, when the Chinese team finally rotated to the center to practise their floor exercise, the whole stadium just went “red” as one of the most famous traditional theme was played. Older Chinese audiences were touched. They knew this rhythm, which was always played during Spring Festivals.
When the first subvision ended, “China seized every first place that the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics qualification phase can offer”. The Romania (238.425), scoring 10 points behind China (248.275),took the second place in the Team standings.
This was a happy ending for up to 95% of the on-site audiences who were, well, undoubtfully, Chinese. But not quite for me.
For all time I consider the sport of Gymnastics to be something of appreciation, beauty of human figure and the pursuit of perfection, but it seems the audiences I sat with this morning tend to understand it from another perspective. Just as the whole Game, every sport seemed to link to national pride. The scattered applause of fans coming from Spain, Canada, and maybe me, was swallowed by the vast stadium and the enthusiastic home team fans who came all the way long, only to witness a moment of honor that they had long expected.
Luckily when I walked out of the gymnastic house, things turned much better. Different languages, accents, dressing styles as well as faces and skins have all made this special Olympic venue much more internationalized than inside the stadiums where competitions were meant to be. Volunteers would guide you the way either with Chinese or English (though a bit clumsy) with their expertise. Concept stores were fancily designed, welcoming guests who they usually didn’t expected - after all, I would not walk in an OMEGA store while shopping. The atmosphere (not the wheather, which was humid) was free, peaceful, and, I have to say, harmonious. Everything seemed to be perfectly organized with great orders, and though this was anticipated by many foreign journalists (who constantly accused Chinese to be over-ordered) and normally not very true in reality.
(Dedicately designed and built “drums wall” at the exit of the Olympic Green.)
I spent a total of 5 hours wandering in the huge park of “Olympic Green” and never wanted to get out. I had a tasteful lunch at McDonald’s and chatted with the neighbour-table woman who wore a mascot hat and looked very much like Kate Winslate; I watched a live show at the Volkswagen House performed by a bunch of handsome young man and women; I took photos of all funny stuffs that I encountered alongside the main street including dancing mascots and I had never ever felt that Beijing could be this internationalized.
Only outside the stadiums, however.
When I finally had to leave, I stopped for a moment, looking at this dedicately built venue for the Olympic. It is very Chinese, but at the same time, it could be really international. But how could it be? Only if we all become more open-minded, I think.
