BEIJING, Aug. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "In a time of
anti-globalization, they represent the style of new globalization."
This is what Hong Kong-based media
outlet Yazhou Zhoukan (lit. Asia
Weekly) wrote about the performance of China's new generation of athletes at the
Paris Olympics. From Pan Zhanle, who calmly said "This is my normal
level" in the face of skepticism, to Zheng Qinwen, who said that
she deserved the title of "Queen
Wen" after winning the gold medal, and He Bingjiao, who
carried a badge of the Spanish Olympic Committee onto the podium as
a tribute to her opponent who withdrew from the competition due to
injury, young Chinese athletes are winning accolades for their
confident speech, lively expressions and adherence to the Olympic
spirit. Athletes' performances are never isolated; they show the
spirit of the whole of Chinese society and let the Olympics witness
the openness and confidence of Chinese society.
Besides the competition results, the most discussed topic at
home and abroad in this Olympics is the impression that
China's young athletes are
becoming increasingly "articulate" and expressive. These young
Chinese athletes certainly did not take any special courses to
suddenly become "good at talking"; but the expressions that went
viral and resonated with people are actually a vivid reflection of
Chinese society's self-confidence and high spirit. Compared to
their predecessors, young athletes are bolder in expressing their
aspirations and pursuits and fully displaying their striving
spirit; but they are also more capable of enjoying the fun of
competition and sports, while expanding their unity and friendships
amid the heat of competition. These qualities are highly compatible
with the overall style and mainstream values of Chinese
society.
As early as three years ago during the Tokyo Olympics, the BBC
published an article saying that Chinese people are beginning to
appreciate the charm of the Olympics in a more "stereoscopic way,"
mentioning several views that are popular in Chinese society, such
as "gold medals are important, but those athletes who fight hard
are all worthy of praise" and "winning or losing is not important,
but doing one's best is the greatest achievement." In the last
Olympics, we expressed our great support and appreciation for
athletes such as Su Bingtian, who achieved a historical
breakthrough. And this year, in a number of Olympic events, we also
pay more attention to the celebration of the sportsmanship and the
beauty of competition, as well as to detail, humanity and emotions.
The Chinese view of the Olympics is not limited to competing for
medals; it also carries the desire for a fairer, more progressive
and better world for themselves and the world.
Beyond the medals, more attention and discussion around the
Olympics in Chinese society is centered on "breakthroughs" and
"striving." The Chinese people dedicated their applause, flowers
and cheers not only to the champions, but also to athletes like
Wu Peng, Deng Lijuan and Zhang
Yufei, to the entire Chinese delegation, and to the athletes
from all countries who were not able to stand on the podium but
demonstrated the Olympic spirit. In some of the events in which
Chinese athletes did not win medals, historic participation and
breakthroughs were also widely noted and praised. More important
than the gold medal is the courage to push and transcend oneself,
and this perception has been deeply integrated into Chinese
society. Chinese society is now looking at the Olympics not only
through the lens of performance on the field, but also through the
hard work and dedication behind the breakthroughs of each athlete
and in each sport. If the medals showcase China's hard power in the Olympics, then the
performance of Chinese athletes and society during the Games is a
strong illustration of China's
soft power.
From Liu Changchun, the first Chinese Olympian, to the Chinese
delegation's return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, to Beijing successfully hosting the Summer and
Winter Olympic Games, and now to the Paris Olympics, this journey
has been epic. It has been filled with numerous challenges and
setbacks, but also countless moments of glory and pride. Generation
after generation of Chinese athletes represent not only the spirit
of China but also the spirit of
the times. When we look at the faces of athletes like Quan Hongchan
and Pan Zhanle, filled with youthful energy, vitality, and calm, we
feel a deep sense of certainty - this is the "young China" that our predecessors envisioned.
What do Chinese sports with such characteristics bring to the
world? When Japanese and South Korean commentators cheered for
Pan's achievement in becoming the first Asian to swim the
100m freestyle in under 47 seconds,
we saw confidence; when Belarus'
Ivan Litvinovich, who participated
in this year's Olympics as an Individual Neutral Athlete, was moved
by Wang Zisai and Yan Langyu's spontaneous hug, we saw kindness.
Chinese athletes are using warmth and goodwill to light up the
world, and perseverance and determination to inspire others, with
China standing behind them. The
Olympic spirit is not just about courage and striving but also
embodies unity, friendship, and mutual understanding. Chinese
society focuses on breakthroughs and progress at the Paris
Olympics, while this year's Olympic Games is also a witness to
China's openness and
confidence.
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SOURCE Global Times