Beijing is ready. The sporting venues and infrastructure have been completed on time — unlike Athens four years ago — and the only cloud on the horizon is pollution, which everyone hopes will blow away naturally.
There is a manifest excitement. On street corners a 400,000-strong army of volunteers camp out on foldaway chairs to keep an eye on diminished lines of traffic, or watch out for terrorist threats.
Their Beijing 2008 T-shirts and crimson-colored armbands identify this motley collection of neighborhood watch personnel, students and housewives.
PHOTO: JOHN HANCOCK
Another battalion of 110,000 helpers can be spotted proudly walking around with their Beijing Organizing Committee accreditation IDs. In addition, there are police cars on major intersections and an increased presence of People’s Liberation Army soldiers near the venues.
Foreign reporters, including myself, have been warned on several occasions now to carry identification papers in order to “prevent any misunderstandings” — but the “Smile Beijing” campaign seems to be working so far.
After all the waiting the party is about to happen and with the excitement has come patriotic fervor. The red flag is flying, from apartment blocks and cars, while the media has gone into Olympic overdrive.
PHOTO: JOHN HANCOCK
The theme song, We are Ready, has become a looped soundtrack to everyday life: “Even without wings, we can fly/ Our spirits lifted high, lighting up the bright red sky/ We are ready, our hearts together brings us glory.”
Mass distribution text messages have been sent to mobile phones calling on us to send our best wishes or “prayers” for the Olympics to various Web sites.
In newspapers “feel-good” stories about the sacrifices of volunteers or 112-year-old ladies making paper-cutting art for the Olympics are the order of the day.
The Olympics has inevitably taken over the airwaves too. On radio talk shows there are interminable discussions about the initiative to halve the number of cars on the road and reduce pollution.
The gala-type TV broadcasts that are popular fare now usually end with the ensemble cast shouting the slogan, “One World, One Dream” or singing We are Ready.
One particularly vibrant outdoor performance, for an audience of thousands of soldiers, had the star of the show singing the praises of China’s athletes in a moving Humvee. Olympic ambassador Jackie Chan seems to be everywhere and must be making a killing from all his endorsements.
One interesting correlative to all this activity is how the Olympics has become an almost holy event. It’s as if, in the absence of an official religion, the Games has become a pseudo-spiritual event for the country.
Like a pilgrimage, poor rickshaw drivers are cycling thousands of kilometers from their hometowns to Beijing. Thousands of ordinary people have created works of art to glorify the Olympics.
And then there are the Indian sadhu-type figures, such as the acupuncturist who pierced his head and shoulders with 2,008 needles (a record) to mark the event.
Meanwhile, the progress of the Olympic torch has traversed the country as if it were a holy relic. It is referred to as a “sacred” flame. The armed police who travel with it are called the “Olympic Holy Flame Protection Unit.”
It is a heady mix of “religious” fervor and national devotion from a relatively recent convert to the Olympics.
To put it succinctly, this is the patriot Games.
“John Hancock” is the Taipei Times’ correspondent for the Beijing Olympics.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely