What Did You Think About the Olympics?
calkins
August 25, 2008, 02:11 AM posted in General DiscussionIs anyone else sad that the Olympics are over?
I'm 美国人 and don't even live in China...I can't even imagine how Chinese feel now that it's over.
One thing I do know - they should feel very very proud. What an amazing accomplishment for China!
So many great examples of Chinese generosity, unity, and determination. It was by far the greatest Olympics I have ever seen.
I think that the world finally has a better understanding of who China is, and how good its people are! 中国加油！！
xiaohu
August 25, 2008, 04:24 AMCalkins,
I posted this on your other "Olympic Medal Standing" string, before I noticed this string, so I'll post it here as well.
I'm so sad to see the Olympics go. This has been the greatest Olympic games ever and we owe it all to the Chinese. Their amazing commitment to making the games the greatest in history, to use the Olympics in a positive way to change the perception of the Chinese in the eyes of the world, and at the same time has given us the most unforgettable Olympiad we've ever seen.
Michael 飞鱼 Phelps spectacular record breaking 8 Gold medals, Usaine 狂闪电 Bolt effortlessly breaking 2 track and field records all in one Olympics! This was a games seemingly that much more captivating than any other.
Even with records being broken right and left, the drama of a near Diving sweep by the Chinese, 2 first time Boxing Gold Medals for the Chinese, more Gymnastics Medals, more Gold Medals and more overall Medals than any than any time in China's history, and yet all this spectacle was overshadowed by the organization and precision with which the games were executed.
Never in Olympic history have so many volunteers， over a million, sacrificed weeks of their time during the games, and months of time prior to the games without compensation all pulling together to bring about the realization of 同一个世界，同一个梦想，one world, one dream.
Never in Olympic history have we seen such unity of people and resources finely tuned for one great event. The games themselves drawing raves from journalists, critics and politicians, blown away by how flawless were these 2008 Olympic games.
I say again, we owe it to the Chinese, for their commitment of moneys and manpower, making the investment in the games, the investment in their country and it's people. Showing the world a new China. This is not the China of 1960, circa The Great Leap Forward, this is not the China 1972 when Nixon met Zhou En Lai and Mao Ze Dong, this is not even the China circa 2001 when the games were awarded to China. This is a new China. A better China. A Unified China.
I'm so excited and lifted up to see the future of China, and history will show the new China was born in the summer of 2008!
garfaldo
August 25, 2008, 03:49 AMI agree totally Calkins. They put on an amazing show and really gave the world one of the most memorable Olympics ever. All the Chinese athletes were such great sports. I particularly found Yao's leadership of the basketball team inspiring by playing through his injury and raising the spirits of his team and the fans even when they were down.
The end medal count was also a win for the US and China with each country topping the standings in their own method of tallying... both countries save face! ;)
I hope the games has given much needed exposure to China internationally so that the beauty of its people can be seen by the people of the world to identify with.