Olympic obsession

The Beijing Olympics came to an end yesterday, and for whatever reason, I’m feeling sad it’s all over. I’m far far away from China and back in Oakville, but still eating up any news about it, constantly reminiscing through my own photos, watching all I can on TV, and even doing research to prepare for buying tickets to Vancouver’s Winter Games. I’m an addict — completely, utterly, obsessed with everything that has to do with the Olympics.

So here’s a neat little piece I read in the Economist this morning at my local library. The Chinese executed a nearly flawless event not only by controlling Beijing’s crowds, protesters and its security, but also the weather:

The Beijing Olympics: Five-ring circus … Weather? Or not?
Worried it might rain on the opening parade, games organisers launched 1,110 cloud-seeding missiles in the hours leading up to the big event. Fired from 21 sites surrounding the city, the missiles carried silver iodide to make it rain in those areas rather than over the ceremony in the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

Buh-bye Beijing

Peijin, Martin, Kate and me inside Beijing's National Stadium on Tuesday morning

It was the perfect way to spend my last day in Beijing. Our athletics ticket brought us right into the Olympic Sports Centre, where we were able to see all the new venues close up.

In one word, the Bird’s Nest is amazing. Its architecture is majestic and modern; its size, overwhelming and intimidating. There’s just something about this stadium that sparkles, shines and makes you feel small. Maybe that has something to do with its 91,000 capacity. We sat in the 25th row of the stadium’s first tier, but I think no matter where your seat is, every spectator gets a perfect view.

Now, about 48 hours later, I’m back in Canada having Beijing Olympics withdrawal. Trust me, it was nice to see the words “Welcome to Canada” when I walked through Pearson tonight. But I’m just missing that excitement, energy and good ol’ Olympic spirit in Beijing that made me feel so proud to be Chinese.

I guess my adventure there had to end at some point. I just wish I stayed from start to finish.

Losing Liu Xiang

Beijing Olympics Athletics Mens 110M Hurdles

Originally uploaded by duidui520

This was one of the moments Olympic fans were all waiting for — Liu Xiang’s big 110-meter hurdle race on his home turf during China’s momentous event. I watched the first two heats on CCTV this morning and before it all began, a journalist talked excitedly above the Bird’s Nest in a helicopter, counting down to Liu’s first race.

His injury has left many people devastated, including me. Locals and foreigners are both saddened that China’s Olympic poster boy didn’t make it this time around. Lots of Olympic volunteers and fans were shown on TV crying. I even read that spectators in the stadium today asked for refunds since they couldn’t see Liu race.

Beijing and, of course, the rest of the country are taking this news hard. But I wonder how his hometown of Shanghai is reacting? He’s the city’s pride and joy, and it’s sure to be a heartbreaking story there.

Batter up

Olympics 093

Originally uploaded by april.fong4

I’m having the time of my life over here. After I finished writing my article for Embassy, my cousin Martin and one of my best friends, Lindsay, flew over from Seoul to join me in Beijing.

On Thursday, Iain and I sat on a bus for two hours (each way) to get to Shunyi rowing park, only to find out that — after waiting for an hour in the pouring rain — the races were canceled for the day. So off we went again on Friday afternoon, back to the rowing venue to cheer on Canada, and of course China, in the semi-final heats. Fortunately, there was no rain that day. Instead we roasted in the sun, watching boats glide by with mountains in the backdrop. Beauty.

Last night, Iain, Lindsay, Martin and I went to Wukesong Baseball Stadium to watch the Japan versus South Korea game. Baseball is baseball to me, but it was one of the more exciting games I’ve ever seen because of the ferocious cheering from both Japanese and South Korean fans. The Japanese even had three guys on our side of the stadium, coaching them on how to shout and scream for their team in unison.

Fill ‘em up

Olympics 009

Originally uploaded by april.fong4

If you’re watching the Olympics on TV and notice there’s still seats to be filled in Beijing, well, it’s true. Even though it was announced months ago that tickets to events were all sold out, there are lots still floating around. At least for the less desirable events anyway.

After meeting my American friend (and Fudan classmate) Katie last night for dinner, we headed over to a bar near Chaoyang Park called Goose & Duck. Every night around 10 pm, a few American guys come in with face value tickets for the next day’s events. You get a number from the owner of the bar, wait your turn, then have a chat with these dealers to see what’s still available. Last night, they had tickets to rowing, boxing, fencing, handball and shooting.

It was a bit chaotic and I couldn’t believe how many people were crowding around to buy tickets. It’s all been through word-of-mouth too.

Apparently, there are also trained back-up fans to fill up the empty seats. Check out this NY Times article about it.

China’s Olympic dreams

halterofilia

Originally uploaded by Beijing 2008 Info

Meet Chen Xiexia, the first from Team China to win a gold medal for the country. Small, mighty and adorable with a great smile, she is the perfect poster girl for China’s Olympic achievements thus far.

Then there’s Du Li, the 10m air-rifle shooter and Athens gold medalist. Expected to have a repeat performance, she was smothered by pressure from her country and its media, which was obsessed with Du winning the Games’ first gold. In the first round, Du shot poorly and finished fifth.

In an interview I saw on TV a few days ago, she was in tears, sobbing as if she lost everything. “I wasn’t fully prepared for the pressure of competing at home,” she said.

I can’t imagine what these two women have been going through. 1.3 billion people relying on you to perform. To compete at your best under pressure, and to win and represent your country’s move back to the stage of great powers. It’s been a long journey for China to be where it is today, and the same goes for each individual athlete competing for Team China this year.

Olympic tickets in hand

My Olympic tickets

Originally uploaded by april.fong4

I picked up my Olympic tickets yesterday afternoon with Iain. I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally have them in my hands. Rowing, baseball and athletics… here we come!

Let the games begin

Ditan Park Opening Ceremony 2

Originally uploaded by april.fong4

When the countdown began, my South African friend Kate turned to me and said: “Can you believe it? This is IT. They’ve waited seven years for this moment…”

With hundreds of Chinese people and visitors from around the world, we watched the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony at 地坛公园 （Ditan Park) in north Beijing. Two huge screens in front of us, Zhang Yimou’s spectacular show kept us in awe.

I could see pride beaming from every Chinese person’s eyes. “中国加油！(zhongguo jiayou!)”　we shouted. The nation’s red flag was prominent among the crowds.

It was unreal. Seven years after being told they could host the Olympics, Beijing and China saw their dreams coming true last night. And even though it was just two years ago that I first came here to study Mandarin, Beijing today is not the same as the Beijing I saw then.

It’s cleaner, with no hawkers in sight. Roads are wider (construction complete), and the buses and subway systems have expanded with sparkling new vehicles. There is a sense of pride, a shine in people’s eyes. I feel like everyone is smiling here because of all these things, all of these changes that have sought to show how China has transformed, opening its arms to the world.

Blink and it’ll all be over

Despite all the sadness my family and I have endured over the past few weeks, this summer seems to be passing by quickly.

I leave Hong Kong in three days. And then, I’m off to Beijing. I can’t believe that I’ll be there next week, able to see all the changes myself. That I’ll be sitting in the Bird’s Nest, battling the Olympic crowds and breathing the (hopefully) improved Beijing air. I will even get to do some writing, my first taste of being a foreign correspondent in a sense.

Then, it’s back to Canada, where I’m excited for a cup of Tim’s, to be with the Fong Team on our home turf, and to frolic once again with Simba.

… oh, did I mention school begins again in four weeks?

Beijing allowing Olympic protests?

China says it plans to allow protests in three of its parks during the Beijing Olympics. The arrangement is, demonstrators first have to apply for permission to protest at Shijie, Zizhuyuan and Ritan parks. You can read more about it here.

A progressive step? Definitely not a major one, but this news is at the very least, recognition of how much international pressure China feels it’s under.