The Beijing Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony caught the eye balls of the world with its splendidness. In my opinion, this opening ceremony has been the most artistically beautiful one in all Olympic history. NBC alone attracted 34.2 million viewers. While the most recent Summer Olympics, in Athens four years ago, averaged 25.4 million viewers for its first night and in Sydney in 2000 had 27.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen. Friday night, as the whole world was watching Beijing, watching China, we overseas Chinese are proud for the achievement of our mother country. One goal of this year’s Olympic game was to let the world know China. From this perspective, China has made a huge success.
The media coverage was overwhelming. Let me not to try to outdo the professional journalists with my own praises. Everyone who wants to enjoy the shows may do so from http://www.nbcsports.com. I would like to spend some words on those who remain critical of China’s human right records, Tibet and China handling of Darfur matters. On Sunday, NBC’s anchor Bob Costas interviewed President Bush in his NBC studio overseeing the Tiananmen Square. Four out of 5 questions was on those lines. The President answered all questions with almost the same argument, it is better to engage China than otherwise. He also urged the future Presidents to follow the same policy. Siding with the President, I would like to add that while Olympics is not going to solve all the world’s problems (incidentally, a war broke out between Russia and Georgia on the same day of the opening ceremony), the world will be much more peaceful with the Game than without; While some of the criticisms on China are understandable, the Olympic history will be much richer with a Beijing chapter than without.
My second thought was on city of Beijing where I spent the first 26 years of my life. As the news coverage of the Olympic Games continues, people will see more of her beauty. Some of the buildings and street scenes are new to me as well. But I do not need to know every new façade to know the city. I know her by heart. When I left China to pursuit my graduate studies in the US in 1986, I had one bicycle and a 12” black-and-white TV set among my most valuable possessions. I had never seen highways on which many cars moving in parallel towards one direction. I had never had a personal bank check or ATM card. What I had was a government issued coupon book on my monthly food rations. Yet I was able enjoy blue skies and clean air. Nowadays, people in Beijing have it all. Many young white collar professionals have their own apartments, cars, cell phone. They play the internet games. They enjoy vacations to same destinations as we do. Their life style is quite similar with ours. With per capita GDP in excess 8,000 US dollars, Beijing qualifies for what the World Bank defines as a “moderately developed countries.” (Other two Chinese cities enjoy the same qualification are Shanghai and Guangdong.) On the other hand, with 3.5 millions cars, the Beijing residents also kissed goodbye to the blue skies.
For those who do not already know, year 2008 is not the first time Beijing partitioned to host the Olympic Games. The first time Beijing made a serious attempt was for the year of 2000. That effort was thawed shamelessly by a bunch of anti-China activists on pure political grounds. As a result of some under-the-table maneuvering, Beijing lost her bit by 2 votes. In the evening Sydney celebrated her nomination, tears dripped down the cheeks of millions of Chinese and friends. Friday’s Opening Ceremony was a vindication. Eight years later, Beijing was able to prove what she deserves. Eight year of quiet hardworking and preparations have made the city stronger and more capable to pay for a bill of over 40billion yuan on the infrastructure. Gold glistens. People may cover gold with mud to stop it from glistening. Before long, rain and wind will wash away the bud and gold will shine again. Beijing is such a piece of gold. Beijing, my hometown, let me wish you many, many good lucks for a long, long time.
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