Student Corner Looking Back 2008 Beijing Games
By Won Jung-eui
The Olympic Games were first held in 776 B.C. in Greece in an attempt to strengthen men's capacity as well as to train them for upcoming wars. Thousands of years later, the modernized Olympics started again in Athens, Greece, with the ideal of promoting international goodwill and peace.
In fact, many people all over the world hope that such international connections and sharing will pave the way toward the creation of common bonds. In addition, the host country gets a chance to develop itself economically. However, the 2008 Beijing Olympics left a few things behind that are somewhat disappointing.
First of all, China, the host country, did not fully accomplish the basic goal of the Olympics ― peace.
According to the Dalai Lama, an emotional prop of the Tibetan people, China killed 140 Tibetans during the Olympics for the accident-free success of the games. This is contradictory to a Beijing citizen's interview with local media, in which he said he was very satisfied with the event since China is now ready to wipe off the stigma of being a country that suppresses human rights.
I guess he has never read an overseas newspaper. The United States was concerned about this situation since an American traveler was killed in the Chinese capital. Unfortunately, more violence was conducted by Russia, which attacked Georgia during the opening ceremony with bombers and artillery.
Second, it was almost impossible for people who live in Beijing to feel free during the Olympics.
The Chinese government put their citizens under rigorous restrictions. Inspections were conducted in every part of the capital. The government also removed street vendors in order to show only the bright side of China. What's more, reporters and journalists were forced to write only good things about the country.
Third, China failed to wipe off its ``age-old'' stigma as a country packed with copycat products even during the international event.
The splendid fireworks of the opening ceremony were made by computer graphics. Children who were supposed to be from minorities were all of the Han race, the largest community in China. In addition, a pretty girl who sang a song in the opening ceremony lip-synced it. The voice turned out to be another girl's voice, whose appearance was thought to be not so good.
The Olympic can be judged successful only if it is accompanied with the cooperation of the general public. However, the 2008 Beijing Olympics were rather unsuccessful in this part.
Chinese spectators, who flocked to stadiums for Western-style archery, fencing and weight lifting, were also disrespectful. They yelled, blew whistles and even sang a song when a Chinese team was defeated. Furthermore, Chinese audiences left the stadium when star athlete Liu Xiang had to withdraw through injury.
There were many disappointing factors found during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, China is still ignoring the truth, rather it is emphasizing it was success.
Now, it is time for people around the world to think about the basic goal of the Olympics game, which is ``peace.'' We need to admit the greatness of medallist regardless of their nationality and medal color. Moreover, we need to applaud all athletes even though they didn't get any medal. Otherwise, the Olympics would remain to be a stage filled only with merciless competition.
Won Jung-eui is a senior at Soongeui Girls' High school in Seoul.