One thing led to another. I have written a response to another one of Mr. Li Yi's editorials. The original editorial, entitled "京奧閉幕，中國向世界傳達甚麼訊息", could be found here: http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080823&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=15333&art_id=11511331&cat_id=32&coln_id=93. Go and have a look if you are interested. If you can't access it by the link, try finding it on the Apple Daily on 23 Aug.
My response, which has been posted onto Apple Daily's forum site, is as follow:
奥运会和所有的大型国际性活动，都是宣传一个国家或者城市的机会。 中国和北京用这样的机会来宣传自己，绝无不妥。 外国传媒，以致国内外的很多华人（包括鸟巢的原设计师艾未未）所诟病的，不是中国去宣传自己的好，因为我相信，没有几个人是对中国的好不满的。 他们不满的，让李怡描述中的英国老太太流泪的，是为了达到完美，有太多过犹不及（overkill）的措施，和这些措施所带来的“伪”。
很多的措施，包括签证上的限制，过度的交通管制，都让外国人甚至本地人没有办法真正的享受奥运，认识中国。 这些伪都违反了中国人，甚至全人类追求真善美的本性。那个国际城市没有劳动阶层？ 但北京就估计有1百万到2百万的外地劳工在奥运前给送回老家，最少会有2-3个月，不能工作，没有正常的收入。 那个小孩子不会换牙齿？ 有几个小孩在换牙后，牙齿能够全部是整整齐齐的呢？ 为了确保开幕式顺利进行，不出差错，很多的演员都被要求要穿纸尿片，不许随便离开岗位上厕所，这甚至是扭曲了人类的身体本能需求。
这些伪都埋没了人性的真，甚至破坏了社会应有的和谐。 跟北京奥运所宣扬的“同一个世界，同一个梦想”伟大理念，来得格格不入。 因为它破坏的是最根本的东西，所以也盖过了中国和中国人民在这次奥运会里表达出来的一些优良特质。
昨天晚上，我的家人有幸能在水立方里欣赏男子10米高台跳水的初赛，就亲眼看见很让人感动的一幕。 北韩的选手在第三到第五跳里都严重失误，第五跳只拿到二十几分，累积分数排在30个选手的最后，是绝对不可能进入复赛的了。 第六跳的时候，他踏上跳板，全场的观众却以雷动的掌声为这个没有任何奖牌机会的运动员鼓励打气， 结果他的这一跳得了83.3分。
我愿意相信，这些掌声不应该是由国家组织而来的，是中国人素质提高的一个表现。 我更愿意相信，在这次奥运会中，应该是出现过更多类似这种让人动容的场面的，这些都是奥运里应该让世人看见的人性的美。 但很可惜的是，中国以致于香港的电视台，都只是侧重播映一幕一幕中国运动员夺金的光辉时刻，也就把这些真这些美都埋没下去了！
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Nice hair!
As you may have expected, some people here got pretty excited about the Olympics. And some are enthusiastic enough to show them... on their kids' hairstyle... 
If I ever dare to do something like this on my son's hair, he will disown me in no time... I have no doubt!
Well, it didn't work on small details...
A lot of people were surprised by CHEN Zhong's (陈中) and ZHOU Lu Xin's (周吕鑫) loss.
OK, my crytal ball doesn't work on small details. But China did get its 51st gold medal.
You got to agree that the last dive by Australian Matthew Mitcham was owesome! I think he deserved the gold medal!
OK, my crytal ball doesn't work on small details. But China did get its 51st gold medal.
You got to agree that the last dive by Australian Matthew Mitcham was owesome! I think he deserved the gold medal!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
My crystal ball works, no doubt!
As of tonight, China has won 47 gold medals. It’s probably still too early to say, but it doesn’t appear that USA can get anywhere close to this number in Beijing. There are at least 2 more gold medals that China has more than a good chance to win: Men’s Table Tennis, and Men 10m Board Diving. If veteran Taekwondo athletes CHEN Zhong (陈中) can keep up with her previous record and win gold in the Women over 67kg competition, China’s gold medal count will hit 50.
This will be the highest number of gold medals won by a county since Seoul 1988 (Soviet Union won 55 that year). There are a lot of hypes lately on how China is beating USA in the number of gold medals. I, however, never thought that much of USA’s so called “leadership” position on the medal chart.
Since Soviet Union began to participate in the Summer Olympics in 1952, until its last participation as “Former Soviet Union” in 1992, USA had only won more gold than Soviet Union twice, in 1952 (Helsinki) and 1968 (Mexico City). As a matter of fact, USA has never won more than 45 gold medals (in Mexico City, 1968) in any Summer games other than Los Angeles in 1984 (USA got 80, as the game was boycotted by the Soviet Block). Therefore, if the Americans have dominated the summer games in any way, we are talking about only 3 Olympics in recent history: 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens). So, what’s the big deal?
46 seems like a big number. But honestly, I’m not very surprised by the result. It might sound like hindsight 20-20. But I know that was coming. I think having Beijing as the host city has only brought that forward by a little bit.
I can further predict: China will win even more medals in London in 2012. If things remain how it is, China will dominate the gold medal chart in all the Olympics from this point on.
You don’t think so? I have a lot of good reasons to believe this:
(a) The large population pool: YAO Ming was interviewed by China Daily after the Chinese Men Basketball Team’s loss to Lithuania. He made a remark that could be seen as very arrogant to some. He said that 45 gold medals (the count when he was interviewed) was a historical number for China’s participation in the Olympics, but if you see that in the perspective of a 1.3 billion population, the number is actually very small. What Yao said in fact makes a lot of sense. With a 1.3 billion population pool, China has the advantage of finding the best talents in practically any sports.
(b) State Planning: While most of the western countries’ government might have departments responsible for sports, they only play a coordination role. China has a State Sports Bureau (国家体育总局) to plan and run Sports as an enterprise. On top of managing the “sustainable development” of many sports in China, the bureau will also identify sport that has a high potential to be developed. It will then source and recruit the talents and develop a training program. You can certainly see that China is emerging fast in some newer Olympic sports like Beach Volleyball, Taekwundo and Synchronized Swimming in the recent years. When it comes to the time of international competitions, the Bureau will strategize and coordinate the best ways to enhance China’s chances for gold medals. The “double insurance” strategy (双保险, which means having at least 2 athletes getting into the quarterfinals or final round of some of the events) in Beijing Olympics is a very good example.
(c) Intensive training at young age: A lot of the identified sports talents in China are sent to Sports Schools (体育学校) for training at a very young age. Most of the young Chinese gymnasts and divers have left their families when they were only 6 or 7 years old. Other than Cuba and North Korea, I can’t think of another country that put athletes through this kind of immersive and intensive training at such a young age. (The Soviet block countries used to do this. But I would doubt if Russia and other Eastern European countries are still doing this in large scale nowadays.) Practically speaking, Chinese athletes have received intensive training 3-5 years earlier than their western counterparts, and have become full time athletes 5-10 years earlier.
(d) Financial resources: While most of the western countries are relying on corporate sponsorship and commercial endorsement to support the athletes’ living and training, China is fully backing sports development with government money. Billions of yuan are put into training program and research every year.
Lo and behold. China will top the medal chart again in 2012, 2016, 2020…
Trust me, my crystal ball does work.
But who would need one for this, anyway…
By the way, New York Times has produced a very interesting and informative chart to show the medal standing in all of the previous modern Olympics. Go and take a look…
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html
This will be the highest number of gold medals won by a county since Seoul 1988 (Soviet Union won 55 that year). There are a lot of hypes lately on how China is beating USA in the number of gold medals. I, however, never thought that much of USA’s so called “leadership” position on the medal chart.
Since Soviet Union began to participate in the Summer Olympics in 1952, until its last participation as “Former Soviet Union” in 1992, USA had only won more gold than Soviet Union twice, in 1952 (Helsinki) and 1968 (Mexico City). As a matter of fact, USA has never won more than 45 gold medals (in Mexico City, 1968) in any Summer games other than Los Angeles in 1984 (USA got 80, as the game was boycotted by the Soviet Block). Therefore, if the Americans have dominated the summer games in any way, we are talking about only 3 Olympics in recent history: 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens). So, what’s the big deal?
46 seems like a big number. But honestly, I’m not very surprised by the result. It might sound like hindsight 20-20. But I know that was coming. I think having Beijing as the host city has only brought that forward by a little bit.
I can further predict: China will win even more medals in London in 2012. If things remain how it is, China will dominate the gold medal chart in all the Olympics from this point on.
You don’t think so? I have a lot of good reasons to believe this:
(a) The large population pool: YAO Ming was interviewed by China Daily after the Chinese Men Basketball Team’s loss to Lithuania. He made a remark that could be seen as very arrogant to some. He said that 45 gold medals (the count when he was interviewed) was a historical number for China’s participation in the Olympics, but if you see that in the perspective of a 1.3 billion population, the number is actually very small. What Yao said in fact makes a lot of sense. With a 1.3 billion population pool, China has the advantage of finding the best talents in practically any sports.
(b) State Planning: While most of the western countries’ government might have departments responsible for sports, they only play a coordination role. China has a State Sports Bureau (国家体育总局) to plan and run Sports as an enterprise. On top of managing the “sustainable development” of many sports in China, the bureau will also identify sport that has a high potential to be developed. It will then source and recruit the talents and develop a training program. You can certainly see that China is emerging fast in some newer Olympic sports like Beach Volleyball, Taekwundo and Synchronized Swimming in the recent years. When it comes to the time of international competitions, the Bureau will strategize and coordinate the best ways to enhance China’s chances for gold medals. The “double insurance” strategy (双保险, which means having at least 2 athletes getting into the quarterfinals or final round of some of the events) in Beijing Olympics is a very good example.
(c) Intensive training at young age: A lot of the identified sports talents in China are sent to Sports Schools (体育学校) for training at a very young age. Most of the young Chinese gymnasts and divers have left their families when they were only 6 or 7 years old. Other than Cuba and North Korea, I can’t think of another country that put athletes through this kind of immersive and intensive training at such a young age. (The Soviet block countries used to do this. But I would doubt if Russia and other Eastern European countries are still doing this in large scale nowadays.) Practically speaking, Chinese athletes have received intensive training 3-5 years earlier than their western counterparts, and have become full time athletes 5-10 years earlier.
(d) Financial resources: While most of the western countries are relying on corporate sponsorship and commercial endorsement to support the athletes’ living and training, China is fully backing sports development with government money. Billions of yuan are put into training program and research every year.
Lo and behold. China will top the medal chart again in 2012, 2016, 2020…
Trust me, my crystal ball does work.
But who would need one for this, anyway…
By the way, New York Times has produced a very interesting and informative chart to show the medal standing in all of the previous modern Olympics. Go and take a look…
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html
Thursday, August 21, 2008
My response to Mr. Li Yi's Editorial on today's Apple Daily
I have been a long time reader of Mr. Li Yi (李怡). Had thought about writing a response many times, but never come around to do it. Having read his editorial on Apple Daily (苹果日报) today, I found the tone and message to be very much in line with what I have written in the last couple of days. So I have decided to post a response on Apple Daily's forum.
Feeling lazy, I have just copied the response here as my latest entry. Unfortunately, I can't copy the original editorial here without contravening copyrights regulations. But if you are living outside Hong Kong, I think you can just go to Apple Daily's website to have a look (http://www.appledaily.atnext.com) .
I'm sorry that it was written in Chinese only. If I ever find time, I will translate it into English, OK?
我在香港出生，在多伦多住了17年，然后过去8年都在国内工作居住，先后住过上海，广州，和现在的北京。
要说体育活动，上面有一位朋友说的也没有不对。有些体育项目，在加拿大要租用场地是不一定比香港容易的。 而且因为营运成本比较高，虽然政府已经有补助，所收的费用还是不低。
但加拿大，美国这些西方国家，跟现在中国所谓推动体育活动的方式，最大分别之处，依具具在下的愚见，是外国推动的，是一种参与体育的风气，体育是一种游戏，是有趣，开心健康的事，每个人都可以参与，甚至在某个程度上，每一个人都必须参与学习一点（因为每个人都要上学）。当然，到一个人的潜质被发现了，要在竞赛的层面参与的时候，所要面对的培训过程，就跟平常的人，会很不一样了。
但李怡先生说的没太大的错误，中国现在所谓推动体育的方式，就有很大的不同。我相信，在当今的世界里，除了古巴之外，也没有几个国家，好像中国一样，从6-7岁开始（甚至更早开始），把小孩作封闭式的训练的了。（以前的苏联和东欧共产国家肯定有，现在的俄罗斯和共产解体后的东欧国家还有没有，我就不太敢说。） 严格来说，这些小孩，比外国的运动员，早了最少3-5年就接受严格训练，甚至是早了5-10年就成为全职运动员了。
小孩子在成长中最需要父母的日子里，离开家庭，离乡别井的，面对严格艰苦的训练，对小孩子的成长，他们跟家人的关系，都有一定的影响，很多的体育精英都没有办法和时间接受正规的教育，和没有同年龄小孩的社交生活，那就更加不用说了。
这种现象，做成社会里的两种回应。 有小部分的家长，认定在现在竞争激烈的社会里，在体育上发展可能是小孩能够出人头地的唯一机会，就拼命的要把小孩弄进这些体育学校里，甚至托关系走后门也在所不惜。 但有更多的家长，特别是城市里的中产家庭，不愿意自己唯一的小孩过这种的生活，他们也意识到，能进体校接受培训是一回事，但假如最后没有给选上国家队，小孩就没有其他的技能和学问，要在其他领域发展，就很不容易了。所以，这些家长反而不愿意小孩花太多的时间在体育活动上，还是一切以学业为重。
中国能够一面一面的把金牌拿下来，作为中国人，我们当然地觉得兴奋。 但在我的心里，总禁不住的会问，在每一个金牌的背后，运动员和他们的家人所付上的代价，是不是太高了？ 这几天看着电视直播，我就很多次的跟我自己的小孩说，看见很多中国运动员，特别是那一班体操的小女孩，在有失误后拿不到金牌而流下的泪水，我的心就很不舒服。
北京的奥运搞得有声有色，多彩多姿，但在离开鸟巢不到45分钟车程的地方，我的小孩就拜访过一些学校，那里的小孩，每年每人的教育经费只可以是300元人民币，但学校和小孩的家庭，都没有能力负担。 300元，在这次的奥运里，连一张最便宜的半决赛黄牛票都买不到。
我们在香港和外国长大的一群，都理所当然的以为，在社会主义中国里，人民的生活应该都是有共产党政府的完善照顾的。事实却往往不一样。 一个平民老百姓，在大城市里，稍有严重的生病或者意外要进医院，那怕是只住一两天，不用动手术，也动不动就要一两千元的医药费。 但很多在北京，上海打工的外地人，每个月的工资也只有一两千块，还要供养家里的父母，照顾家人的生活。
我同意李怡先生的说法，这些，跟政府在体育项目，以致于举办奥运会中所投入的，实在不能成正比。
Feeling lazy, I have just copied the response here as my latest entry. Unfortunately, I can't copy the original editorial here without contravening copyrights regulations. But if you are living outside Hong Kong, I think you can just go to Apple Daily's website to have a look (http://www.appledaily.atnext.com) .
I'm sorry that it was written in Chinese only. If I ever find time, I will translate it into English, OK?
我在香港出生，在多伦多住了17年，然后过去8年都在国内工作居住，先后住过上海，广州，和现在的北京。
要说体育活动，上面有一位朋友说的也没有不对。有些体育项目，在加拿大要租用场地是不一定比香港容易的。 而且因为营运成本比较高，虽然政府已经有补助，所收的费用还是不低。
但加拿大，美国这些西方国家，跟现在中国所谓推动体育活动的方式，最大分别之处，依具具在下的愚见，是外国推动的，是一种参与体育的风气，体育是一种游戏，是有趣，开心健康的事，每个人都可以参与，甚至在某个程度上，每一个人都必须参与学习一点（因为每个人都要上学）。当然，到一个人的潜质被发现了，要在竞赛的层面参与的时候，所要面对的培训过程，就跟平常的人，会很不一样了。
但李怡先生说的没太大的错误，中国现在所谓推动体育的方式，就有很大的不同。我相信，在当今的世界里，除了古巴之外，也没有几个国家，好像中国一样，从6-7岁开始（甚至更早开始），把小孩作封闭式的训练的了。（以前的苏联和东欧共产国家肯定有，现在的俄罗斯和共产解体后的东欧国家还有没有，我就不太敢说。） 严格来说，这些小孩，比外国的运动员，早了最少3-5年就接受严格训练，甚至是早了5-10年就成为全职运动员了。
小孩子在成长中最需要父母的日子里，离开家庭，离乡别井的，面对严格艰苦的训练，对小孩子的成长，他们跟家人的关系，都有一定的影响，很多的体育精英都没有办法和时间接受正规的教育，和没有同年龄小孩的社交生活，那就更加不用说了。
这种现象，做成社会里的两种回应。 有小部分的家长，认定在现在竞争激烈的社会里，在体育上发展可能是小孩能够出人头地的唯一机会，就拼命的要把小孩弄进这些体育学校里，甚至托关系走后门也在所不惜。 但有更多的家长，特别是城市里的中产家庭，不愿意自己唯一的小孩过这种的生活，他们也意识到，能进体校接受培训是一回事，但假如最后没有给选上国家队，小孩就没有其他的技能和学问，要在其他领域发展，就很不容易了。所以，这些家长反而不愿意小孩花太多的时间在体育活动上，还是一切以学业为重。
中国能够一面一面的把金牌拿下来，作为中国人，我们当然地觉得兴奋。 但在我的心里，总禁不住的会问，在每一个金牌的背后，运动员和他们的家人所付上的代价，是不是太高了？ 这几天看着电视直播，我就很多次的跟我自己的小孩说，看见很多中国运动员，特别是那一班体操的小女孩，在有失误后拿不到金牌而流下的泪水，我的心就很不舒服。
北京的奥运搞得有声有色，多彩多姿，但在离开鸟巢不到45分钟车程的地方，我的小孩就拜访过一些学校，那里的小孩，每年每人的教育经费只可以是300元人民币，但学校和小孩的家庭，都没有能力负担。 300元，在这次的奥运里，连一张最便宜的半决赛黄牛票都买不到。
我们在香港和外国长大的一群，都理所当然的以为，在社会主义中国里，人民的生活应该都是有共产党政府的完善照顾的。事实却往往不一样。 一个平民老百姓，在大城市里，稍有严重的生病或者意外要进医院，那怕是只住一两天，不用动手术，也动不动就要一两千元的医药费。 但很多在北京，上海打工的外地人，每个月的工资也只有一两千块，还要供养家里的父母，照顾家人的生活。
我同意李怡先生的说法，这些，跟政府在体育项目，以致于举办奥运会中所投入的，实在不能成正比。
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SOE
The very young and very cute HE Ke Xin (何可欣) has performed an almost faultless sequence to win the Uneven Bars last night. Her skills and confidence is indisputable. Unfortunately, her age is.
Since He's first appearance in the Beijing Olympics, the controversies surrounding her age have never stopped. Foreign media and Chinese bloggers managed to find news reports back in Nov 2007 that stated He was 13 when she won the Uneven Bars event in the 6th China Intercities Sports Meet.
Beijing Olympics is China's long awaited opportunity to proof to the rest of the world that China is the new super power, and to showcase its achievement after twenty some years of reform and open policies. China has changed a lot in the last 2 decades, but sports is still a State-owned Enterprise ("SOE").
Because it's a SOE, the country has to do everything it can to make sure the enterprise is successful.
Because it's a SOE, it doesn't matter if children are required to leave their families in the ages of 7 or 8 to join training schools thousands of kilometres away. Some would not see their families for many years.
Because it's a SOE, Judo Gold Medalist XIAN Dong Mei (冼东妹) had to leave her 4 months old daughter with her husband when she was recalled to the national team. When Xian's husband brought the daughter to Beijing to visit her last month, she saw and held her little daughter for the first time in close to 2 years.
Because it's a SOE, Weightlifter CAO Lei (曹磊) was told by her coach only after the gold medal has been secured that her mother had died 2 months ago.
Because it's a SOE, LIU Xiang (刘翔) and his coach would need to explain so many times and justify for pulling out of the race, despite almost the entire world could see how painful and frustrated Liu was when he moved up to the starting point. Liu has in fact never fully recovered after he pulled out of the Reebok Grand Prix in May 2008 in New York.
Because it's a SOE, China has stressed over and over again that they need double insurance (双保险) (getting at least 2 athletes into the final round or quarter final) in most of the traditionally China-dominant events like badminton, table tennis, and diving, so as to minimize China's chance of "losing" the gold medal.
Because it's a SOE, CHEN Qi Gang (陈其纲), Music Director of the Opening Ceremony could tell the world very proudly that YANG Pei Er (杨沛儿) was not selected to sing on stage out of consideration of "the country's image" (国家形象) and "national interest" (国家利益).
If sports is in fact an enterprise, China has been more than successful in this year's Olympics. As of tonight, 43 gold medals have been won, already the highest number in China's or any Asian country's history. It appears more and more likely China will win more gold medals than USA in Beijing.
But one has to ask, what is the price that the athletes are paying? What does it mean to the next generation of Chinese?
By the way, most fans of GUO Jing Jing (郭晶晶） would likely have missed a rare documentary aired on CCTV last night. It showed footage of Guo's home and private life, including the showing of a picture of her and Kenneth Fok (霍启刚) on her bookshelf. The documentary actually began with an interview with Guo right after her winning dive on 17 Aug. "Where is your lover? Is he here to watch you dive?" the reported asked. With just a little bit of hesitation, Guo answered "I think he is somewhere outside".
It's rather rare that official Chinese media would become so high profile about a sport star's love life. The documentary is made and aired for a reason.
It's still a stated-own enterprise. China might have changed a lot since the 50's and 60's. But if you are working in the SOE called "Sports", your love life and your marriage are still a matter of the state. The state will need to "approve" that and make the appropriate announcement for you.
Since He's first appearance in the Beijing Olympics, the controversies surrounding her age have never stopped. Foreign media and Chinese bloggers managed to find news reports back in Nov 2007 that stated He was 13 when she won the Uneven Bars event in the 6th China Intercities Sports Meet.
Beijing Olympics is China's long awaited opportunity to proof to the rest of the world that China is the new super power, and to showcase its achievement after twenty some years of reform and open policies. China has changed a lot in the last 2 decades, but sports is still a State-owned Enterprise ("SOE").
Because it's a SOE, the country has to do everything it can to make sure the enterprise is successful.
Because it's a SOE, it doesn't matter if children are required to leave their families in the ages of 7 or 8 to join training schools thousands of kilometres away. Some would not see their families for many years.
Because it's a SOE, Judo Gold Medalist XIAN Dong Mei (冼东妹) had to leave her 4 months old daughter with her husband when she was recalled to the national team. When Xian's husband brought the daughter to Beijing to visit her last month, she saw and held her little daughter for the first time in close to 2 years.
Because it's a SOE, Weightlifter CAO Lei (曹磊) was told by her coach only after the gold medal has been secured that her mother had died 2 months ago.
Because it's a SOE, LIU Xiang (刘翔) and his coach would need to explain so many times and justify for pulling out of the race, despite almost the entire world could see how painful and frustrated Liu was when he moved up to the starting point. Liu has in fact never fully recovered after he pulled out of the Reebok Grand Prix in May 2008 in New York.
Because it's a SOE, China has stressed over and over again that they need double insurance (双保险) (getting at least 2 athletes into the final round or quarter final) in most of the traditionally China-dominant events like badminton, table tennis, and diving, so as to minimize China's chance of "losing" the gold medal.
Because it's a SOE, CHEN Qi Gang (陈其纲), Music Director of the Opening Ceremony could tell the world very proudly that YANG Pei Er (杨沛儿) was not selected to sing on stage out of consideration of "the country's image" (国家形象) and "national interest" (国家利益).
If sports is in fact an enterprise, China has been more than successful in this year's Olympics. As of tonight, 43 gold medals have been won, already the highest number in China's or any Asian country's history. It appears more and more likely China will win more gold medals than USA in Beijing.
But one has to ask, what is the price that the athletes are paying? What does it mean to the next generation of Chinese?
By the way, most fans of GUO Jing Jing (郭晶晶） would likely have missed a rare documentary aired on CCTV last night. It showed footage of Guo's home and private life, including the showing of a picture of her and Kenneth Fok (霍启刚) on her bookshelf. The documentary actually began with an interview with Guo right after her winning dive on 17 Aug. "Where is your lover? Is he here to watch you dive?" the reported asked. With just a little bit of hesitation, Guo answered "I think he is somewhere outside".
It's rather rare that official Chinese media would become so high profile about a sport star's love life. The documentary is made and aired for a reason.
It's still a stated-own enterprise. China might have changed a lot since the 50's and 60's. But if you are working in the SOE called "Sports", your love life and your marriage are still a matter of the state. The state will need to "approve" that and make the appropriate announcement for you.
Monday, August 18, 2008
So he has pulled out...
08/08/2008: "All" Chinese were (well, at least I was told all Chinese were) cheering for the Opening of Beijing Olympics.
18/08/2008: "All" Chinese were (again, I was told the entire nation was) mourning for LIU Xiang's withdrawal from the 110 Hurdles race.
But wait a minute... after all, isn't that just another athlete who has to quit a race because of injury? Don't we have quite a few athletes who had no choice but to do the same in every Olympic game? Did Allen Johnson, who was Liu's primary rivalry, not crash himself into a hurdle and fell in the second round in the 2004 Athens Olympics? And on the 5th heat today, did the 2-time silver medalist (Sydney and Athens) Terrence Trammell also hurt his leg at start and needed to pull out? I don't recall the entire nation of USA mourning for their heroes...
Don't get me wrong. I too feel very bad for Liu, and any other athlete, who put so much time and efforts preparing for an important race but ended up having to pull out in such a reluctant and disappointing way. It is a pity, without a doubt. His fans will be saddened, no question.
Yet as important as it is, Olympics is just one of many important races that Liu has run. Pulling himself out of this race does not equal to the finish of his career.
A race car driver will need to stop his car if there is a mechanical failure. An equestrian will need to pull out of a race if her horse is sick. A singer will need to cancel a concert if he loses his voice. As a hurdles runner, it makes a lot of sense for Liu to pull out of a race if his leg was hurt. As a matter of fact, it would have made even more sense if Liu has announced earlier that he could not compete because of the injury.
What doesn’t make sense was the release of footage by CCTV a few days ago which stated that Liu was practicing in good spirit and had clocked 12.98 seconds in a practice run.
And when he has made such a decision, neither Liu nor anyone should need to justify for his decision.
But first we heard that he needed to be cared for by 3 doctors this morning.
Then the coach said Liu actually had injuries all over his body.
Then the coach went on to tell us that Liu has been persevering through the injury on his ankle for at least 6-7 years. (That would mean Liu was also in pain when he won the gold medal in Athens and broke the world record in Lausanne.)
All these were said almost to sound like that “despite he has had the injury for 6-7 years, and he had other injuries all over his body, and he had been seen by 3 doctors this morning, Liu really should have given that a try, but we are really sorry that he couldn’t…”
Give him a break…
Liu has not betrayed his country. He has not disappointed his fans. He is just doing something that is sensible and responsible. Nobody needs to make it sounds like he has dropped the ball.
No he hasn’t. The ball was not in his hands, not quite yet.
18/08/2008: "All" Chinese were (again, I was told the entire nation was) mourning for LIU Xiang's withdrawal from the 110 Hurdles race.
But wait a minute... after all, isn't that just another athlete who has to quit a race because of injury? Don't we have quite a few athletes who had no choice but to do the same in every Olympic game? Did Allen Johnson, who was Liu's primary rivalry, not crash himself into a hurdle and fell in the second round in the 2004 Athens Olympics? And on the 5th heat today, did the 2-time silver medalist (Sydney and Athens) Terrence Trammell also hurt his leg at start and needed to pull out? I don't recall the entire nation of USA mourning for their heroes...
Don't get me wrong. I too feel very bad for Liu, and any other athlete, who put so much time and efforts preparing for an important race but ended up having to pull out in such a reluctant and disappointing way. It is a pity, without a doubt. His fans will be saddened, no question.
Yet as important as it is, Olympics is just one of many important races that Liu has run. Pulling himself out of this race does not equal to the finish of his career.
A race car driver will need to stop his car if there is a mechanical failure. An equestrian will need to pull out of a race if her horse is sick. A singer will need to cancel a concert if he loses his voice. As a hurdles runner, it makes a lot of sense for Liu to pull out of a race if his leg was hurt. As a matter of fact, it would have made even more sense if Liu has announced earlier that he could not compete because of the injury.
What doesn’t make sense was the release of footage by CCTV a few days ago which stated that Liu was practicing in good spirit and had clocked 12.98 seconds in a practice run.
And when he has made such a decision, neither Liu nor anyone should need to justify for his decision.
But first we heard that he needed to be cared for by 3 doctors this morning.
Then the coach said Liu actually had injuries all over his body.
Then the coach went on to tell us that Liu has been persevering through the injury on his ankle for at least 6-7 years. (That would mean Liu was also in pain when he won the gold medal in Athens and broke the world record in Lausanne.)
All these were said almost to sound like that “despite he has had the injury for 6-7 years, and he had other injuries all over his body, and he had been seen by 3 doctors this morning, Liu really should have given that a try, but we are really sorry that he couldn’t…”
Give him a break…
Liu has not betrayed his country. He has not disappointed his fans. He is just doing something that is sensible and responsible. Nobody needs to make it sounds like he has dropped the ball.
No he hasn’t. The ball was not in his hands, not quite yet.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
In the beginning
Is this a beginning? Or is this a beginning to the end?
I have started a blog before but failed to continue after a short while. For that, I could blame it on the fact that particularly blogging site has been censored in China. No access, no update.
After which I have thought about starting another one many times, but have always been too busy, or felt that I was too busy.
Yet a question keeps popping up in my head in the last 8 years that I have lived in China -- how do I capture and share the feeling of living here, the challenges that I face, the frustrations that I experienced, the love-hate relationship with the environment, people, traffic, weather, service, the...
The list can just go on and on. This might just be a channel to vent or a window to share. The views might be shared by some or none. Some might be too emotional, some might not be logical enough. But it is a place to share, with a hope to generate positive and interesting discussion.
So, give me a chance, and let's begin...
I have started a blog before but failed to continue after a short while. For that, I could blame it on the fact that particularly blogging site has been censored in China. No access, no update.
After which I have thought about starting another one many times, but have always been too busy, or felt that I was too busy.
Yet a question keeps popping up in my head in the last 8 years that I have lived in China -- how do I capture and share the feeling of living here, the challenges that I face, the frustrations that I experienced, the love-hate relationship with the environment, people, traffic, weather, service, the...
The list can just go on and on. This might just be a channel to vent or a window to share. The views might be shared by some or none. Some might be too emotional, some might not be logical enough. But it is a place to share, with a hope to generate positive and interesting discussion.
So, give me a chance, and let's begin...
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