Olympics - The Aftermath

The 2008 Olympics was one of the most eagerly anticipated events for the world, but most especially for the world’s most populous country. The two weeks of athletic competitions were preceded by never-ending worries, worries over security, air quality, political demonstrations, people’s rights, populace’s behavior, and all sorts of matters big and small. Marred slightly by events that could probably be counted on one hand, the entire nation of China, and indeed its leaders, breathed a sigh of relief as the Olympic flame was finally snuffed out. But with all this hype, was the event a “success”?

From the point of view of putting China out there, of “showing off” the country and how far it’s come in the last couple of decades, the Olympics definitely were a success. From the awe-inspiring opening ceremony, to the near flawless execution of events and logistics, China did show the world that it could pull off something of such difficulty. Performers dancing in lock-step, volunteers flawlessly smiling, and China’s athletes carrying home medal after medal, the Olympics did show off how far China has come.

But it wasn’t really the real China that its citizens know. In the recent months and years, the Chinese government has in a sense built a façade over the reality. Everything had to be perfect for the Olympics, and unfortunately, Beijing is imperfect naturally. People were displaced from their homes, which had been the family’s for generations; cars were forced off the street to clean the air to a level never seen before this year; and the official Olympics buildings were sectioned off as small islands of modern perfection in the midst of a sprawling city, poor in many places.

The Chinese people certainly have something to be proud of now, but how many are thinking that the Olympics have been an absolutely hectic time, with little true long-term benefit for China? How many Chinese citizens have been displaced for stadiums and buildings that will probably never again be used for such an important event? From the average citizen, to performers in the various ceremonies, to volunteers and cheerleaders, and to Chinese athletes, everybody has been through the psychological stress and the trying times, all for these Olympics.

Whether the Olympics end up being economically profitable for China is not a concern. But the event did show the world one facet of the enormously complex China, a facet that is capable of keeping up with the rest of the developed world, a facet that can utilize its manpower and its technology to achieve wonders, a facet that can play a major role in the world. This facet isn’t all of China though, and it certainly is not the facet that the ordinary Chinese experience and live every day.

-Allen