Olympics

Chazal Aurélie Major : Eco Université Blaise Pascal

Beijing Olympics : A modern country built on strong traditional values

The 2008 Olympics held in Beijing are often considered to be the event showing to the

World the power of modern China. But it was also a really good medium for the country to

introduce its traditional culture as the event was broadcasted worldwide. I chose this topic because I

was not studying Chinese yet when the Olympics took place and they therefore represent my first

real glance at Chinese Culture. I remember following the event on TV and being really impressed

by the the organisation as well as all the efforts made by China to giver a good image of the

country. After studying Chinese and living for a few month in China I find it really interesting to

talk about the Olympics as they represent at the same time Chinese proudness about their country

traditional culture and modernity and fast development. It is also a really good way to learn more

about Chinese symbols as everything from the date of the event to the logo have a meaning for

Chinese people.

First of all, the year of the Olympics was a happy coincidence as the number 8 is the luckiest

number in China as it sounds like growth with prosperity. The opening ceremony began at 8:08:08

pm on the 8th of August, but at the same time thousands of couples were also getting married both

because of the number 8 and the fact that the first Olympics held in China were a once in a lifetime

event celebrating the greatness of the country. The time was perfect but the opening ceremony also

had to live up to the expectations. The preparations were hold secretly and the famous Chinese film

director, Zhang Yimou. The show offered during the ceremony mixed traditional Chinese culture

and high tech. The ceremony began with Confucius saying : "Friends have come from afar, how

happy we are." and ancient percussion instruments performers called the Fous. Zhang Yimou

explained he wanted to build the show around Chinese history but also wanted to keep it simple so


that people from all over the world could get the message. China clearly showed its will to welcome

foreigners and make them discover Chinese culture. The idea of harmony was also conveyed

throughout the ceremony by the appearance of the ancient Chinese character 和.

Harmony is really important to Chinese people and find its root on Confucius idea of

humanism. The slogan of the Olympics : «One world, one dream» also refers to a united and

harmonious world. The concept behind the slogan stick to the value of the Olympic games which

are supposed to be a moment of sharing and competing fairly between all the countries in the

World, putting all wars and tensions aside. «One world, one dream» also reflects the three concepts

adopted for the Beijing Olympics : «Green Olympics, High Tech Olympics and Peolple’s

Olympics». China here shows its will to develop and still respect the environment even there is still

a lot of work to do in that matter. The Olympics were a way to show the World that progress are

being made by the government towards the protection of the environment, by using green cars and

developing environmental friendly installations for the Olympic village. Those efforts for a greener

China reminds us that Chinese people have always had a strong connection with nature as we can

see with the Feng shui concept still followed by the population in their daily life. The goal of

developing Green Olympics was to show the World the efforts made but also to raise the population

awareness towards this matter.

We also find representation of Nature in the mascots of the Olympics or the «Fuwa» which

are full of ancient Chinese symbols following Chinese tradition to spread good wishes throughout

symbols. Each mascot represent a natural element, an animal, an Olympic ring and together they

symbolise unity and harmony. They each have a name formed by riming two syllables names :

Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini, if we take the first syllable of each name we have

the sentence : «Beijing huan ying ni» which means «Beijing welcomes you» in Chinese.


Blue Olympic ring Black Olympic ring Yellow Olympic ring Green Olympic ring Red Olympic ring
Water Forest Earth Sky Fire
Fish Panda Antelope Swallow Olympic ﬂame
Prosperity Happiness Health, Strengh Good-luck Passion
Protection of nature Tibet Olympic spirit

In the way they are designed all the mascots also refers to traditional Chinese culture : the water

waves on Beibei are taken from ancient chinese paintings, the lotus on Jingjing comes from

porcelain of the Song Dynasty, the fire of Huanhuan are drawn from Dunhuang murals, decorations

on Yingying head come from Tibet and western China in general and finally the design of Nini

reminds us of traditional kite designs.

They are full of symbols and meaning referring to Chinese culture but their friendly faces and

simple graphics representation can also be easily interpreted by foreigners as welcoming creatures

representing unity.

All the Olympics were about welcoming «friends from foreign countries» and let them have

a good image of China. I have covered the main displays of traditional culture and I am now going

to talk about the modernity of these Olympics. The whole world was mesmerised by the perfection

of the opening ceremony but also by the modernity of the Olympic sites. The «bird’s nest» is know

to be one of most remarkable piece of architecture and represents the craving for originality in

architecture that we can find all over Beijing and every big city in China. The fast building of the

Olympics infrastructure also shows the always moving landscape in Chinese city. Moreover for

most of the World it represented the rising power of China displaying its wealth and modernity. I

remember having conversations in France about how China was going to be the next World leader.


The main feeling after the Olympics was that everyone remained really impressed by Chinese

performance both in welcoming people and shining on the tracks by wining the most gold medals.

The Beijing Olympics were the most widely broadcasted of all time and attracted the most

viewers. It was a perfect occasion for the rising power that is China to show the World the greatness

of the country. The Olympics also painted Chinese people really proud about their culture, happy to

welcome foreigners and present them with their culture. Even if their were boycotts and critics

among western countries concerning Chinese position towards human rights, the Olympics will be

reminded as mind-blowing and perfectly organised. Also the messages of unity and harmony

conveyed during the Games helped bringing nations together in a friendly atmosphere. The 2008

Olympics will always be remembered as a perfect display of China as e rising powerful country

with a rich history and represent a friendly invite to the world to come discover China as the open

arms of the red 京 (capital city) logo represent.


References :

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2008-08/08/content_9053273.htm>.

"Essential Knowledge of Beijing Olympic Games, Symbol, China." China Travel, China Travel Agency W/ Tour

Packages, 24/7 Service. TravelChinaGuide.com. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

beijing-olympic/knowledge.htm>.

Fixmer, Andy. "Beijing Olympics Attracted Most Viewers, Nielsen Says." Bloomberg - Business & Financial News,

Breaking News Headlines. BLOOMBERG L.P, 5 Sept. 2008. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://

www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory>.

"JO 2008: La Culture Chinoise à L'honneur_french.china.org.cn." Centre D'Informations Internet De Chine. China

Internet Information Center. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://french.china.org.cn/archives/JO2008/cc/

node_7049427.htm>.

"Le monde entier connaît mieux la culture chinoise à travers les Jeux Olympiques." Le Quotidien Du Peuple En Ligne.

17 June 2008. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://french.peopledaily.com.cn/Horizon/6431883.html>.

Lubow, Arthur. "The China Syndrome." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. The New

York Times Company, 19 Dec. 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/magazine/

21bejing.html?_r=1>.

McCabe, Aileen. "CHINA'S LUCKY DATE." Canada.com. Postmedia Network Inc., 8 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=01040f4b-7c78-42f2-91e4-2f5ba3cc6c9e>.

"'One World One Dream'" The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The Beijing Organizing Committee

for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/

graphic/n214068253.shtml>.


PRLog. "Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games Tells the Facts of Chinese Culture | PRLog." Free Press

Release Distribution Service - PRLog. 12 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. <http://www.prlog.org/10103541-

opening-ceremony-of-beijing-olympic-games-tells-the-facts-of-chinese-culture.html>.

Rabinovitch, Simon. "Beijing Games to Be Costliest, but No Debt Legacy | Reuters." Business & Financial News,

Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com. Thomson Reuters, 05 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/05/us-olympics-cost-idUSPEK25823820080805>.

"Volkswagen Claims ‘Green’ Medal at 2008 Olympic Games." AUSmotive.com. 2 Aug. 2008. Web. 20 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/08/02/volkswagen-claims-green-medal-at-2008-olympic-games-in-

beijing.html>.

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