Good Graces in the Olympics

With the conclusion of the Olympic Games, China has had its coming out party it wanted. As host of the Olympics, China had executed 16 days of near-flawless logistics and made no doubt that it can hold such great events.

The spectacular closing ceremony is a little like the opening ceremony, a little too much, but it is over and all eyes will be on London, host of the 2012 Games. With the Games over, China can report their biggest medal haul in Olympic history, topping the gold medal table for the first time in history. Overall, it has been an excellent performance by China.

But it is not one without its blemishes. The internet flaming of Liu Xiang was a joke. The man was clearly injured! He had been injured for months and the injury couldn’t clear up for the Olympics. I can’t understand what’s wrong with the Chinese people blaming him for pulling out when he was injured.

That however was nothing compare to the ‘allegations’ that China field underage gymnasts in the gymnastics competition. I said ‘allegations’ because it’s quite clear to me at least one of the gymnasts is below 16. I know they are not the first country to do this (North Korea, Romania had also been sanctioned before for the same offence) but I think between the gymnastics and Liu Xiang incident, we can clear say that China had a ‘will’ to win.

However there is a thing as too much of a good thing. China, for all its’ success, seems to be a bad winner. The direct opposite of USA, who is a bad loser (they were ROBBED by judges, Usain Bolt and the Jamaicans are taking drugs), China seems to have a desire to win, no matter the methods!

For all its world-class venues and glitch-free organizing, China needs to learn something from the British. After the best showing for decades at an Olympics, there is still no chest thumping from the British. In fact, the British media cheekily call this Olympics “The Great Haul from China”. Newspapers came out with articles that said, “We are British, for heaven’s sake!”

When it comes to good graces this Olympics, the Brits came out tops.