The international political disputes and human rights concerns surrounding the Beijing Winter Olympics have not bothered the Chinese, who have been closely following their favorite athletes, copping near-impossible event tickets and scouring stores for dwindling merchandise of the popular Olympic mascot, Bing Dwen Dwen.
Strict COVID-19 protocols have limited access to ceremonies and competitions and muted the excitement and economic boost the Olympics usually draw. Despite the unusual circumstances, Chinese fans watching from home have reacted with pride to the nationB次元官网网址檚 theatrical performances and athletic showing B次元官网网址� including a gold medal by Eileen Gu, an American-born freestyle skier with a Chinese mother.
But some, like Karri Wang, a 30-year-old cryptocurrency and equity investor who started snowboarding four years ago, believe theyB次元官网网址檝e missed the rare chance of being in the stands to watch the Games. As the pandemic dragged on, it became clear that getting into the closed loop of tightly regulated venues or obtaining a limited-release ticket would be out of reach for most.
B次元官网网址淚f I didnB次元官网网址檛 have a day job, IB次元官网网址檇 definitely be in the bubble,B次元官网网址� said Wang, a sentiment that he added was shared by friends in his snowboarding club. B次元官网网址淲e really want to be there, to be honest, regardless of the price.B次元官网网址�
Tana Zhang, a 32-year-old from Shanghai, posted on social media three times looking for tickets to see the opening ceremony or Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu compete. Though a few friends said they might have access to tickets through their companies, she was ultimately deterred by strict requirements for attendance, including quarantines before and after the event.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 quite think itB次元官网网址檚 absolutely necessary, but thatB次元官网网址檚 the rule and we just have to play by the book,B次元官网网址� Zhang said. B次元官网网址淵ou can imagine how frustrated I am. But this is life.B次元官网网址�
The event has given Beijing the distinction of being the only city to host both the Summer and Winter games. Though last weekB次元官网网址檚 opening ceremony was less of a blockbuster spectacle than the one that kicked off the 2008 Summer Olympics, it inspired enthusiasm and emotional reactions from viewers online, who saw it as a tribute to ChinaB次元官网网址檚 unique beauty.
B次元官网网址淎n entire nationality just bursting with pride! Love my China,B次元官网网址� one user on the countryB次元官网网址檚 Twitter-like social media platform Weibo wrote alongside photos of the event. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so moved I donB次元官网网址檛 know what to say,B次元官网网址� another commenter posted.
Such nationalistic fervor has been on the rise in recent years, much of it propelled by President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party. At the same time, the countryB次元官网网址檚 leadership is contending with an economic slowdown, high income inequality and a stagnating middle class, all of which have fueled discontent in some quarters at a moment the Beijing Games were meant to showcase ChinaB次元官网网址檚 prowess to the world.
Criticism of the party or XiB次元官网网址檚 projects B次元官网网址� he was deeply involved in planning the Games B次元官网网址� is often approached with caution. Still, not everyone on social media was so effusive about the opening ceremony: B次元官网网址淭o tell the truth,B次元官网网址� one post said, B次元官网网址渋t was really pretty average, some scenes were grand, the conception was brilliant, but on the whole it didnB次元官网网址檛 have the shock of the 08 Olympics.B次元官网网址�
Missing from much of the domestic discourse, and a testament to the power of state propaganda, is the political controversy that has defined the Winter Olympics on the international stage.
Countries including the U.S., Canada, Britain and Australia have imposed a diplomatic boycott of the Games to protest ChinaB次元官网网址檚 human rights abuses, including its treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. Much of the world has also condemned BeijingB次元官网网址檚 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations and civil liberties in Hong Kong.
The Olympics have also renewed attention on Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who attended several events and met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Saturday. Peng last year accused a former high-ranking Chinese government official of sexual assault, then disappeared from public life, igniting concerns over her safety. During a tightly controlled interview at the Games with French newspaper LB次元官网网址橢quipe, Shuai said she never accused anyone of assault.
In the opening ceremony, China appeared to address recent political criticism. A Chinese flag was passed hand to hand across the stadium by representatives of the countryB次元官网网址檚 56 ethnic groups. One of the athletes chosen to light the Olympic cauldron was the Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang. A lost dove that was led back to the glowing flock drew parallels on social media to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers part of its territory.
Many overseas spectators saw provocation in such displays. Chinese viewers saw unity.
B次元官网网址淲e all want to get connected,B次元官网网址� said Wang, the cryptocurrency investor. B次元官网网址淚 think that really touches everybody.B次元官网网址�
China has denied the allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang and elsewhere, and has accused the U.S. of spreading lies in a smear campaign against Beijing. Olympic athletes have been warned against political statements or protests during the Games over risk of retribution.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think it is a focus for the general public,B次元官网网址� Beijing resident David Han said. B次元官网网址淔or us, itB次元官网网址檚 really simple: We like to see the event happen smoothly and see our athletes get medals.B次元官网网址�
Chinese citizens have rejoiced as their athletes have nabbed three gold medals and two silver so far in the competition. A particular outpouring of support has engulfed fan favorite Gu, the 18-year-old free skier who won gold during her Olympic debut Tuesday. In the U.S., the fast-rising star has become a controversial figure for her decision to compete for China. Gu fielded numerous questions about the status of her U.S. citizenship after her win, none of which she answered directly.
Local excitement has also led to a buying frenzy for keepsakes of the official Olympic mascot, a rotund panda in a bodysuit. Customers have camped out and lined up outside merchandise stores for hours hoping to snag the plush toy, and the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee has asked factories to increase production after supplies started running out.
Traditionally a strong competitor in the Summer Games, China is less experienced in the icy worlds of skiing, snowboarding and skating. As part of its bid to host the Winter Olympics, China set a goal of getting 300 million people into winter sports, an achievement it said it accomplished this year.
When Han, 29, sat down to watch the opening ceremony on television with his wife, he was heartened to see the celebration of winter sports. It was a validation of his own interest in skiing over the last decade, having grown up in ChinaB次元官网网址檚 northeast, where frigid winters are common.
B次元官网网址淔rom very young, we tend to be on the snow and ice. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of our thing,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址� Stephanie Yang Los Angeles Times
