Beijing 2008 Olympics Games

北京2008奥运会 (Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
同一个世界 同一个梦想 (One World One Dream)
Date of Starting Ceremony: August 8, 2008
Countdown: 28 days to go

“The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles. The upcoming Games will feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit.”
- the International Olympic Committee website

With less than a month to the start of the Olympic games in Beijing, I thought I’d pay tribute with a post on this blog. :] In the past, the summer Olympic games were held in countries I had no ties to, thus I never took to the initial excitement. (In 1996, the summer Olympic was held in Atlanta; but at that time I was still young and under the effect of the language barrier.)

This year, I feel so intimately tied to the Olympic games as it is hosted by my homeland. Having had the opportunity to go back to China this summer, along with the benefit of receiving China’s CCTV channel on the satellite here in the US – I can’t help but get caught up in the momentum. :]

So, if you’re not excited yet, it’s time you joined me! :]

In this post, there will not be much opinions coming from me.. But rest assured that everything I post in here have touched me to a degree – so they are interesting and noteworthy.

With the Olympic games, there is also an official album with selected songs from some of the most well-known and respected artists in China and Taiwan. If you’re interested in checking out the songs, leave me a message and I’ll direct you to them. :] But for now, I recommend the following two songs:

LISTEN: Jay Chou – “千山万水 (Long and Arduous Journey)”

WATCH: Various Artists – “北京欢迎你 (Beijing Welcomes You)” MV with English subtitles
Considering the lengthy duration of this song, many parts are repetitive. But the highlight of the song comes through instead in the (1) number of artists in the entertainment industries from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea coming together to contribute to the song; and the (2) vast Chinese cultures portrayed in the music video.

As the date to the Olympics gets closer and closer, the physical world (the streets) and the digital world (Internet, TV) are flooded with commercials and name-brand endorsements. Among those, there are a few commercials made for the public good to hype up people’s excitement or to remind its audience (the society) of self-awareness and etiquette. All are very inspirational and encouraging. Of them, there are two commercials I’ve seen that I have not been able to forget about. I find the messages so poetically well-written that I have taken the time to track down these videos and translate the script as well since many people can’t understand them otherwise. :]

Someone once asked me..
A public good commercial that is broadcast..
will it be able to change those bad habits in our lives?
I said no.
A public good commercial towards those uncivilized phenomena in society,
is perhaps unable to have any effect on the symptoms.
But I believe..
A public good commercial is like a light.
As the light gets a little brighter,
the darkness around us will in turn lessen.
Moreover, I believe even more
that everyone’s heart is like a window.
Open the window, and light will come in.
I believe, civility is just beside us.
It is very, very close to us. So close that it is right at our fingertips.
Sometimes..
Civility is merely a distance of 10 grams from us.
Sometimes..
Perhaps it is only tens of centimeters wide.
There are also times, when it is just the thickness of a piece of paper.
I believe..
Actually civility, is just inside our hearts.
We would inattentively reveal them in our lives.
At times..
An extra hand gesture,
to other people, is an extra consideration.
Also at times..
A little more patience waiting,
to other people is a type of concern and love.
At times..
A little more sharing,
to other people, is just an extra share of warmth.
I believe..
If each of us strides forward one step,
it will cause society to stride forward one big step.
That is why I have come to realize, civility is a kind of strength.
Just like the Olympics torch relay,
relaying through everyone’s hands,
it can also assemble together everyone’s enthusiasm.
I believe in you,
believe in you in front of the screen,
that you will come to discover even more,
by releasing your passion for civility.
A civilized China. Looking forward to the Olympics.
Welcome the Olympics. Practice civility. Cultivate new atmosphere.

- translated by me

The next commercial is represented by famous opera performers, and utilizes the theme of 京剧 (the Peking/Beijing Opera). After all, the Peking/Beijing Opera is a form of performance art that can be said to the quintessence of China. My grandparents love to listen and watch them, and thanks to them – this summer, I have learned a great deal regarding its style, richness, difficulty, and value to our society.

As the clock hand points towards that moment..
The whole world cheers with the same voice.
2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Beijing Olympics reveals the Chinese people’s anticipation for harmony.
It reveals that China is a land of propriety and righteousness.
Olympics. The Chinese people await you.
The Chinese people welcome you.
The Chinese people give you blessing.
Beijing Olympics. China’s big stage.
It blooms limitless wonders.
One world. One dream.
One stage.
This stage reveals the elegance of the Chinese civilization.
Age-old China. An heroic era.
Sing, read, do, play.
We draw out every single lively detail towards art.
Spring, summer, fall, winter.
We present each magnificent season towards the five rings.
Every little things of the Beijing Olympics..
Are all beautiful memories of the Chinese people.
Welcome Olympics. Practice civility. Cultivate new atmosphere.
It is everyone’s honor..
Everyone’s responsibility.
The Olympics is a new starting point.
Our pursuit for civility will never have an ending point.
Pass on civility. Present the Olympics.
Light the lamp. Sing and sound China.
Ascend the world’s stage. Sing China’s play.

- translated by me

Unfortunately, there are the certain discrepancies when any language is translated to another.. So, much of the poetic flow, rhymes, and careful word selection are lost in a translation. But I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.

With the bombardment of news on TV as preparations in Beijing are coming to a close, I’m just now beginning to understand the magnitude of everything that Beijing has been busily working on since 7 years ago. Volunteer stations have been set up across the city. The airport security has added a new function to automatically scan the temperature of each passenger, allowing them to identify those who may be ill. Roads have set aside a special Olympic lane to ease traffic. Three different media centers have been built to host media from around the world. The Olympic village is fully-accommodated with all varieties of food. Weather centers have been established to keep track of the temperatures across the city. Major roads now have inspection stations checking each passerby for proper identification. The perimeter of the venues have prepared countermeasures against possible attacks from the air. Et cetera. Hosting such a global event as the Olympics, it looks like Beijing has not failed to give a proper answer to the rest of the world.

Finally, some additional links and background information are provided for your enjoyment below.

News Updates:

• Beijing in final sprint for Olympic preparations
• Millions of flowers going to light up Tian’anmen Square
• Beijing to set aside Olympic lanes
• Level of preparations for Beijing 2008 have set a gold standard for future Games
• Torch Relay
• all the above and more at The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
  

Sites you may be interested in visiting:

• Explanation of the Beijing 2008 Emblem
• Explanation of the theme slogan “One World One Dream”
• Explanation of the official FuWa mascots
• List of sports venues with pictures
  
• Beijing 2008 official merchandise (I already bought a T-shirt in Shanghai~)
• all the above and more at The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games