What I’ll Remember About the Beijing Olympics
Beach volleyball in the rain.
Forty-six boxing matches watched in person.
Four soccer games in Workers Stadium. A red card against an American in the first minute of the first game. At least one red card in every game I watched. The Belgians winning, down a man the whole game, despite the refs giving the Italians two penalty kicks. Being so tired by the last Saturday that I sold my soccer finals ticket to a friend.
Walking or biking to seven events. Buying beer for 5 kuai in the venues. But not having any food to eat with the drinks.
Every foreign spectator I spoke to either being a long-term Beijing resident or being related to an athlete.
Waking up at 4AM the morning of the Closing Ceremony and seeing flashes of light in the sky and faint booms. Thinking they might be thunder, but realizing they were government created. Thinking they were cloud seeding booms, but realizing the next day they were intended to disperse clouds instead.
The spectacle of 12 year-olds pretending to be 16. And a government playing along with the farce.
Three protest zones. But zero protesters granted permission to air their grievances.
That stupid song by Tan Dun that they played 10,000 times.
Bolt blowing away the field.
Two American teams dropping batons.
The American basketball team blowing the Chinese out of the water. And the proud Chinese who appreciated their team’s achievement anyway with the understanding that they are slowly but surely becoming a powerful team.
The death of the relative of the American volleyball coach. And the gold medal his team won, allowing him to temporarily forget his sadness.
A French boxer breaking down entirely when he was twice deducted two points for violations. He lost 12-10 in the semifinals and cried for nearly five minutes.
The South Koreans pulling off a baseball upset 3-2 over the mighty Cubans when their pitcher induced a two-out, bases-loaded doubleplay in the 9th.
Two Spanish basketball-playing brothers who looked like unfrozen caveman lawyers.
A full Nigerian band playing throughout all of their soccer games. Including the finals, which they played in 100-degree weather. And the random white dude who was always in their section soaking up the fun.
Eight races. Eight gold medals.
Eight long years of preparation.
An ending that leaves the city exhuasted and wondering what comes next.
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John Ryland responds:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 10:17 pm →
What I’ll remember forever about the Beijing 2008 Olympics is that it happened to be going on at the same time when my son was born
Kai Ryland, born 21st August, 2008 at 5:31pm Japanese time. 3312 grams and 52 cm. Mother and baby are both doing great.
Josh responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am →
Congratulations!!!
TheOtherRichard responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 10:52 am →
Fantastic mate… congrats!
chineselives.info responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 10:56 am →
I remembered No.13 American volleyball PLAYER. His serving the ball is fierce.
stuart responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 10:58 am →
“Forty-six boxing matches watched in person.”
Did you notice any controversial scoring? - I’m reading a lot of complaints. Unless you’re referring to police handling of foreign press, of course.
Josh responds:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pm →
@Stuart
The scoring system is really odd. A lot of times it looked like one fighter would land a punch and they’d give it to the other one. No consistent bias against or for any countries that I could tell though.
nanheyangrouchuan responds:
Posted: August 26th, 2008 at 11:02 pm →
“The spectacle of 12 year-olds pretending to be 16. And a government playing along with the farce.”
And the international community via the IOC.
Jassica Ross responds:
Posted: August 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pm →
The excitment and participation of all Beijing people.