Commentary

China Watch

Forum Digests

Columnists

Letters

Life after the Games

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-26 07:33

If the Beijing Olympics has any impact on how the Chinese see the world and themselves, it should be the young people who feel such an impact the most.

In a survey conducted by China Youth Daily, 70 percent of the more than 3,000 surveyed said that the Games has changed their perspective on many things.

Young people might not be that confident about their country and themselves, but this time not only have the 1.7 million volunteers, mostly university students, witnessed inside and outside the competition venues how an exceptional world sporting event was staged by their own country, but more have seen as spectators or TV viewers how their home athletes have won the most golds.

That explains why "self-confidence" was the key word used by the respondents to describe the young generation born after the 1980s. These young people are also referred to by some as "the generation of the Bird's Nest".

If the Bird's Nest, the National Stadium, can be a symbol of this Olympic Games, it is quite proper for the young generation to be so called as this Games should be one of the most important and impressive world events in their life time. And it is quite natural that their participation in it in one way or another will have an effect on their perspective on some things.

More than 40 percent of the surveyed say that they will take advantage of any chance to make their own contributions to the understanding of China by foreigners. They feel proud of their own country and believe that more exchanges between China and the rest of the world is the best way to eliminate misunderstandings and for the building of a more harmonious world.

Nearly 40 percent of the surveyed say that the Olympic Games has made them feel more firm that Chinese culture needs not only to be carried on by the young generation to the next generations but also to be disseminated to the rest of the world.

The equality and fairness the Olympic Games advocates in competitions have impressed more than 27 percent of the respondents the most, who say that they will try to follow such principles in activities they participate in.

As a matter of fact, young minds tend to be open to fresh things and ideas. As they represent the future of this country, the influence of this Olympic Games on their minds will certainly have a positive impact on the future of this country.

So there is enough reason to believe that China will be more open and make more contribution to world peace and prosperity.

(China Daily 08/26/2008 page8)