8/13/08

The Olympic Spirit

Ah, the ao-yun-hui has blown up in full effect here in Kunming. When I walk out of the gym each night onto the sprawling pedestrian area filled with new sparkling malls equipped with giant tv screens, I have been lucky enough to catch some of the Olympics. I do not have a tv at home, so being in a public space with hundreds of Kunming folks all gazing up at the incredible athletes feels quite amazing.
I could not help but stop and join in; the New World Sinobright had called us all out of our homes to share in the Olympic spirit.


I found myself watching the US-China womens basketball the other day; it was a blowout of massive proportions (something like 100-50), but the Kunming crowd still cheered when their team made a rare shot in the waning minutes of the game. Last night we were all watching the mens weightlifting. The crowd murmured in disbelief when the French guy made the 185kg lift on the first attempt! We all held our breath when a South Korean lifter succumbed to the weight as his ankle crumpled underneath him. We giggled when an Azerbaijan athlete lifted the gigantic barbel up to his shoulders, then suddenly before he tried to lift it in the air, he threw it down at his feet in defeat. He just could not see a way to hoist it up.

As I walked into the gym last night, everyone was watching an interview with one of the gold-medal-winning Chinese mens gymnastics teammates. The guy was so incredibly moved by his success. His eyes were welling with tears. He was a champion his country would forever celebrate. His joy and emotion was projected on the 50ft. screen for all of us to witness.

The latest gossip involves the Chinese rowing team. They were part of the national strategy to win the most medals and beat the USA. Well, one of the men failed to show up at a qualifying trial; he did not even launch his boat. He went AWOL from his team. The speculation is that they tested positive for doping and were told not to show up, lest they tarnish the national image and show China's willingness to cheat to win. It would not be a good image.

It is nice to be able to enjoy the ambient Olympics, seeping into the psyche from all directions. Seven years of preparation and hype... Rarely do I have much in common with the migrant workers and garbage collectors, but on these nights we can all sit together in the open air to cheer, sigh and gasp together.

And, I do have to say the mens beach volleyball events are pretty fun to watch...
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Why Lotus? Why Pine?

The lotus signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment.

The pine signifies longevity and endurance because of its green foliage year round. In both good and bad weather, the pine thrives year after year thus it also represents pure life and constancy in the face of adversity.

Yunnan Province is a mountain landscape created when the Indian Sub-continent crashed into the tropical lowlands of Burma. It is a place with hundreds of unique species and dozens of amazing topographies. When I walk the mountains of Yunnan, I breathe fresh pine air and marvel at the indigenous wildflowers. Yunnan is also the conduit through which Buddhism came to China, along the caravan trails from India. The lotus is a Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. When I photograph these flowers, I am always captivated by their geometry and peace-inspiring colors.

my motto

Look well to this day For it is life The very best of life.
In its brief course lie all The realities and truths of existence,
The joy of growth, the splendor of action, The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory. And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well lived Makes every yesterday a memory of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this day.

--from the Sanskrit