Editorial: From Olympic fervor to facing reality
- Source: Global Times
- [00:59 August 07 2009]
- Comments
One year after the Beijing Olympic Games, the electronic boards used to count down to the Games still stand beside streets in the capital city, but with all the numbers turned to zero. This signals every breathtaking occasion comes to an end, along with our enthusiasm for it.
One year ago, Chinese’ national pride had never been so ardent and universal as when China successfully hosted the grand event despite the traumatic earthquake in Sichuan and the disrupted Olympic torch relay abroad. One year ago, almost all Chinese were involved excitedly in the Games as organizers, volunteers, athletes or audience members. It was a moment for all 1.3 billion people to come together to realize our long-time dream of hosting the Olympics.
But the joy and pride the Games brought has been cooled by the following global financial crisis which has deepened and intensified problems with China’s economy and society. The crisis has left millions of people jobless and made the restructuring of the economy more difficult and urgent.
People’s lives and social stability are seriously threatened by mass incidents like the riots in Urumqi last month, as well as many cases of serious environmental pollution. Confronted with so many problems, Chinese people cannot be as cheerful and optimistic as they were one year ago. Many of them have expressed deep worries about China’s economy, people’s welfare and the whole country’s sustainable development. One year after the Games, it’s time to confront problems and find solutions.
Since China hosted the Olympic Games with an image of being more open, the country has been more exposed to people and media at home and abroad. In the past year, the public and media have exerted much more power to supervise authorities and privileged people. Thus, it is natural for us to see many problems emerge one after another nowadays.
The Games are a beautiful memory for Chinese people – a successful, exciting and historic event which was a landmark moment in China’s development and opening-up.
But now it is a good thing for Chinese people and the authorities to be cool-headed when remembering the event.
Before achieving lasting prosperity, China has a long way to go and must urgently tackle its numerous problems with wisdom, determination and hard work, as well as the spirit displayed during the Games.
