Wang Yuanyuan
EXPATRIATES have been impressed with the Beijing Olympics, saying the high spirits shown by all Chinese had made it a fantastic national celebration.
“Normally I don’t watch the Olympics that often, even when it was held in my home country,” American Jason Anderson, 37, said. “I didn’t plan to follow the Games every day before the Beijing Olympics opened, but all my Chinese friends are so excited about it and talk about it every day, which makes me a part of it.”
“It’s also nice to watch the Games with friends in the pub,” he added. “Cheering on athletes together with friends and a beer in an open pub is really nice. I admire the Chinese people for their enthusiasm for their country and their way of celebrating.”
Many foreigners said they never thought the Olympics could be such a national celebration but they could see how united the Chinese people were when coming to grand events like this.
“The bonding between China and the people really impressed me. They cheer every Chinese athlete, giving them their congratulations when they win and showing their supports when they fail,” Briton Jill Smith, 52, said.
The most talked about athlete was surely the winner of eight gold medals, Michael Phelps of America.
“As an American, I’m very proud that Phelps created history in the Olympics. He is a born swimmer. I am very happy that he was born in the States, not another country,” ***Anderson??? who is this person??** said.
Most expatriates were also concerned about athletes from their home countries, hoping that they would do well in the Games. “When you are in another country, you will be particularly excited when athletes from your home country win the gold metal,” Korean-American Ahn In Ki said Monday.
Although he was born in New York, he watched all the games involving Korean athletes. “I felt very sad for the Korean team when they lost the chance to win the men’s team table tennis. We had such high hopes for Ryu Seung Min, hoping he could lead the other players to win the game. My parents called me from New York to express their disappointment the other day,” he said. He also said the Korean community in New York watched the Games every day and they were very proud of their Korean athletes. “We hope no one defeats us in the shooting,” he said.
“I think the whole games are so well organized. There were always some overseas media expressing some worries about the Beijing Olympics, but I think everything has gone smoothly. And foreigners are very well treated by all Chinese,” Antoine Von Burg, 28, of Switzerland said. He has been living in Shenzhen for more than two years. “People have become much nicer to me on the street as they thought I was a visitor for the Olympics and wanted to help me with anything,” he said.