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How China manufactures Olympic champions?

The cover page of this week's TIME is Yang Wei, our gymnast swings across the parallel bars in the Gymnastic competition and the subtitle states: How China manufactures Olympic champions?

After reading the cover story "The price of gold", I cannot help but thinking about the selection system in Chinese sport world which is highly "gold-medal orientated". Actually, I have been heard so many times from my parents all their friends that the life of athletes in China is really tough and hardly. The article about the selection and training system in Chinese sports world, I would have to admit, is largely accurate. China trains thousands of young boys and girls at their very young age. However, not all the hardworks will be paid off. Only a few elites among them will be fortunately enough to represent China in the major games like Olympics. Many of them, will even have no chance to represent China in any single competitions. The dream, the purpose that driving through all the unimaginable hardships will just turn out to be a great disappointment. In my view, it's really not fair to them.

The root of this phenomena is simple: Chinese always take the nation's pride and glory above personal interest and freedom. In the history, in order to comply the nation's call, one can sacrifice his own interest or even the precious life without much hesitation. Jin Ke, the assassinator who attempted to kill Qing Shi Huang, accepted the request from his country, Yan, without much consideration on his personal safety. Many "heroes" in Chinese history are named not so much due to their achievements, but due to their courage and resolution when choosing between the nation and themselves. Though many Chinese, our leaders and even the athletes themselves know the training and selection system in Chinese sports world is unfair and inhuman (to certain extent), few of us speak out. It is not because our government will punish the one who voice unhappiness; it is because we, including the athletes think to sacrifice for the nation is worthwhile.

Although the system is not practised in China only, I would like to say that China is the most severe case, and in the short term, there will no much changes. With 2008 Beijing Olympics coming, we can expect a greater number of young girls and boys prepare to sacrifice for the nation. However, as it is the Chinese mindset, we cannot run away with it. Maybe we can just hope there will be some changes in the near future, not drastic, but gradual.

方方闲谈@ 10:06 PM