Protest in Guangzhou: Why would you burn garbage?
Week Around the Ists
Interview: Coco Zhao, from jazz to M. Butterfly
Cinematheque: Mulan is finally Chinese again! (and other film news)
Injured hurdler Liu Xiang has written a letter to the people of China and his supporters worldwide, which was posted on Chinese national track and field coach Feng Shuyong's (冯树勇) blog yesterday. Below is a translation of Feng's post:
I have already been in touch with Liu Xiang several times since he pulled out of the race as an absolute last resort. Right now as far as Liu Xiang is concerned, he needs to get back to normal as soon as possible, he needs to fully recover from his foot injury. Now via my blog, I will relay Liu Xiang's feelings.
To all the people who care about and support me:I am thankful for all understanding and support the people who care about me have given me. At this moment in time I feel sad for all the people who are still disappointed at my pulling out of the race.
On July 13, 2001, the date that Beijing won its bid for the Olympics, it was also my 18th birthday. This intertwined the joy of my birthday celebration and the joy of the successful bid. Although I was an unknown athlete back then, the dream of every athlete was to participate in the Beijing Olympics. I've been putting in everything I've got toward this goal.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, I realized my dream of being an Olympic champion. From that moment onward, my unshakeable goal has been to defend my Olympic title in my own motherland. I've always enjoyed facing challenges and have never been willing to accept defeat – this is just the way I am. As a matter of fact, when I stepped onto Greek soil, I was very confident in myself.
As I won more and more championships and more people began to pay attention to me and give me support, I also endured growing pressure and puzzlement in my life. I am unable to relax and party without restraint like other people my age. I also can feel the expectations of the entire country at any moment.
I know that everyone was eagerly anticipating my performance yesterday [August 18] – I also wanted to fight to the finish, as you've all see me do before. But it's truly my foot… please believe that nobody is feeling more sadness and pain than me. At the same time, please believe that I'm the same Liu Xiang I've always been.
Innumerable friends sent me text messages and called me after seeing me get injured and walk off the track. I am sincerely thankful for the friends that understand, support and encourage me. I would also like to thank all the Chinese people, who in these years have given me tremendous support and credit.
I believe I still possess great strength. You all will see a Liu Xiang that runs even faster.
For more China sports news, check out China Sports Today.
Liu Xiang image: blog.iqilu.com
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
post to facebook
I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liu Xiang is a genuine star and has already done enough in his great career. But the response to his injury pull out is unreasonable, surreal and pretty offensive. Not to mention representative of the national-ympics.
Across the board, pro-athletes have periods when they are injured. In fact, Liu has a had a great run at the peak of his abilities. A track and field pro getting a foot or hamstring injury and not competing in on event is completely normal.
There is absolutely no need for him to apologize to anyone for getting injured. There is no need for any special explanation either.
As a true Liu Xiang fan I say "bad luck mate, get a good rest (you deserve it) and I hope you can make a good recovery".
Another example of media spin. Where in his text did he ever apologize? It was merely a memo to the rest of China on how he feels and his outlook for the future to paint a scene of optimism. That's all it was...
You dont have to say anything to anybody! You were injured period. Screw China, USA, and the world because of your insuries. You are an olympian with vast strength everything you do is for YOURSELF at the end of the day. The annoying audience on the stands and the media go to hell! They should have been a clap for u trying... assholes. This is not about your "motherland" why you have to kiss ass to them??? As we used to say in USA "talk to the hand" :)
lilac: there is a fundamental cultural difference between China and the West in how they perceive the individual and the community. The "harmonious society" that Confucious envisioned sometimes requires an individual to suppress his own desires and make sacrifices for the sake of the people around him. This is considered a noble thing to do and has been ingrained in the Chinese thought process even to the modern day. I understand why you would be confounded by Liu Xiang's actions, so I hope this will supply you with a different perspective.
I think the contrast will be further strengthened if you interview the US athletes and the Chinese athletes on their desire to achieve. A lot of Chinese athletes achieve what they achieve today not because of their individual desire to be great, but because of the expectations of their parents, their coaches, and, in many cases, the nation.
"Yunny" I am quite aware of this "harmonous society" but sometimes as human beings we need to seperate ourselves from social norms in order to achieve greatness, i have been in China for 10 years and I am very aware of this, using culture for his "explanation" was not really for himselves but i know it was for others, in reality in his heart he wish he never had to "explain" anything to anybody.
Perhaps thats why USA is soo differnent from Asia in terms of how we view achievement because sometimes we need to jump on another boat and take and let the oceans lead our ways take the winds and determine our own success and failures without explanation to the world and our parents. To choose our destiny regardless of race, class, culture etc....:)
Yunny
The idea that China is collective and the West is individualistic is a stereotype. An old and tired one at that.
@ booggerg: apologize for what? Beiing injured? That's ridiculous. He's a great athlete and all this is just bad luck, overwork and too much pressure.
He has nothing to apologize for. That injury is incredibly painful and probably resulted from his training like a madman for these games. I think he's terrific. The guy who needed to apologize was that Greek athlete in 2004, who dropped out of the games after a blood doping scandal began to catch up with him.
He feels he has disappointed his fans and apolpgizes for letting them down, what is wrong with that? I've seen plenty of athelets say sorry to their fans because an injury prevented them from playing.