Olympic Fun

After being in turmoil, many pondered if Beijing was a good spot to have the 2008 Summer Olympics. By persevering through many hardships, China has proven it's strength and power to the world after hosting a successful Olympiad. However, it was not an easy task for China. On top of hosting the 2008 Games and dealing with retched Tibetan riots, China was also "busy providing aid, food, and shelter for more than five million homeless victims from the earthquake, which occurred in Chendu mid-May." (Phuong Tram)

There are people who argue that China should not have been allowed to host the 2008 Olympics. One reason for this is because of their antagonist, Tibet. Tibet's violent riots led to "seven schools, five hospitals, and 120 homes vandalized." (Phuong Tram) 22 people died in the riots. The total damage cost China $35 million. Tibetans also protested by putting out the Olympic torch in "Paris, London, and elsewhere." (Phuong Tram) As you can see, China was in disaster.

On top of the rioting came the earthquake. After the earthquake left millions homeless, the Olympics seemed like a lost cause. "The crises had prepared people for adversity, rather than superficial work, [so] they could be more down-to-earth and focus on real problems. After all, the Olympiad is not our sole task." (Xia Xueluan) However, this does not mean that China gave up. China needed to successfully host the Olympics in order to encourage the people in the "quake zones." (Yuan) At this time, the world did not believe in China, and wanted to move the Olympics. However, it's not very practical to change locations after Beijing has been planning and building for the past 8 years in preparation.

Despite the turmoil, China stuck with their goal, and successfully hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. It may have been a bumpy road, but in the end, China received the worlds respect after proving their strength and power. They also received the benefits of the Olympics. China's tourism will sky rocket, due to the media, resulting in mass income. All in all, China's strong determination has paid off.

Tram, Phuong. "Thoughts on what a politicized Chinese Olympics means in light of the earthquake." Imprint Online. 09 Dec. 2008 .