英语阅读：Games that won hearts and minds
The Beijing Summer Olympic Games proved to be a near-perfect success, notbecause the host country harvested the most gold medals and the second largest
collection of all medals but because the Games perfectly illustrated the Olympic
goals of being "faster, higher and stronger" and the ideals of "peace,
friendship and progress".
The Beijing Games witnessed the largest number of new world records being
set as compared with the previous Games and the least number of drug scandals in
recent memories.
It was attended by all Olympic Movement members except Brunei - 204
countries and regions - and drew the largest number of athletes ever - 16,000 in
total.
The Games was exciting for so many wonders and miracles it has generated,
including the opening ceremony that "beats all superlative adjectives," the
amazing haul of eight gold medals American swimmer Michael Phelps netted in the
Water Cube and the unbelievable records of 9.69 seconds and 19.30 seconds
Jamaican Usain Bolt set for 100m and 200m respectively at the Bird's Nest.
The Games was also inspiring and touching for its many impressive
stories.
The spectators were moved to tears as 33-year-old gymnast Oksana
Chusovitina from Germany beat rivals about half her age to win the women's vault
silver medal. She said she wanted to win prizes to help her 9-year-old son who
was suffering from leukemia.
The audience were also touched by the tenacious South African Natalie du
Toit, the first amputee to compete in the Summer Olympic Games finals, who
finished 16th in women's 10 kilometer marathon swim.
Robina Muqimyar from Afghanistan, who braved the gender taboo in her
country to come to Beijing for the Games, won the hearts of the spectators as
well as the online community even though she finished only last among 85 in the
women's 100m.
What best illustrated the Olympic spirit of promoting friendship was the
embrace of Russian sharpshooter Natalia Paderina and Georgian markswoman Nino
Salukvadze, who won women's 10m air pistol silver and bronze medals
respectively, at the medal-awarding ceremony. Their countries were involved in
military conflicts at the time.
Beijing, the host city, won intangible medals during the 17-day tournament.
The glitch-free proceedings of the Games; the absolute safety from any accidents
or terrorist incidents; the clean air and convenient transportation; the
charming smiles of volunteers full of youthful vigor; all won praises and
congratulations for the city.
And the Games demonstrated another major function - promoting mutual
understanding of different countries and regions. Tens of thousands of athletes,
journalists, government officials and tourists from other countries saw a real
China completely different from what they had learned from previous media
reports. The white clouds dotting the blue sky over a city of modern and ancient
architectural wonders were probably the most symbolic of the facts that beat the
pre-Games prejudice against China.
Seeing is believing. Just as journalist Andy Bull of London's Guardian
newspaper said after he came to Beijing to cover the Games: "As a first-time
visitor to China, all my knowledge of it is based on received information: from
books, news reports, films and TV. The more second and third-hand coverage we
get, the more our perceptions are pushed away from the truth ... My idea of it
(Beijing) couldn't be more out of date. Modern China is presenting itself to the
world, and we have to take it as we find it."
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