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Student experiences Olympic preparations first-hand

By Betsey Cutcliff

Monday, August 18, 2008

Litter-free streets, shiny new glass buildings and a crackdown on pollution categorize the changes made during the past few years in Beijing, and international student Chenyang Zhao, 18, experienced this transformation first hand.

Zhao, who comes from China’s Sichuan province, is studying English at the University of Kansas. He spent 2006 to 2007 living and studying at Beijing Technology and Business University.

“It is a very beautiful city now,” Zhao said.

The Chinese government spent at least $40 billion tearing down and rebuilding the capital city in preparation for the Summer Olympic Games, according to the Associated Press. Beijing impressed the world with its transformation, and its coming-out party at the opening ceremony of the Olympic games sealed its debut as a global power.

The Olympic Games and the city’s transformation speak for the economic revolution and modernization in China, and the country’s emergence as a world power, Zhao said.

“I’m very proud to be Chinese because China is developing fast. We have a higher rank in the world,” he said, “Now we are respected.”

The Olympic games are playing a large part in the Chinese desire to prove themselves to be a contesting world power. The Chinese men and women’s gymnastic teams’ earning gold medals last week solidified China’s position. According to the Chinese team’s spokesperson, Zhang Peiwen, this win carried extra importantance for the country because of the prestige placed upon gymnasts.

Peiwen told the China Daily that the Chinese were taught to compete against themselves, which, according to Zhao, is the mindset of the entire country.

“We all want to succeed and … show ourselves that we can,” Zhao said.

As of Thursday, the Chinese had won 22 gold medals, eight silver and five bronze. Though the Olympics have shown the pride and determination of the Chinese, they have also brought out the strict nature of the country.

To reduce pollution for the Olympics, a schedule was implemented for driving cars in the city, regulated by the last number on the license plate. Though Zhao rode the bus and wasn’t affected personally, he said the streets were a lot less congested.

Airport security was also tightened. Chinese exiting the country used to be allowed to bring liquids on the plane, but Zhao said that they were no longer allowed. Before boarding the plane to come to America last week, Zhao was patted down, checked and rechecked at least four times, he said.

“The foreigners had their own special line to get through security, and the ones who had passes for the Olympics had another line,” he said.

While he said the Olympics were very important for his people, Zhao said he wouldn’t be watching most of the games because of new student orientation and the scramble to get ready for school.

— — Edited by Jennifer Torline

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