(Essential questions) Huang Yaling: Why is the Olympic Games a model of multicultural integration and mutual learning?
China News Service, Beijing, August 22. Title: Huang Yaling: Why is the Olympic Games a model of multicultural integration and mutual learning?
China News Agency reporter Wei Hanbing
Huang Yaling.
Photo courtesy of me
As the Olympic flame is slowly extinguished, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be closed on August 8.
During the 16 days, there was no crowd or thunderous applause, but about 11,000 athletes struggled and communicated together, leaving many unforgettable moments for the world.
Affected by the new crown epidemic, the Tokyo Olympics has been postponed for one year. Despite the twists and turns, it still demonstrates the "background color of unity."
Under the five rings, the Olympics transcends the boundaries of country, skin color, language, religion, and once again closely connects athletes and the world. This is the interpretation of friendship, unity, and peace for mankind, and it is a successful example of the integration of diverse cultures.
Data map: On August 8, the closing ceremony of the 32nd Summer Olympic Games was held in Tokyo, Japan.
The picture shows the scene of the closing ceremony.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
In the Olympic movement, how do multiple cultures blend and learn from each other?
What do Chinese culture and Olympic spirit have in common?
How to guard against the Olympics becoming a tool of political manipulation?
Huang Yaling, a professor at Beijing Sport University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service on "Questions about East and West" to give an in-depth interpretation.
Cultural fusion: the national is also the world
"The Olympic Games originated in the West, but in the process of development it has maximized the diversity of world sports culture. The evolution and development of the Olympic Movement can also be seen as a process of the integration and mutual learning of different cultures." Huang Yaling pointed out that the rise of the modern Olympic Games Europe has since developed and grown on a global scale.
The number of participating countries and regions for the Olympic Games has gone from 13 in the first to 205 in the current edition. The IOC has more members than the United Nations, making it the largest international organization in the world.
Looking back in history, the modern Olympic movement is drawing strength and dynamism in the tolerance and acceptance of different cultures.
Huang Yaling introduced that from 776 BC to 393 AD, the ancient Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece every four years, laying the foundation for competitive sports.
In modern times, outdoor sports in Britain, gymnastics in Sweden and Germany, and basketball and volleyball in the United States have gradually developed, but they have all been developed in different countries.
For the first time, the modern Olympic Games have systematically sorted out the sports forms of different countries.
The first Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece in 1896 set up 9 major events and 43 minor events including track and field, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, cycling, Greco-Roman wrestling, gymnastics, fencing and tennis. These events were popular in Europe at that time.
After each Olympic Games, several new projects will be added.
In 1964, when Japan hosted the Olympic Games, Judo was listed as an official Olympic event.
In 1988, South Korea launched Taekwondo as an investigation project, which was later listed as an official project in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, martial arts appeared in the Olympic venues as a cultural and educational project, accelerating the process of its international promotion.
"The national is also the world."
In Huang Yaling's view, traditional events of all ethnic groups should also be included in the Olympic system.
"Nowadays, all countries are exploring their own traditional projects and trying to integrate into the Olympics. First, to increase the viewing value and attractiveness of the Olympics, and secondly, this is also an important way to pass on the national sports. For example, the Chinese Dragon Boat Show was held on August 5th and 7th. Japan is held at the Sea Forest Aquatic Arena in Japan. Dragon boating is a traditional water sport in China. We are making every effort to promote dragon boats into the Olympics. We hope that through our efforts, dragon boats will enter the Olympic family as soon as possible." Huang Yaling said.
"In addition to the setting of sports events, a large number of valuable Olympic cultural heritages have been left in the aspects of Olympic slogans, emblems, mascots, Olympic torches, venue design and construction, and athletes' clothing, which is also a proof of the integration of diverse cultures." Huang Yaling said.
The costumes of the Chinese team show "Chinese Red" and "Chinese Dragon". The American team has added technological elements to the costumes, and Europe tends to be retro style... At the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the athletes' dresses are quite eye-catching, reflecting different countries and nationalities. The characteristics of the Olympic Games are the epitome of multiculturalism.
Data map: On July 23, the opening ceremony of the 32nd Summer Olympic Games was held at the New National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The picture shows the entrance of the Chinese sports delegation.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
In 1892, Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, proposed: "The Olympics should be open to all countries, all regions and all nations." Huang Yaling said that Coubertin's initiative enabled the modern Olympics to break the boundaries between nations and nations from the very beginning. , Has a distinct international character.
Huang Yaling emphasized that the development of the Olympic Movement has brought exchanges and mutual learning between different cultures.
In the beginning, the Olympic Movement embodies a strong western culture.
However, with the global development of the Olympic Games and the popularization of the Olympic spirit, "The Olympic Games has become a forum for the collection, dialogue and exchanges of civilizations and cultures of all countries, and a platform for the coexistence of global cultural diversity and differences, especially the integration of Eastern and Western civilizations. And interactive platform."
More united: adding courage and strength to mankind to overcome danger
In March 2021, the President of the International Olympic Committee Bach suggested adding "more unity" after the Olympic motto "faster, higher, stronger". This proposal was voted through at the 138th plenary session of the IOC.
The term "more united" transcends national, ethnic and ideological differences and has more meaning in the current world.
Huang Yaling said that "faster, higher, stronger-more united" is a new motto added in the context of the separation of world politics and ideology and the spread of the new crown epidemic.
After a year and a half of the new crown epidemic, "unity" has become an important force for all mankind to get out of the crisis.
The holding of the Tokyo Olympics reflects the courage and self-confidence of the international family and athletes from all over the world to cope with the challenge together.
The epidemic, climate, etc. are all issues that humans need to face together. "Individuals" alone cannot solve the challenges. For human civilization to truly achieve sustainable development, all countries must learn to "be more united."
Data map: On July 23, the opening ceremony of the 32nd Summer Olympic Games was held at the New National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The picture shows the live performance at the opening ceremony.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
As a member of the Olympic family, China is no stranger to the term "more united".
Huang Yaling said that traditional Chinese culture has obvious similarities with the peace, harmony, self-improvement, and fair competition pursued by the Olympics.
The Olympic motto "higher, faster, stronger-more united", if the first three words are more about the individual's fair competition, self-improvement and other qualities, then "more united" is in line with the emphasis of traditional Chinese culture. The collective power and the current concept of a community with a shared future for mankind are in line with each other.
Huang Yaling emphasized that the humility, tolerance and sense of responsibility of traditional Chinese culture also play an important role in inheriting the Olympic spirit.
From "ping pong diplomacy" to the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, from participating in international events to hosting the Olympics, it reflects China's openness and tolerance to foreign culture.
While some people are trying to separate world politics from ideology, China is actively preparing for the Winter Olympics, and strives to enhance mutual understanding, friendship and unity among the people of the world through the Winter Olympics, which will play an important role in inheriting the Olympic spirit. .
Data map: On August 5, a sculpture of the emblem of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics stood on the ramp at the northeast corner of Jinyuan Bridge, West Fifth Ring Road, Beijing.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu
Political manipulation: Seriously hurt the interests of athletes and the feelings of the people
Although the original intention of the Olympic Games was to promote world peace and unity outside of politics, there have been incidents in history that boycotted the Olympics and seriously hurt the interests of athletes and the feelings of the people in the host country.
The international community increasingly opposes the use of the Olympic Games as a tool for political manipulation. So how should we view sports and politics in the Olympics?
Huang Yaling believes that objectively speaking, sports and politics in the Olympic movement are inseparable, and the most important thing to do at present is to grasp an accurate "degree" to ensure that the Olympic movement is not overly politicized.
Huang Yaling pointed out that it is undeniable that the occurrence of any social activities and the formation and development of interpersonal relationships are inextricably linked to politics, especially in the context of today's globalization, the two are inseparable.
Therefore, politics will inevitably have an impact on sports.
From a positive perspective, the combination of the Olympics and politics has positive significance in pursuing fairness and justice, opposing hegemony, promoting equality among nations, opposing racism, maintaining world peace, promoting human progress, and inspiring people's enthusiasm for physical exercise.
During the Cold War, the two major camps of the Soviet Union and the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Although they did not have much influence on the world political situation, they sacrificed the interests of athletes and hurt the Olympic spirit.
Huang Yaling pointed out that using the Olympic arena to promote political aspirations is a means of certain countries and politicians.
Recently, some people have rashly threatened to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics and use the Olympics as a political tool. This has seriously deviated from the original intention of the Olympic movement and the spirit of the Olympics, and deserves the international community’s vigilance.
"The raging new crown epidemic will bring certain difficulties to the Beijing Winter Olympics, but China has a lot of experience in hosting large-scale international events, and it also has good anti-epidemic measures and has the hard power to run the games. The Olympics are the peace of the world. The competitive conference is also a grand ceremony of multicultural exchanges and should not be disturbed by political factors.” Huang Yaling said.
(over)
Huang Yaling, female, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Sport University.
Director of the Olympic Teaching and Research Office (Sports Humanities and Sociology) of Beijing Sport University; member and secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the Sports and Social Sciences Branch of the Chinese Sports Science Society; standing director of the Beijing Decision-Making Society; member of the Chinese Leisure Standards Committee; member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Sports History Branch; Director of the Olympic Research Center.