Finding the “sub-conscious” of super large events
The humanistic spirit that will make the Beijing Olympics a success
Green Olympics, science and technology Olympics, humanistic Olympics”
Green Olympics, science and technology Olympics, humanistic Olympics” were the three main ideas when Beijing first put in its application to host the games. The first two are hardware, while humanistic Olympics is software. The interaction of the three in a complementary way has created a chain effect that will help make the Beijing Olympics a success.
As sports venues like the “Bird’s Nest” and the “Water Cube” have been completed, air cleaning systems installed and green spaces established, science and technology and green Olympics are progressing according to plan, making the humanistic part the biggest challenge to the authorities. In the last few years China has seen its economic power grow markedly but, as a result of the lingering education gap caused by the Cultural Revolution, “Civilization and etiquette” is still lacking Spitting, discarding of litter, competing for lanes or queue jumping can still be seen all the time. In a September State Council press conference, the executive vice-president of the Beijing Olympic Committee, Jiang Xiaoyu, said “The biggest challenge facing the planning for the Olympics over the next year is how to raise the level of civilization of Beijing and its people to the level required for the holding of a games that will be “high standard and have special features”.
“Humanistic Olympics Research Center” Humanistic bearing nurturing base specially established
In order to achieve improvement on a human level, the authorities in China established the “Humanistic Olympic Research Center” in 2000. After helping with the successful bid to host the games, it has become an academic body specializing in humanistic Olympics-related research and participating in practical activities. The center is affiliated to Renmin University of China and is on the scale of a national level unit, with both Chinese and overseas researchers,
At the behest of the International Olympic Committee, the center is also responsible for the Olympic Games Global Impact (OGGI) project, the objective of which is to scientifically assess the impact of the Olympic Games on the host city and the world in terms of environment, society, culture and economy. This is a new IOC rule and the Beijing Olympics is the first to implement it. Within two years of the end of the games the OGGI report has to be presented by the host in the form of part four of the Beijing Olympics final report. It will be regarded as a part of international Olympic cultural heritage, to be preserved forever by the IOC and made available to the whole of the world.
Battle for civilization—“Greet the Olympics, promote civilization, establish a new way” activity
From March 2006, the Beijing Olympic Committee and the central and capital civilization construction committees began jointly promoting the “Greet the Olympics, promote civilization, establish a new way” activity all over China. The contents eight main items included civilized custom promotion activities, implementing civilized service work for the visual media industry, launching the Olympic volunteer activity and promoting civilized transport action.
In 2007, concepts were promoted on the one hand while, on the other, the eight improvements were activated, encouraging people in second and third tier cities and the wider population to actively take part. From the beginning of the year, public information humanistic-themed advertisement have been posted inside and outside of buses and on subway and train platforms. TV and radio stations have continually broadcast public information programs, supported by numerous practically useful and entertaining activities. For example, there were the “Olympics knowledge and viewing etiquette lecture”, the “Three- minute Olympic DV animated film design contest”, the “Olympic Culture lecture” and the “Public information advertising competition”, gradually making the people attach more importance to civilized behavior and etiquette.
Allowing members of the public to carry the torch Civilization is the main selection standard
“Igniting passion, delivering dreams” was the slogan for the selection of torch bearers for the Beijing Olympics. There will be 2188 torchbearers, of which 19400 will be from the Beijing area, and also 5000 accompanying “torch guards” runners. In 2008, the torch will be carried all over China, taking the Olympic spirit to every corner of the country also expressing the spirit of the people’s of China to the world. Liu Qi, chairman of the Beijing Olympic Committee, said that Olympic torch activity is the longest, most wide ranging and has the most people taking part of any Olympics. It is hoped it will further convey the rich meaning of “One world, One dream” and also send out an invitation to the world to participate in the Beijing Olympics and enjoy happiness and glory.
